Podcasts about christmas devotional

Merry Christmas! The one who created the universe did an impossible thing: He entered a virgin's womb to become a man and then overcame the same difficulties and temptations we face. He “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef encourages us not to rush time with Christ, the Savior we celebrate today. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon The Indescribable Christmas Gift: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents, passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Let's celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with a Christmas devotional, as we are encouraged and edified by the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. My info: Website: http://www.lovesickscribe.com Subscribe to my blog here: http://eepurl.com/dfZ-uH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovesickscribe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovesickscribeblog If you found this video helpful, please share it with others and leave a good review. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dawn-hill2/support

Merry Christmas!

Without the Prince of Peace ruling our hearts and minds, we will have no peace. There can be no peace in our homes unless we place our families under the authority of the Prince of Peace. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that we must submit to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to experience the transcendent peace He offers. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Jesus the Only, Part 4: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

In episode 314 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd, Alia, Rivka and Burke discuss the last two talks from the December 2024 First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  Come have a listen! #wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodness https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophets Find us on twitter, instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.com Find us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

Before Jesus came, we lived under a burden of sin from which we could not escape, with a gulf between us and God that we could not bridge. The broken world had long been pining for peace. Sin is a heavy burden, and separation from God is the deepest ache of the soul. But God knew exactly what we needed and wanted us to know who was coming. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef considers true peace as the only source of that peace. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon, Jesus the Only, Part 4: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way  is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

In episode 313 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd, Alia, Rivka and Burke discuss the first two talks from the December 2024 First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  Come have a listen! #wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodness https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophets Find us on twitter, instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.com Find us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

Send us a textJoin us for a heartwarming episode of Bible Time at The Barn with Dawn as we reflect on The First Christmas Gift. Grab your Bible, a cozy blanket, and take a moment to slow down and connect with the real reason for the season.✨ Subscribe for more Bible Time content!

Jesus is the founding father of a new creation. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explores why Jesus is our Everlasting Father in this new creation.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon, Jesus the Only, Part 3: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

God told Isaiah about the Messiah seven hundred years before Jesus was born, describing Him with titles. The third title given to Jesus is Everlasting Father. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef examines God's justice and grace in Christ.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Jesus the Only, Part 3: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents, passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Jesus' might and divine power set Him apart from any other human who has ever lived. Jesus Christ is the only perfect man, who died to give eternal life to those who believe in Him. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef considers the divine power of Christ. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Jesus the Only, Part 2: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way  is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

We tend to look upon the Christ-child as a helpless babe. But even as a baby, Jesus was Mighty God. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus demonstrated the power of God just as He did from heaven. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef examines the majesty of Jesus as God with us. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Jesus the Only, Part 2: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Have you ever stopped to think about how the first Christmas was meticulously planned centuries before it happened? In this week's episode, Dr. Jonathan Youssef shares the divine blueprint behind the birth of Jesus—one too precise to be left to chance.In a world of uncertainty, discovering the fulfilled prophecies of the first Christmas can bring a sense of wonder and assurance. These ancient promises reveal a God who is faithful and precise, offering hope and a deeper understanding of His love and plan for us.Listen now and share this reflection with a friend who could use reassurance of the certainty of God's plan this Christmas.For questions or to connect with the Candid community, visit LTW.org/Candid. Follow us on social media:Facebook: @candidpodInstagram: @candidpodTwitter: @thecandidpod 

Explore the powerful story of the wise men, their journey, and the symbolic gifts they brought to Jesus. Join Rob Rienow as he unpacks the real history of the wise men, the significance of their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—and how these offerings reveal who Jesus is and why He came to save us. Reflect on how your family can honor Christ this season by giving Him gifts of worship, service, and faith. Referenced Resources Bible History Game: A free iPhone game to help families explore biblical and ancient history in an engaging way. Available on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-history-game/id545018219  Visionary Family Community: Join families around the world seeking to follow Jesus together. Learn more at https://VisionaryFam.com/Community

Have you ever sought the wisdom of a counselor? Maybe you needed perspective on a relationship or help to walk through grief or depression. Counselors provide guidance, support, and encouragement. Yet no matter how helpful, well-trained, or well-intentioned human counselors are, none can compare to our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef encourages us that Jesus' wisdom is perfect. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Jesus the Only, Part 1: LISTEN NOW| WATCH NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way  is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Our Christmas play devotional, expanding on what the children talked about, using the Wordless Book.

