Podcasts about Longing

Remember when crafting a Christmas wish list felt like one of the biggest decisions of the entire year? This episode, we're taking a trip back to those times when the Sears catalog, a handful of crayons, or a carefully written letter to the North Pole were all it took to dream big. Join us as we reminisce about the toys we circled, the treasures we hoped for, and the ways we let Santa know exactly what we wanted waiting under the tree. (May contain some explicit language.) Patreon » patreon.com/genxgrownupDiscord » GenXGrownUp.com/discordFacebook » fb.me/GenXGrownUpTwitter » GenXGrownUp.com/twitterWebsite » GenXGrownUp.comPodcast » GenXGrownUp.com/podMerchandise » GenXGrownUp.com/merchTheme: “Grown Up” by Beefy » beefyness.com Apple » itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/genxgrownup-podcast/id1268365641CastBox » castbox.fm/channel/GenXGrownUp-Podcast-id2943471?country=usPocket Casts » pca.st/8iuLAudible » amz.run/6yhRTuneIn » tunein.com/radio/GenXGrownUp-Podcast-p1020342/Spotify » spoti.fi/2TB4LR7iHeart » www.iheart.com/podcast…Amazon Music » amzn.to/33IKfEK Show Notes How The Sears Catalog Shaped Holiday Shopping Memories » bit.ly/49hgWf6 80's Christmas Wishbooks » bit.ly/4aSl3iX Sears and Other Old-Time Catalogs We Miss » bit.ly/3XVP8GZ 1984 Sears Christmas Wish Book : Lost Library of the Atypical and Unobtainable » bit.ly/4s2zY0i Why I'm Longing for an 80s Christmas and the Magic of the Sears Wish Book » bit.ly/44BzVi2 Hey 80s kids! Remember Toys R Us catalogs & picking out the best stuff for your gift list? » bit.ly/3Yxn3WB 12 Rad Ways We Celebrated Christmas in the 80s » bit.ly/4oYIP0k Email the show » podcast@genxgrownup.com Visit us on YouTube » GenXGrownUp.com/yt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of ADHD strategies that don't work? Here's what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup_____What if the intensity you've chased in relationships wasn't love, but dopamine?Amanda McCracken is an award winning journalist, endurance athlete, and intimacy researcher who was diagnosed with ADHD at 36, long after she had built a successful career. From the outside, her life looked accomplished and disciplined. Inside, she struggled with distraction, emotional intensity, anxiety, and a lifelong pattern of romantic fixation. In this episode, Amanda shares how ADHD showed up quietly in her life, from trichotillomania and overthinking to using extreme exercise as a form of self regulation, long before she had language for what was actually happening.The conversation centers on limerence, a psychological state of intense romantic longing marked by obsession, idealization, and emotional highs and lows. Amanda explains how limerence thrives on uncertainty, making it especially powerful for ADHD brains that crave novelty and fast dopamine. Tracy and Amanda explore how rejection sensitivity, perfectionism, and trauma can blur the line between desire and self worth, and why many women mistake intensity for connection. Amanda also shares how chasing emotionally unavailable partners became an organizing force in her life, and how that pattern kept her stuck in fantasy instead of intimacy. She also had to confront a deeper truth: real intimacy feels quieter than fantasy. Today, Amanda is married to a securely attached partner and is the author of When Longing Becomes Your Lover, a deeply personal exploration of limerence, ADHD, and what it takes to receive love instead of chasing it.Resources:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-mccracken-4716373 Website: https://www.amandajmccracken.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.mccracken.39 Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn't a productivity problem. It's an identity problem. That's why most strategies don't stick—they weren't designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It's a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits.

In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1) Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from  recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come": Why PATIENCE AND PRACTICE matter just as much for self-published authors Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 446 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “I don't have the tools to fix this”? The harder you try...self-help, success, therapy, politics, better habits...the more stuck you feel. Anxiety grows. Anger leaks out. Old patterns won't loosen. You're not just tired…you're lost.This Advent message goes straight to that quiet, aching longing we all carry: the need for real rescue. Not advice. Not motivation. Not another strategy, but help from Someone stronger than us.Through the Christmas story in Luke 2, we're reminded that Jesus didn't come as a life coach or moral example. He came as a Savior. For the helpless. For the wandering. For those who've tried to save themselves and found it only made things worse.If you've ever felt alone, overwhelmed, or afraid that you're doing irreparable damage to your life, this message is for you. Christmas declares this good news: you don't have to fix yourself. A Shepherd has come. A Rescuer has been born.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:When in your own life have you felt like you were “stripping the bolts”—trying harder and harder to fix something in yourself, only to feel more stuck?When you hear Scripture describe humanity as “lost” or “helpless” (Isa. 53:6, Jer. 50:6, Luke 19:10), what feelings rise in you—resistance, relief, confusion? Why?Of the four “secular rescue stories” we reviewed (self-help, consumerism, therapy-as-savior, ideology), which one are you most tempted to trust apart from God? What does it promise you?What part of the announcement “A Savior is born to you” (Luke 2:11) encourages you personally this year?What do you sense God leading you to do in response to your reflections?+ + + + +Hey, while you're here, please help Generation by clicking the 'Subscribe' button, then click on the BELL

2025 Advent Devotionals: “Longing for the Presence of God”Copyright © 2025 Steve Hoogerhyde. All rights reserved.All Bible references are taken from the New International Version (2011) unless otherwise noted.