In a world that often feels uncertain and overwhelming, it's easy to lose sight of the hope we have in Christ. But no matter the trials or struggles we face, our hope in God is steadfast and unshakable. This hope is not based on circumstances, but on His unchanging love and faithfulness. When we anchor our hearts in His promises, we can take joy, knowing that He is working all things together for our good. Our hope in God is the source of true joy, a joy that transcends our circumstances and strengthens us in every season. Join the Conversation:How has your hope in God brought you joy, even in difficult times? Share your story with us on social media @LifeaudioPodcasting or via email—What Scriptures or moments have reminded you to rejoice in the hope we have in Christ? SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/  Full Transcript Below: Take Joy in Your Hope in God  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12 2021 turned out to be a challenging year. My husband and I suffered through many difficulties: financial strain, health issues, and relational conflict. First, a litany of bills and repairs taxed our bank account. Then, I went through a health challenge that impacted my ability to work and forced me to take some time off to rest. Then, conflict with my husband's job brought a looming black cloud into our home. No matter how hard we tried, the trials kept coming. It was quickly becoming too much to bear.  One day, during my prayer time, I cried out to God: Why are you doing this to me? Don't you care about me? Can't anything be easy? Although the tribulations kept coming, I noticed something: my reaction to them changed. I no longer came home complaining about how terrible my day ended. Instead, I went to the Lord. I journaled my feelings and read the bible more often. Soon, the Lord's love expressed through the Bible changed my heart. I read about the mercy and grace of Jesus. I saw him express His love to others in each book. I was inspired to become more like a disciple than a Pharisee.  As I read, I realized I was more like a Pharisee than I thought. I found that I complained rather than was grateful, and I didn't believe that Jesus was who He said He was. But as God changed my heart, I began to feel God could turn things around. I started to see trials as a good thing rather than a bad thing. Soon, I looked forward to having my time with God. Eventually, the trials subsided, and my circumstances got a little easier. But the suffering brought me closer to God in prayer than I'd ever been.  Trials that I thought were a punishment were really a blessing in disguise. When we had financial concerns, my friends helped us. When I faced the health challenge, I had my church uphold me in prayer. When conflict arose, we used the best conflict resolution skills possible and resolved it as best we could.  Although I don't want to go through those trials again, God didn't waste my pain during those times. God used it to make me more grateful. I turned my tears into gratitude, transforming my thoughts and, ultimately, my heart. He drew me closer to him and improved my prayer life. I heard his voice when I listened as well. My relationship with God deepened like never before. Sometimes, the worst things in life turn out to be the best things after all.  Advent is a season of expectation and anticipation. While the people expected the Savior to be a king who would take away all their suffering, our king emerged in the most unusual circumstances. Jesus was far from what they expected their king to look like. What they thought they wanted turned out to be not what they expected. Life is like that sometimes.  Life may look far from what you expected it to be. You may feel disillusioned or jaded with how life has turned out. You may be complaining or confused as to what God is doing. If this is you, take joy in your hope in God. Come to God faithfully in prayer. Let Him turn your mourning into gratitude. Be grateful for what God has already done. Let God turn even the most challenging situation around for your good.  Count your blessings. Be content in this season of life. Take joy in the life God has given you. Be patient in your trials. Place your hope in God. Praise God for what he already has given. Put your hope into turning around even the most challenging situation. He always changes things around for our good and His glory.  Father, help us to be joyful as we hope in you. Rejoice in knowing that even when life looks far from what we think it should be or if we're dealing with relentless trials, we can still delight in having hope in you. Amen. Intersecting Faith and Life In what ways can you exude patience, unconditional love or joy to others today? Further reading Philippians 4:13 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the midst of life's struggles and uncertain seasons, we often find ourselves feeling lost, weary, and alone. But even in the wilderness, God speaks tenderly to our hearts. His words bring comfort, hope, and reassurance when we need them most. Just as He spoke to His people in the desert, offering encouragement and guidance, God continues to speak words of love and promise to us today. His gentle whispers remind us that we are never truly alone, and His presence is a refuge in every storm.  Join the Conversation:Have you experienced God's tender words in your own wilderness moments? Share your story with us on social media @LifeaudioPodcasting or via email—What Scriptures or prayers have brought you peace and hope during difficult times? SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/  Full Transcript Below: Tender Words in the Wilderness  by Deidre Braley  Hosea 2:14: Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.  In the book of Hosea, the Lord rebukes Israel for her idolatry—namely for chasing after other gods and forgetting her first love, and for forgetting that it was God who gave her every good thing she'd ever had. Her worship had been misplaced: she'd mistaken the worldly things around her as the source of goodness.  God says, “She does not recognize that it is I who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the fresh oil. I lavished gold and silver on her, which they used for Baal” (Hosea 2:8). As a consequence, he proclaims that he will take these gifts away, listing them one by one to show how forsaken Israel will be without her God. “I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the Lord” (Hosea 2:13).  As the shadows grow long on this year, I can't help but reflect on all the Baals I've worshiped these past months, all the worldly things I've wandered towards, misunderstanding them to be the source of the riches and joys that I have and that I want. And yet even as I've gotten my fingers around them, they've turnt and spoiled. Like a carton of milk that is fine one day and sour the next, I am holding something that I once thought was good, but now know will make me sick if I consume it.  What a terrible and frightening thing, to be left bowing and offering sacrifices to the fickle whims of man or chance. Here in the desert place, I repent of the lovers I've gone after this year, panting after praise or acclaim or worth or self. I long for my first love, here where I hold what I thought I wanted, only to discover it's worth nothing at all without my Lord.  I imagine this is how Israel felt, too—and perhaps there was no other way for them or for me to realize that we don't like to be in the hands of that which never loved us nor provided for us. We have to experience the full and crushing weight of life without God before we can know that this is our worst fear—and our greatest heartache.  But, hallelujah, God doesn't leave us here. In Hosea, we see God's mercy toward his people when he says, “Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14). He allows us to come to a place without him to understand that we were always meant to be with him, but then he doesn't shake us or yell at us or slap us back into submission—no, it's quite the opposite. He leads us into solitary places where he can speak softly and tenderly to us, loving us as we've always longed to be loved until we remember that he is the Source and the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).  Intersecting Faith & Life  In this season of Advent, as we await the coming Christ, let's each take an honest look at the Baals which we've worshiped and followed after this year—whether that's the praise of man or financial gain or inflation of ego or the comfort of any substance. Let's acknowledge the ways we've placed them before the Lord and then repent, turning around and allowing ourselves to be led back into the wilderness by our first love, by the One True Living God who is waiting to speak tenderly to us, to wash us in his mercy and grace.  In this season of Advent, let us return to the Source and let him press balm to our tired and wounded spirits. Let's come to rest in the security of his hand, allowing it to cup us and protect us from this world we thought we wanted.  Further Reading  ● Hosea (the entire book)  ● Isaiah 1  ● Acts 3:19 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Discover the profound significance of two names given to the Messiah: Jesus and Emmanuel. In this Christmas episode, Rob Rienow unpacks the biblical meanings behind these names, revealing how they define Christ's mission to save us from our sins and the promise of “God with us.” Explore how these truths shape our lives, offer eternal hope, and call us to live in light of eternity. Featured Resources: Visionary Family Community: Join a global network of families committed to following Christ at https://VisionaryFam.com/community/ Visionary Family Camp (Summer 2025): An unforgettable family retreat at Cedar Bay, Michigan. Learn more at https://VisionaryFam.com/Camp

First Presidency Christmas Devotional messages motivate viewers to remember the Savior and others by BYU-Idaho Radio

Loneliness is a condition we have all experienced but do not welcome. However, loneliness can be a great opportunity for God to work within us; in today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explains how loneliness can be turned into something positive. If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon series The Paradox of Loneliness: LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents, passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Waiting for Christ's return is more than mere waiting. It's waiting in faith. It's how the saints of the Old Testament were saved. They had to look forward and trust that God would be faithful to His promise to save them from their sins. In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef examines what it means to wait expectantly for Christ. This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon series It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, But Why?: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOWAVAILABLE NOWAs you celebrate Christ's first coming at Christmas, infuse your traditions with new ways to remember His promise of redemption—and prepare for His ultimate return.In Preparing for the King, a vibrant 20-page Advent booklet featuring a special 4-part devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef emphasizes God's faithfulness to send a Savior and the striking Scriptural comparisons between Christ's first and second coming. Reflect on eye-opening Scriptures that point to Jesus as the one and only Savior foreshadowed for thousands of years—and be encouraged to prepare for the King at Christmas and in your everyday life.

In this episode, we follow along with our 2024 Advent Devotional and explain why we chose the song "O Holy Night" to be sung throughout the first week of Advent this year. ResourcesPrepare Him Room Advent Devotional136 - The Importance of Hymns (audio)137 - Hymns Unraveled (audio)Connect With Usprovidenceomaha.orgInstagramFacebookEmail Usformation@providenceomaha.org

What does it mean this Christmas season that "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight"? Join Jonathan on Candid Conversations to reflect on this Christmas hymn and the birth of Jesus—the light of the world who fulfills our deepest hopes and fears.In this reflection, Jonathan talks about:          The promise of peace and security in Jesus        The transformative power of His grace        Why our response to Christ makes all the differenceDon't miss this heartwarming reflection on the true meaning of Christmas. For questions or to connect with the Candid community, visit LTW.org/Candid. Follow us on social media:Facebook: @candidpodInstagram: @candidpodTwitter: @thecandidpod 

When God chose Bethlehem of all places as the birthplace of His Son, He was sending us a message. Why didn't He choose Jerusalem, the religious capital of Israel? Why not Rome, the capital of a mighty empire? Why not Athens, the center of philosophical thought in the ancient world? Why not Alexandria, the seat of learning and education at that time? Why would God choose the little town of Bethlehem? In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef explores God's choice of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. This devotional is adapted from MY Journal, Leading The Way's monthly devotional magazine. Sign up now for a free six-month subscription to MY Journal—Dr. Youssef's gift to you.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon, Let's Go to Bethlehem: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOWAVAILABLE NOWAs you celebrate Christ's first coming at Christmas, infuse your traditions with new ways to remember His promise of redemption—and prepare for His ultimate return.In Preparing for the King, a vibrant 20-page Advent booklet featuring a special 4-part devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef emphasizes God's faithfulness to send a Savior and the striking Scriptural comparisons between Christ's first and second coming. Reflect on eye-opening Scriptures that point to Jesus as the one and only Savior foreshadowed for thousands of years—and be encouraged to prepare for the King at Christmas and in your everyday life.

Do you read a regular devotional? How about a special Christmas devotional? In this episode of Salty Believer Unscripted, Josiah Walker and Bryan Catherman discuss devotionals and how to pick one. They also consider devotionals for Christmas. Copyright 2024. For more information, please visit SaltyBeliever.com.

TAKEAWAYSIf you want to write your own Christian stories, there's only one way to start: by sitting down and putting your ideas on paperWrite early in the peace of the morning for fresh inspirationThe Light Before Christmas is an advent family devotionalPromises Made, Promises Kept is published as a fun “upside down” design that can be flipped either direction

There's a plethora of examples in the Bible with countless promises made and kept by a holy and incredible God. This is an inspiring fact Marty Machowski has expanded upon in his delightful Christmas devotional for families, Promises Made, Promises Kept: A Family Devotional for Christmas. Marty is an accomplished author of many Christian books and the family life pastor for Covenant Fellowship Church. His Christmas devotional is perfect for kids of all ages. Filled with beautiful illustrations and age-appropriate stories and lessons, families can read and enjoy one each day in December leading up to Christmas. “Many of my books have a multi-level age range,” Marty says. Other titles Marty has written include The Prophecy and the Hope, Dragon Seed, and The Light Before Christmas. TAKEAWAYS If you want to write your own Christian stories, there's only one way to start: by sitting down and putting your ideas on paper Write early in the peace of the morning for fresh inspiration The Light Before Christmas is an advent family devotional Promises Made, Promises Kept is published as a fun “upside down” design that can be flipped either direction

In this week's episode, hosts Dina Deleasa-Gonsar and Holly Newton talk about Holly's new Christmas Devotional book, All Is Calm All Is Bright.We know well that life doesn't halt for the halls decked with holly or the tinsel and twinkling lights. But we can decide now how we'll approach the days ahead to savor the season with our loved ones and get lost in the wonder of Immanuel, God with us.Wherever you find yourself in this season, this devotional was written to help you be present over pressures for perfection. It's an invitation to embrace the joy and hush the unnecessary hustle and bustle. It's your permission to slow down and savor time with the Savior, to get lost in the wonder of Immanuel, of God with us.Get your All Is Calm All Is Bright book here or the digital download here.You can connect with Dina here on her website and follow along on Instagram for cooking, family, and inspirational content! Be sure and PRE-ORDER her At the Kitchen Sink now here on Amazon.Connect with Holly here on Instagram and be sure to become a She Lives Fearless email friend, here to stay in the know!Episode WebsiteConnect here with She Lives FearlessConnect with Dina and Holly Episode Website Connect here with She Lives Fearless Connect with Dina and Holly

Thinking about what you should do for the Christmas season? Pastor David Teis and his daughter, Charity Berkey, talk about all the fun things you and your family can do to have a Merry Christian Christmas! Pastor Teis wrote a book called 'Christmas, It's All About Jesus Christ'. It is a daily devotional that will last you from December 1 all the way to the new year. There, you can read about Christmas from a Biblical perspective. To purchase your own copy of Pastor Teis' Christmas Devotional, please visit: https://a.co/d/2sLdu5k davidteis.com To purchase copies in bulks for a discounted price, please email Charity.berkey@experienceliberty.com

Merry Christmas! Thanks for tuning in to 'That Farm Life.' On this very special episode, Dr. Stan Norman gives a devotional from the traditional Christmas story. We'd love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to us if you have ideas for future shows or how we can make That Farm Life even better! Email us at aghealth@williamsbu.edu!That Farm Life is produced by Eagle Farms at Williams Baptist University. That Farm Life Podcast is also a resource of Agri Health Network. For more information and to find more resources, check out AgriHealth.net. Are you interested in graduating from college debt free? Check out the Williams Works program at WBU! For more information, call 870-759-4120 or email admissions@williamsbu.edu.

As we prepare for Christmas, Jill Devine wanted to remind everyone the importance of being present this holiday season. She read part of a devotional plan from the Bible App. The devotional plan she chose; Remembering Christmas, A 5-day Bible Plan from The Messy Table Podcast.Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Join us for Season 6, which will debut on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.Normal Goes A Long Way Website: https://www.normalgoesalongway.com/Normal Goes A Long Way Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalgoesalongway/Normal Goes A Long Way Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Normal-Goes-A-Long-Way-110089491250735Normal Goes A Long Way is brought to you by Messiah St. Charles: https://messiahstcharles.org/Two Kids and A Career: https://www.jilldevine.com/podcast

Host, Darien Clark is joined by co-host, Zachery Forbes. Aside from Jesus Christ Himself, what has been the greatest gift you have ever received? Favorite Christmas song? Would you eat Buddy the Elf's breakfast for $100? There's fun-filled Christmas content as well as a joy-filled Christmas devotional from Luke 15:11-24. We pray this episode encourages you as you continue to seek Jesus during the beautiful advent season. This is a conversation show about the things we're thinking about, the things we care about, and the things that are important to the life and culture for the people of Legacy Church (https://www.legacychurch.org/) in Plano, Texas. We pray this season will offer you times of encouragement, laughter, and most importantly a deeper desire to know and love our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2023-12-17 Christmas Devotional - Joy To The Worldby Pastor Chris Berg         Scripture Reference: Luke 2:1-20In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.The Shepherds and the Angels8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest,    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