Thank you for joining us! This week our Adult Discipleship Pastor, Danny Martin, takes us through a sermon titled, "How to Walk in Joy When Plan's Don't Go to Plan,” teaching from Luke 2:1-7.If you haven't already, click⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to download the Sermon Application Guide to follow along.For more information on how to get connected with Five Oaks Church, visit⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiveoaks.church/connect-me

Pastor Fletcher preaches from Hebrews 4:1-14.

December 14, 2025Jesus Came to Restore Peace for All NationsActs 10:1 – 11:18Jacob Smith preaching,Acts Series: The Acts of the Risen King JesusAdvent Series: Remembering Jesus' First Coming, Longing for His ReturnClick here to listen

Welcome to the third week of our Advent Meditation Journey. If you're longing for a more meaningful Advent season, this meditation invites you to pause and reflect on the deeper joy that often hides beneath the noise and hustle of December. Each week, we focus on a different theme—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—and today we turn our attention to joy. Joy is more than a fleeting feeling—it's rooted in what we love and how we live. This short reflection will guide you to consider the longings that shape your joy and help you notice where God may be meeting you right now. So take a few moments, find a quiet space, and let yourself be still. Wherever you are, however you are, know that God welcomes you here. Let's begin. We at the Thrive Center wish you a season filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ. To receive all four meditations, visit  https://thethrivecenter.org/ and sign up for our newsletter  Check out our blog - Third Sunday of Advent: Joy. https://thethrivecenter.org/third-sunday-of-advent-joy/ About the Thrive Center Learn more at thethrivecenter.org. Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenter Follow us on X @thrivecenter Follow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter   About Dr. Pam King Dr. Pam King is Executive Director the Thrive Center and is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.  Follow her @drpamking.   About With & For Host: Pam King Senior Director and Producer: Jill Westbrook Operations Manager: Lauren Kim Social Media Graphic Designer: Wren Juergensen Special thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and the Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.

Luke 2:8-12

Conversations from the heart and soul of Humanity Church with Nathan Neighbour. For more information, visit www.humanitychurch.com LINKS: CONNECT CARD: https://humanitychurch.com/card JOIN A GROUP: https://humanitychurch.churchcenter.com/groups/humanity-groups GIVE: https://humanitychurch.churchcenter.com/giving   Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, freedom from addiction, body and spirit connection, overcoming temptation, Christian living, spiritual transformation, breaking bad habits, temple of the Holy Spirit, Christian discipline, agency, integrity, mindfulness, spiritual freedom, body stewardship, Christian self-control.

Preaching: Ben ConachanMuch is wrong with the world and it breaks our hearts. We feel discouraged. We feel overwhelmed. We feel hopeless. Our Advent sermon series, Held by Longing, will plumb the depths of our sorrow. But then, we'll keep going. We'll follow the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures in considering how our discouragement, overwhelm, and hopelessness can, like the North Star, hold us in light that guides us onward. Onward, to participate in Divine Love, which is capable of making all things new.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Longing For His Presence | Pastor Brandon Risch | Advent: Week 3 | December 14, 2025

Catch the message, "Home For Christmas: Longing For Home" by Pastor Scott Jones.Deep within every heart is a longing to be home — not in a place, but in the presence of God. From the wilderness wanderings to Babylonian exile, Israel's story is one of homesickness for God's promise. They sang by the rivers of Babylon and wept for Zion. Yet through prophets and poets, God reminded them that the journey wasn't over — that one day he would bring His people home again. This longing is the echo of Eden in every human soul — the ache that Christmas begins to heal.

In a world that often pulls us inward, leading to despair, apathy, and distraction, Advent calls us to embrace an upward longing as we anticipate Christ's return. This sermon delves into how the four themes of Advent—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—guide us from self-centeredness to Kingdom living between Christ's first and second coming.

Lectionary readings for the third Sunday of Advent: Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1:46b-55; Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11; James 5:7-10⁠Access a digital copy of the practice guide here⁠.

Join us this week for the third message in our Advent series as we focus on the theme of Joy.  In a world that often feels heavy, we want to reflect on the kind of joy that lasts- joy rooted in Christ. 