At the final BYU devotional of 2023, students, faculty, and performing groups celebrate—in story, dance, and song—the gift of the Babe at Bethlehem. Merry Christmas! You can watch the Christmas devotional here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special Christmas episode of The Thought Vault, host Emily Vermillion delves into the theological richness of Christmas, exploring the profound significance of the birth of Jesus and its enduring impact on humanity. Join us as we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and find inspiration in the timeless message of hope and salvation.- 00:00:30 - Embracing the Warmth of the Christmas Season- 00:02:06 - Mary's Journey to Bethlehem: A Story of Trust and Divine Purpose- 00:03:54 - The Birth of Jesus: A Bridge between Heaven and Earth- 00:06:33 - Exciting Updates for the New Year and A Call to Join the Thought Vault CommunityTune in now to The Thought Vault podcast!Did you hear? WE'RE LAUNCHING A YOUTUBE CHANNELclick here to subscribeSubmission for our "Dear Emily" advice section > click here to anonymously submit a question or decision or scenario you'd love feedback on! Follow on IG Message "affirmations" & get the new Faith Affirmation Journal!Jump into our Free Faith Based Community Group Please follow the show, and please share! Interested in 1:1 coaching - send an email to emily@boldlifecoach.com or DM me in IGGrab Calibrate Your Compass self-paced course to get back on track and find the margin in your day to achieve the goals you've been dreaming of! Don't live in burnout any longer - get the tools, mindset techniques, journals, trackers, and more to establish an intentional daily life that has you EXCITED for the week ahead! Click here to find out more!

Show Information  Dec 10, 2023 Greetings brothers and sisters! Welcome to the weekly MormonNewsRoundup. I am your humble host Dives, talent on loan from Kolob,  My crew and I ruminate weekly on the great and spacious beehive! Thanks so much for joining us to discuss the latest current events in Mormondom.  Full Title EP 93 - Disturbing Mormon sexual assault hush money allegations, bizarre Book of Mormon themed move hits the big screen, LDS Christmas devotional fallout, and yet another Tim Ballard lawsuit  Welcome to the MormonNewsRoundup! Get to know Enos Envy Articles https://youtube.com/shorts/HvlhX-3cn3Q?si=uscG-TlxRS4yH79L  Recordings show how the Mormon church protects itself from child sex abuse claims https://apnews.com/article/mormon-church-investigation-child-sex-abuse-9c301f750725c0f06344f948690caf16  The best 60 second summary  https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0e60aJthw6/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==  Video https://x.com/floodlitorg/status/1732101622992429274?s=46&t=Kn3MLSjDGf_9v6exU2J_Gg   Church responds Video of Church Response Response Response If AP story is factually in error   Helpline Irony Actual pics of Mormons protesting the AP Just the comments section  https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/12/06/new-court-filing-accuses-tim/ This is a new development in the Tim Ballard fiasco:  https://x.com/AdamHerbets/status/1732525193422160087?s=20 Another Mormon News rooster in the henhouse https://www.youtube.com/live/m2pF7Ugwn88?si=6h8aMV01CV0_cHs7  B roll to talk over  Link Moroni comes to the big screen, but some LDS scholars see some big problems https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/12/03/new-movie-aims-reach-beyond-lds/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1CUF_oC7js&ab_channel=TheSaltLakeTribune  Poster  https://m.facebook.com/groups/latterdaylobsters/permalink/3625990431052596/?mibextid=cr9u03  Video https://youtu.be/BTSCW0Q30Ds?si=Fec3xBpBr7Y0dWin  Review MNRU Top 10 Poll of the week Slides What do you want to see most in the new Moroni Inspired feature length movie MNRU Joke of the week Conclusion What projects are you currently working on?   I have two things I try to maintain consistently:  The Mormon Question of the Day: Weekday Polls on Twitter (so follow @Enos_Envy to add your vote) Could be something simple like “What's the scariest room in a ward building”  or doctrinal “How many gods exist in Mormon theology” The Aposties–the annual ExMo Awards on Twitter I'll be taking nominations starting in January and we have a panel of ExMos who select the winners which are announced each hour of April General Conference.  We'd really like to host a live Aposties in person at a Chili's someday–Cultch would have to handle the parody musical numbers. Shout out to Jacob Hansen for winning 2022's Mental Gymnast of the Year award. He took home the Fanny (our digital trophy is named after Fanny Alger).  He's sure trying hard to repeat in 2023, but the competition is FIERCE! Connect with Dives! www.MormonNewsRoundup.org kolob@mormonnewsroundup.org Voicemail Twitter YouTube Instagram TikToc Facebook  Support this Podcast Patreon New MNRU episodes live on YouTube Sundays at 9:30pm EST New MMR episodes live on YouTube Mondays at 9:30pm EST Shoutout to Weird Alma on bandcamp.com for this episode's music. Thanks so much for ruminating with us on the great and spacious beehive!  And remember, remember: No unhallowed hand can stop this podcast from progressing!  #lds, #mormon, #exmormon, #postmormon,#religion, #news, #ldschurch, #comeuntochrist, #churchofjesuschrist, #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints, #byu, #byui, #josephsmith, #comefollowme, #polygamy, #bookofmormon, #becauseofhim, #hearhim LDS church appoints new apostle after death of Ballard --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonnewsroundup/support

Christmas is considered the most wonderful time of the year. But many need hope and a little humor to make it through difficult times around the holidays. Authors Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp have a new devotional where they do just that. Join this great conversation where we laugh, reminisce, and talk about the hope for all people during Christmas.  Check out the Christmas Devotional here: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Devotional-Hope-Humor-Holidays/dp/1637970943/ Michelle Medlock Adams website: https://michellemedlockadams.com/ Andy Clapp webiste: https://andyclapp.org/ Free book from author Britt Mooney! - https://BookHip.com/KLCSAZV Follow Kingdom Over Coffee on FB: https://www.facebook.com/KingdomOverCoffee  

An address given by Robb Hoch, Ensign College Institute instructor, delivered December 5, 2023, at the Ensign College Multipurpose room.  

Michelle Medlock Adams and Pastor Andy Clapp will discuss a wonderful tool, The Christmas Devotional: Hope & Humor for the Holidays, that will help us bring the Truth of Christmas to our families. Michelle is an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of more than 100 books with over 4 million copies sold. When not working on her own assignments, she ghostwrites articles, blog posts, and books for celebrities, politicians, and some of today’s most effective and popular ministers. Michelle is celebrating the release of her two latest children’s books, Cuddle-up Prayers and I Love You Bigger Than the Sky. Andy is an author, pastor, and speaker who loves to share the message of the cross. As God has proven the power of the cross in Andy's life, he looks to share that message with a world that is in need of hope, longing for redemption, and desperate for life. Andy is the Senior Pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and is represented by Cyle Young of Cyle Young Literary Elite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These are your Morning Headlines... This morning an Idaho State Trooper and Idaho Falls Police officers were involved in a shooting that left one 34 year old male dead. Also, last night the First Presidency of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints held its annual Christmas Devotional. Lastly, the U.S. Army's first blind active-duty officer will speak in the 2024 Governor's Prayer Breakfast.

Hey friend, It's been a minute since we've connected, I've missed our conversations and can't wait to share all the insights and experiences from my recent speaking engagements and travels on future episodes. From the coasts of Maine to South Florida speaking engagements, I've been soaking up inspiration and can't wait to share it all with you. But for THIS MONTH--lets focus on the Birth of Jesus! I am reading out of my Christmas Devotional book called an Unstuck Christmas. It is available on. AMAZON right now! WE are also gathering as a reading group in a Facebook Group (Pat Layton) called 2023 Unstuck Christmas. I hope you will join us there and tell me you heard the podcast for a special gift!So let's hit play for this PAUSE together. Welcome back to Permission to Pause."Thank you for joining me on today's Permission to Pause. I would love to hear from you!For comments and episode suggestions contact pat@patlayton.netI'd love to have you vsist my BLOG to join the conversation at patlayton.net Join the conversation via my blog at www.patlayton.net PLUS my IG REELS https://www.instagram.com/patlayton/reels/Find DEEPER DIVE Pause notes and LOTS OF FREE RESOURCES here. Again! Thank you for Pausing with me!

Guest Bios Show Transcript https://youtu.be/kfW97erZjYA What do you do when the man you looked up to as your spiritual hero is exposed as a fraud? How do you recover from the disillusionment and betrayal? And how do you find hope when your world is turned upside down? On this edition of The Roys Report, you're about to hear a highlight session from this year's Restore Conference featuring Carson Weitnauer, a former director with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. Ravi Zacharias had a huge impact on Carson when he was coming of age. When Carson was hired by Ravi's ministry, he thought he had found his dream job. But then in 2020, the dream became a nightmare as more and more evidence showed that Ravi Zacharias was not the man he purported to be. He was not a model Christian leader and sterling apologist, but a serial sexual predator, who lied and manipulated to cover his tracks. The revelations rocked Carson's world—and especially his faith. And in this incredibly raw and vulnerable talk, Carson doesn't sugar-coat anything. He tells of his journey from believing the exposés about Ravi were just Satanic attacks—to realizing that his own leaders, people he looked up to, were lying to him. He tells of the excruciating betrayal, pain, and depression he experienced. He talks about almost losing his faith and feeling like God had abandoned him. But he also talks about hope and hanging on, even when life seems bleak. Guests Carson Weitnauer Carson Weitnauer is an author, speaker, and the founder of Uncommon Pursuit, a Christian apologetics ministry. He formerly served on-staff at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and resigned to advocate for survivors. He has coauthored multiple books. Learn more at uncommonpursuit.net Show Transcript SPEAKERS CARSON WEITNAUER, JULIE ROYS JULIE ROYS 00:02 What do you do when the man you looked up to as your spiritual hero is exposed as a fraud? How do you recover from the disillusionment and betrayal? And how do you find hope when your world is turned upside down? Welcome to The Roys Report—a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I'm Julie Roys. And what you're about to hear is the second of 11 talks from this year's Restore Conference. Speaking is Carson Weitnauer, a former director with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. And as you'll hear, Ravi Zacharias had a huge impact on Carson when he coming of age—and internalizing his faith. So, in 2013, when Carson was hired by Ravi's ministry, he thought he had found his dream job. But then in 2020, the dream became a nightmare as more and more evidence showed that Ravi was not the man he purported to be. He was not a model Christian leader and sterling apologist, but a serial sexual predator, who lied and manipulated to cover his tracks. The revelations rocked Carson's world—and especially his faith. And in this incredibly raw and vulnerable talk, Carson doesn't sugar-coat anything. He tells of his journey from believing the exposés about Ravi were just Satanic attacks—to realizing that his own leaders, people he looked up to—were lying to him. He tells of the excruciating betrayal, pain, and depression he experienced. He talks about almost losing his faith—and feeling like God had abandoned him. But he also talks about hope and hanging on, even when life seems bleak. If you've ever experienced betrayal trauma or church hurt, I think you're going to resonate deeply with Carson's journey.  Here's Carson Weitnauer, a former director with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries—and someone I've come to know as a man of integrity and courage.     JULIE ROYS 04:02 Hi, I'm Julie Roys, founder of The Roys Report and the RESTORE conference, and you're about to see a video from RESTORE 2023. Though a lot of conferences charge for videos like these, we've decided to make them available for free. We've done that because we don't want anybody to miss out on this valuable content for lack of finances. But of course these do cost us money to shoot and to edit. So if you're able we'd really appreciate it if you consider donating to The Roys Report, so we can continue this important service. To do so just go to JulieRoys.com/donate.  Also, I hope you'll make plans to join us at the next RESTORE conference which we'll be announcing soon. As great as these videos are they pale in comparison to being there in person. As one speaker commented, “this year RESTORE is more of a restorative community than it is a conference.” And every year that community just grows deeper and richer. And so I hope you'll be able to join us at the next RESTORE. Be watching for that. And in the meantime, I hope you're blessed and encouraged by this video. CARSON WEITNAUER 05:11 Julie Roys is a liar. It was September 21st, 2020, and I felt nauseous and disoriented. As I thought about all of the crazy things she was saying. I was at the beach with my family. We were trying to recover COVID. But it had been a hard year because Ravi Zacharias had died. He had very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from cancer, and I don't cry, but in May at his funeral, I had wept that Ravi was no longer with us. And I was angry that God had taken him so soon. The Vice President (Mike Pence) was there. He said, “In Ravi Zacharias, God gave us the greatest Christian apologist of the century. He was the CS Lewis of our day.” And tributes in that spirit poured in from all around the world. Christian media, social media was flooded with praise for Ravi Zacharias. And our ministry was trying to figure out what we would do without our founder our inspiration or leader or guide. But at the beach a few months later, I felt tense and tight. And I was trying to get my bearings because I was scrolling on my phone through these articles Julie had written. Julie claimed to be an investigative journalist. But responsible leaders at RCIM had explained the truth. She was a clickbait journalist. She would dig up dirt on people so she could get her 15 minutes of fame by, you know, scandal mongering. And now she was stooping to a new low in the aftermath of Ravi's funeral. She was claiming that Ravi Zacharias had taken advantage of Lori Anne Thompson. 07:49 And Julie had documented a lot of facts about the situation I had never heard. So I read her articles. And I tried to do a critical reading of them, I tried to ignore all of her negative biased commentary. I just wanted to pay attention to the facts that she had primary documentation for. And every evening, after I got my kids to bed, I would open up my computer and open up a Google spreadsheet, and I would put everything that Ravi and RZIM had told me in one column, and I would put everything that Julie was documenting in another column. And I got 287 rows of discrepancies. And I just kept comparing Julie's articles with everything I had learned for three years since 2017 and 2018. I'd scoured the internet for information for three years to get information on Lori Anne Thompson. I had talked to many of RZIM's leaders, I debated what was being claimed with my colleagues. For every good point that was raised, RZIM's leaders had a good answer.Lori Anne had schemed with some friends to leak emails to embarrass Ravi. And they made it look like Ravi had done something really wrong. But our leaders had the whole context of the entire email chain. And they explained that the whole chain of emails had been selectively and manipulatively distorted and taken out of context to make Ravi look guilty when he wasn't. 09:30 Ravi and a senior leader who were both Easterners explained how they read these emails from an Eastern point of view. And they said if you think Ravi is guilty of something, that's because you're reading this as a Westerner. We had earnestly prayed for God to protect our ministry in this time from satanic attacks. And it felt like God had put a veil of protection, a dome of protection over our headquarters, and our ministry and our events. And these satanic attacks had been thwarted by the power of prayer. And it hadn't been my job to investigate these claims. But there were people of outstanding integrity and leadership, Christian leaders of major organizations. And it was their job to look into this. And so there were two independent external investigations. Ravi's denomination was a highly respected denomination. And when claims like this came up, they did a proper investigation to ensure that none of their pastors did anything like this. And they had found that Ravi was innocent. 10:44 Ravi's publisher would not publish a book by an author who did this kind of thing. They wanted all of their authors to not only have good teaching but good lives. The publisher had a responsibility to investigate. They investigated, they found that Ravi was innocent. RZIM was a multimillion nearly $40 million a year organization, in the 30s of millions, and our board was comprised of extremely qualified Christian leaders. And when a claim like this came up, the board had a responsibility. They investigated. Our senior leaders were best selling authors and powerful speakers and well educated. They had a responsibility. So our speakers our senior leaders had investigated. So I was looking at four separate investigations by Ravi's denomination, his publisher, his board, and the senior leaders. And all four investigations concluded that Ravi was innocent, and that Lori Anne and her scheming husband had tried to extort Ravi out of $5 million dollars. It was a blackmail attempt. 12:03 So what made more sense? A self promoting journalist, desperate for clicks and attention was passing on lies because she always believed survivors? Or multiple investigations by the most trustworthy people had gotten it wrong? And so I wavered. 12:25 I had first met Ravi, when I was in high school. I was struggling with my Christian faith, do I believe this or not? And I'd read Ravi's book can man live without God, and it really helped me. And so there were some connections, and I got to go to a dinner around Christmas time where Ravi was speaking. And afterwards, it was arranged for me and Ravi to talk with each other. And I could not believe it. Ravi spoke to world leaders. And now he was going to talk to me. And he explained, keep in touch Carson, I'd like to keep in touch with you. So on the way home, I told my mom, I would love to work for Ravi Zacharias one day. 13:03 I studied at Rhodes College in Memphis, studying philosophy. And so I asked Ravi, I wrote him a letter and asked him to give me some advice on my future career. I studied abroad at St. Catherine's college at Oxford. And while I was there, I visited the RZIM offices. It was a chance to meet the people that Ravi had hired and trained and spoke with. I then went into campus ministry for 10 years, seven of those years, I had the joy of serving students at Harvard College. We faced difficult intellectual and cultural questions. And so we often went and said, What is Ravi say about this? What resources does RZIM have to help us navigate this conversation with gentleness with respect, with biblical fidelity with intellectual clarity? So in 2013, when I was hired to work for Ravi Zacharias, it was a dream job. I felt like God had orchestrated all the details of my life and worked it out for me to work for Ravi. During the seven years that I worked there, I got to start with the US speaking team, leading them. And then I transitioned to starting and growing an online community called RZIM Connect. And we had hundreds of thousands of people visit this community and learn how to have good conversations about faith and get answers to their questions. I had respected Ravi and RZIM for over 20 years. I'd worked at RZIM for seven and RZIM was not just a job, it was a joy. It was my identity, my community, my sense of purpose, my faith, my spirituality. So I was a real mess on the beach. And then came to more bombshells. 14:58 Both Christianity Today and World Magazine reported that massage therapists who worked at Ravi's spa alleged that Ravi was guilty of awful, horrendous sexual misconduct. And as I read those articles, my heart sank as I thought about what those women had endured. World Magazine also reported that the tax documents Julie had were accurate and that the Thompson's had given away nearly $200,000 one year to different Christian charities. And so I just asked myself, “Are the Thompsons greedy extortionists or exceptionally generous Christians?” “Are all of the journalists self promotional hacks, or courageous truth tellers?” And I was reluctantly but totally convinced. And I felt that I had a responsibility to take action. Because for years, I had shut down people who thought Lori Anne Thompson was telling the truth. And I had defended Ravi. And now I needed to speak up for his victims. And I had been helped by RZIM so much, I had to do whatever I could to help the ministry do what was right. 16:16 And I just trusted that Ravi Zacharias International Ministries was nothing like Ravi Zacharias. I mean, he was a fraud. He was abusive, a bully a liar. But my friends, my mentors, the people I worked with day in and day out, we'd been on road trips together, we'd done ministry together, these people were solid, they were people of integrity, I could count on them to be truth finders and truth tellers and advocates for the vulnerable. So it was October 1st, 2020. And RZIM's board had already put out two statements, fake news, these are false. We've already looked into it, nothing to this. And they also said truth is the foundation of what we do. And I had to ask myself, is truth, the foundation of what we do? Are you just saying that so people will believe what you're saying? 17:20 And then we had a global town hall meeting because the ministry launched a investigation and they knew staff had questions. And one of the ideas on official motto was no questions off limits. And so I had a few questions. And I wanted to know if we have this investigation going on, but Lori Anne and her family are subjected to a nondisclosure agreement, how can the investigation include them? They can't disclose. And the family wasn't willing to release them from that. So would RZIM provide cover to the Thompsons were they to violate this agreement? If there was financial penalties or legal costs, couldn't we make sure that they could participate? And the response was wonderful. It sounded very gentle and respectful. “We're totally committed to the truth here. We want them to participate. The NDA won't be a problem. We're definitely going to include them in this investigation.” It sounded awesome. And then I thought about it. And they hadn't made any concrete promises of unwinding the NDA or providing a legal defense for the Thompson. So they were just empty promises. And then the hammer fell. There was a private follow-up conversation with our general counsel. And he explained that I had been out of line and inappropriate and should not have asked those questions. And I still have flashbacks to that conversation. And I will freeze up and just feel feel so helpless. And then I will remember that I don't have to be afraid of him anymore. And I will take a deep breath and relax my muscles. And I will try and go back into my day. One day out of nowhere, the Chief Financial Officer sent me and my line manager an email. I guess she'd gotten wind of what I was doing, talking to staff about the situation, advocating for the women. And she wrote to me, “while I agree that we should remain transparent with the truth, I don't think repeating potential lies, or passing on judgment, or qualities we want to embody at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Carson.” She said she value transparency and truth. But her threat was not idle. Staff had been fired for asking questions that fall. I had thought Julie was a liar. And now one of RZIM's senior leaders was saying that maybe I was a liar too. Throughout the fall of 2020, I heard many heartbreaking stories of my friends being bullied. 20:19 At one point, the human resources director sent out an email saying, “We want to make sure there's someone to receive staff complaints. So we've appointed an ombudsperson.” And that sounded awesome! There's going to be an ombudsperson to advocate for staff. And I was shocked to see the name. The new ombudsperson had a nickname:The Enforcer. She had a track record of bullying staff. So I wrote to the HR director and said, “This person has a track record of bullying staff. You can't have her be the ombudsperson.” And they ignored my email. The ombudsperson stayed in her role. And I had to ask myself, why did they want a bully to receive complaints of bullying? If they cared about staff mistreatment, why did they appoint the Enforcer to this role? 21:09 And as information began to circulate around the ministry, I started to learn about some pretty big lies. Ravi had always said that for that nondisclosure agreement, no money changed hands. But in 2017, our senior leaders had read an email where they had learned that Ravi Zacharias had paid $250,000 for that NDA. And so for years they had known Ravi was lying. And they never corrected the record about a $250,000 payment. And the four investigations I had trusted, they consisted of asking Ravi if he did it, taking him at his word when he said he didn't, and closing the investigation. 21:58 RZIM's president asked us not to publicly comment on the investigation because they were so committed to the integrity of it and to finding the truth, they didn't want anyone to comment about it, so it could run its course. But then, at the end of October, there was a major fundraising weekend called Founders. They would raise millions of dollars in one weekend. And all of the people speaking there, they basically said, “Ravi is a hero, and we want you to make a major gift this year in honor of his legacy.” In November, there was a global apologetics conference. Pastors and churches were trusting us to help them with the big questions of the day. And to a global audience, our speakers share their favorite memories of Ravi and how Ravi had mentored them. They encourage participants to imitate Ravi's example. And I realized that our President's request for silence wasn't about the integrity of the investigation. It was about silencing anyone who believed that Ravi had abused women. It was about protecting Ravi's reputation. And his reputation and our ministry's reputation. 23:03 I had gone to prayer meetings four days a week, and the weekly chapel one day a week, for years. And at the prayer meetings, there were again prayers for God to protect our ministry from the satanic attacks. And I realized now that they were praying against me and what I was doing. And that really complicated my prayer life. By December, I was so discouraged and worn out and wrung out and exhausted. I talked to anyone I could about this issue and been pretty discouraged. When I showed up to our staff Christmas party, I was hoping, look, this is a classic, we laugh, we have fun, the spirit of Christmas. This could be a good moment of connection and recovery. And then came the Christmas Devotional. It came from our chief cultural officer who was a board member. It was Ravi's widow. There's a verse in the Bible that says, the apostle Paul says, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” And her Christmas Devotional was, “Everyone here, follow Ravi's example, the way he followed Christ.” And it was a home run. People liked the message. They thought it was a great Christmas Devotional. And at that point, I knew RZIM was not interested in finding the truth. And they weren't interested in the victims. They didn't believe there were victims. It was about loyalty to Ravi over everything else. And I felt that darkness was closing in around me and I ran out of hope. 24:42 RZIM said they valued truth, and they kept telling lies. They said they valued respect, but they bullied us. They said they valued integrity, and they acted hypocritically. They use the name of Jesus to get money, and they didn't use the money to follow Jesus. In September of 2020, I lost my confidence in Ravi. By December of 2020, I lost my confidence in RZIM. And in January of 2021, I resigned. And I had to wonder if I would lose my confidence in God. 24:42 I was a wreck. I was unemployed. I didn't feel good. I found my family finances changed. I was directionless. What do I do with my life now? I was isolated. I lost all my friends from work pretty much. I was disillusioned. My childhood hero was a liar and a bully and a sexual predator. I was recovering. I was trying to find words to explain all the pain I was feeling. I was trying to understand what spiritual abuse was, how to respond to bullying. I didn't know how to describe what I was experiencing. I was frustrated and angry. I poured my heart into this online community and it had to be shut down and then deleted. All gone. I was ashamed that I'd given seven years of my life to this ministry that would be always associated with scandal. 26:26 And I was so confused. Why would God bring me to work for a sexual predator and a corrupt ministry? I felt so rejected. And hopeless. I just felt like my whole body was covered in pain. One of my first attempts to recover didn't go very well. I went on a retreat by myself. I got an Airbnb in the Great Smoky Mountains. It was beautiful. You know, since childhood my my Bible had been a source of life. But for three months it had been poisoned. And so I didn't really want to read the Bible. And I'd usually loved praying to God. It just felt like dust in my mouth. I had graduated from seminary, but I had never had any training for this. I finally just opened up this journal I brought. And as I started to write, I wrote these incredibly bloody and raw and angry, just super intense prayers to God. Like some pages were just one word of anger at God. And I felt so troubled by what I had said to God, I threw the journal away. 28:01 Slowly, over time, I started to find a few things that helped. After I would drop off my kids at school, I would go to the gym. And instead of feeling weak, I would start to feel strong. And then I would go to the dry sauna. I would just sit in there as long as I could. And it just felt like the heat was taking all the pain out of my body. That's a really good time. I kept talking with a counselor, and he helped give me language helped me express my emotions and start to understand what had happened. I shared my story with friends at church,. And I told them the same story 100 times and they listened and listened and listened and listened and listened to me. I got to know Lori Anne Thompson. I found she was a source of healing in my life. That she would be my friend and forgive me and give me wisdom and care to help me find my way forward. Ruth Malhotra is here. And she has been a steadfast friend and has helped me navigate so many complex things about this. My mom is here for this talk. And she's been amazing. I leaned on my wife for support. I could not in any way have made the decisions I had made, except that she decided to be completely there for me. And it's been years of her, offering me unconditional love and support as I figured things out again. 29:40 I had to rethink all of my beliefs. I read books on theology and church history trying to evaluate if this still made sense to me. And I got really, really honest with God. And I stopped having any pious prayers. It was unfiltered, direct expression of how I felt with God, exactly how I felt about him. I told him, what was on my heart. And even though I was yelling at God, I continued to sense that God was with me, and that God loved me. And I started to pray the Psalms, and I would tweak them as needed. And it was amazing to me that the Psalms were so visceral and real. They blame God for a lot of things. And God heard those prayers and said, I'm going to put these in my Bible. So people can pray them for the rest of time. And I realized that Jesus and the prophets had already spoken the words I needed to say to the leaders at RZIM. And to Ravi Zacharias. I had tested Ravi. He was a disappointment. I had tested RZIM. They were a disappointment. And then I tested God with my very worst. And I found that he could handle it. 31:16 One thing I didn't know is that the road to recovery goes up and down a lot. Sometimes you cannot make progress. Sometimes you don't know if you are making progress. Sometimes you thought you have made progress and you have not–you have regressed. At one point in the spring of 2021 My family went back to the beach for another chance to recover. And I got an email from RZIM saying they wanted to give me severance, which sounded like a real moment of repentance and hope. But I read the separation agreement and my heart sank. It was a nondisclosure agreement. I sent it to four lawyers to make sure I understood this correctly. All four said that's a nondisclosure agreement. 32:05 Boz Tchividjian helped me fight it. And for two months, we were dealing with RZIM's corporate attorney. I lost sleep. And I felt stressed out. And I could hardly think straight, that an organization with millions of dollars in the bank was trying to take the one thing I had left: my voice. 32:28 And if you think that's an unfair characterization, consider that RZIM has never done anything to help Lori Anne Thompson with her NDA. To this day. It's embarrassing. And I got hit from other angles that really confused me and threw me for a loop. I reached out to my whole network and people reached out to me. Mentors, respected Christian leaders, people who wrote books and talked about integrity and Christian leadership. And they had heard my heart ache. They had cared for me. They had prayed with me. They had told me they hoped I would get better. They were there for me. And then they endorsed the books of RZIM's leaders. They did events with RZIM's leaders. And I couldn't understand why they would help relaunch the ministry of people who had bullied me. I reached out I said, “Can I update you? They have not done anything to get right with me or a lot of other people. They don't have the Christian character and integrity you're always saying is so essential.” They said, “Why haven't you forgiven them?” 33:45 Some of them just refused to talk to me. They just never responded to the message. And again and again, I realized that for many Christian leaders, accountability is for anyone who gets in my way. It's never for my friend who's done something wrong. 34:09 And I didn't know that I would have flashbacks. I thought the past was the past. I didn't know that I would be at my desk trying to do work and be unable to do anything for hours because I couldn't stop thinking about a conversation I'd had with someone at RZIM. I didn't know it would keep taking days of my life. 34:29 I would log into Facebook. And Facebook would be like, here's a happy memory of you and Ravi Zacharias. I would hear a new story about RZIM's corruption. And there are so many stories that are not public. So up and down, up and down, up and down. There were times I was in so much pain, I didn't know if I would ever get better. I didn't know if it was possible to get better. I could not see a light at the end of my tunnel. And then I wouldn't get a little bit better. But something would happen. And I would go back down into that pain again. So then, when I was better, I didn't know if I would stay better. It felt so fragile. How long does this last for? When will something catch me off guard and knock me back down into the pit. 35:34 And if you feel like there is no light at the end of your tunnel, and if you wonder if you will never get better, I just wanted to say, I hear you. And then it's okay to not be okay. That was one of the main things I just kept saying to myself, it is okay, in light of what I've been through, to not be okay. 36:03 And over time, I had to accept that Ravi and RZIM had damaged me. And for a long time, I just denied that and resisted that and hated that. It felt so unfair and wrong, that they had changed who I was. And I didn't like what they had done to me. And the kind of person that they had shaped me to be through their hurt. And I felt so helpless. I mean, how do you change the past? How do you undo all the horrible things they did? You can't. I didn't know what to do with that. I didn't want to face that reality. 36:50 But at some point, I gained the strength to choose who I want it to be. I will never justify what happened. I'll never spiritualize it. All of the lies and bullying and spiritual abuse were totally wrong. But that doesn't mean I can't choose a better future for myself. 37:13 So I'm now awakened to the pain of survivors. I'm excited about that. That's a good thing God's done in me. When I see evangelical corruption, I'm not afraid to challenge it. Sometimes people say to me, Carson, are you worried that if you keep calling out all of these big name leaders for corruption is going to limit your future. And I say if it limits my future, that's not a future I want to be a part of. 37:51 I once thought Julie was a liar. And now I can call her a friend. I hit rock bottom. I might go there again sometime in the future. But I'm here today sharing with you a story of hope. I enrolled in the Doctorate of ministry programs so I can learn how to build a healthy Christian culture. Some Christian leaders decided to investigate what happened. And they published a report holding RZIM's leaders accountable. It's sad how many ignore their report. But it's great that they did that. 38:30 My former line manager at RCM reached out to make amends and over and over again, he made really sacrificial choices for my benefit. And that rebuild trust that he kept doing sacrificial things to repair our relationship. I started Uncommon Pursuit. And we're creating resources to help people grow in their Christian faith. And I read the Bible with more sensitivity to God's heart for many years, thanks to some good mentors, I had always had known for many years that God cares about the vulnerable. The orphan, the widow, the immigrant and the poor. God hates injustice. God hates racism. God hates sexism. God hates all forms of oppression. But it had shifted from being something that I could do exegetically to something I felt in my gut as I turned the pages of Scripture. 39:34 And I have developed a way more honest relationship with God. I don't pray pious prayers anymore. What I feel that's what I tell God about. And I know he can handle it. When the truth becomes a lie, when a good reputation is used to lure people in and abuse them, when the minister turns out to be a monster, it's okay not be okay. 40:05 I am not here today with any answers or advice. All I have is the story of how God has been able to handle all of my pain and helped me to start to heal. And how with God's help, this pain has helped me to choose a better version of myself. I am convinced that if we can maintain the courage to be honest with God, and with each other, about all of our reasonable and righteous disillusionment, that we will also find our way to hope. Thank you guys for the chance to share with you today. JULIE ROYS:  41:02 Well again, that was Carson Weitnauer, speaking at Restore 2023. And what a very special and moving talk that was. And I hope if you're in a place of disillusionment or discouragement today, that this talk encouraged you. Next week, we'll be releasing a fitting sequel to Carson's talk. That's a talk by Lori Anne Thompson on trauma recovery and empowerment. And this was the most raw and real talk I think I've ever heard. My husband cried during this talk. And he's a math teacher, so he's not really given to shows of emotion. But wow, Lori's talk is just so powerful—and helpful for anyone who's experienced severe trauma. So, you'll definitely want to be watching for that. Also, I want to mention that the videos of these talks are all available at my YouTube channel. A lot of conferences charge for their videos. But we've decided to make ours available for free because we don't want anyone to miss out on this valuable content because of lack of finances. But as you can imagine, these videos do cost us to shoot and edit. So, if you appreciate this content and you're able to pitch in, would you please donate to The Roys Report so we can continue this important service? To do so, just go to JulieRoys.com/Donate.  And when you give a gift of $30 or more this month, we'll send you a copy of Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer's latest book: Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers that Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture. So again, just go to JulieRoys.comDonate. Also, just a quick reminder to subscribe to The Roys Report on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. That way, you'll never miss an episode! And while you're at it, I'd really appreciate it if you'd help us spread the word about the podcast by leaving a review. And then, please share the podcast on social media so more people can hear about this great content. Again, thanks for joining me today! Hope you were blessed and encouraged!    Read more

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