1 A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke. 2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence. 3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied. 5 A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace. 6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth. 8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats. 9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. 10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice. 11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death. 15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard. 16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing. 18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored. 19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. 20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. 21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous. 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous. 23 An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, but injustice sweeps it away. 24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him. 25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast

In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes. Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing success EP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0  

Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis episode explores the Eastern patristic understanding of Christmas through the doctrines of divine energies, synergy, and man as microcosm. Drawing on Aristotle, Philo of Alexandria, and Church Fathers like Athanasius, the discussion examines why all creation groans for the incarnation and how Christ's becoming creature rebuilds the bridge between God and cosmos. The incarnation is presented not merely as a legal transaction but as the initiation of cosmic healing—a "good infection" that restores humanity's mediating role and allows all creation to partake of divine nature.All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Wednesday evening message from the pulpit of Shawano Baptist Church

A sun at rest can see farther. That's the mood we step into as we explore the Ninth House with artist-astrologer Amanda Simon—an airy, unhurried place where conviction meets humility, myth meets method, and meaning proves itself alive. We trace how the Ninth becomes the sun's joy, not as a grind toward achievement but as a space to linger, radiate, and speak from what you truly know. The conversation moves between lunar nearness and solar reach, pairing the Third House's intimate tending with the Ninth House's bold broadcast so ideas stay touchable and true.We look at conviction's double edge—how it opens futures when rooted in experience, and how it burns when it ossifies into dogma. From Speaker's Corner to Orpheus in the underworld, we track the classic arc of ordeal, boon, and return, and name the cultural wound of skipping the return in favor of productivity. Hestia's inviolate flame threads through, a reminder that the inner light doesn't go out; it can be faint, but never extinguished. That insight pairs with the first–fifth–ninth triad—“I am, I want, I know”—as a living check-and-balance against ego, hedonism, and rigid belief.To make all this usable, Amanda introduces techne: the practices that invite reciprocity with the more-than-human world. Writing, sculpture, breathwork, pilgrimage, ritual—these repeated gestures create a reliable bridge for insight, a ladder you can climb without claiming to own the heavens. We close with Michelangelo's almost-touching hands, honoring the gap between human and divine as the Ninth House's sacred tension: reach without grasp, radiate without rush, know without certainty. If you've been craving a wiser tempo and a more generous voice, this is your invitation to dwell well, then share what you've seen.If this conversation lit a spark, follow, rate, and review the show, or share it with someone who needs a slower sun today.*Above blurb auto-generated by Buzzsprout's AI companion.Cover Art: Creation of Adam, Michelangelo (1475–1564), circa 1511If you would like to journey with Amanda here are some new 2026 offeringsGroup processes to cultivate astrological sensitivity Primal Astrology the art of Cosmological listening with Claire Loussouarn (hybrid) starting Feb 2026  Chiron and other centaurs who hear timeless whispers with Amanda Simon - an online 8 month experiential journey to grow felt relationship with centuaric consciousness as Chiron moves from Aries to Taurus - starting Feb 2026 Temple tending - tender temples with Milena Kadziela - practice group working with the cycle of the year to support cultivating intimacy with the living sky through growing a basis of being & poetic basis of being through somatic and creative practice . In person and on line starting March 2026 please email beckonedbythestars@gmail.com for interest and to arrange a call to explore further Fire Signs experiential elements course through Hermes Hestia centreFor 1 : 1 consults and longer journeys please visit amandasimon.co.uk or email beckonedbythestars@gmail.comJoin the Newsletter! Podcast Musician: Marlia CoeurPlease consider becoming a Patron to support the show!Go to OnTheSoulsTerms.com for more.

(00:00-13:00) Good head space Wednesday. Robert Thomas talking about what went wrong last night and dealing with all the injuries. It's Joe Burrow and Raven Symone's birthday today. What's the longest movie ever? Longing for an erotic story for QFTA. People seem to be enjoying the Freese and Maroon podcast.(13:08-36:25) Our friend and Blues insider Jeremy Rutherford joins us in studio. Injuries starting pile up with 5 forwards out of the lineup. Rough second period last night and for most of the season. Outscored 41-25 in the second period this year. Is JR clearning his schedule for May and June for the NHL playoffs? JR says Hofer wouldn't be traded before Binnington. What could you get for Binnington? The Apple Butter Festival in Kimmswick. Parayko still without a goal. JR doesn't like putting IKEA furniture together. Blues sign Dillon Dube to AHL contract.(36:35-49:42) Peter Puck didn't watch the Blues game last night. Are you concerned about the Braggin' Rights game? Dodgers nab Edwin Diaz and now talks about going after Tarik Skubal. What's worse: The CFB playoff system or MLB system? Is Mookie Betts a HOFer? Phillip Rivers may get the nod for the Colts this weekend. Not the first grandpa to play in the NFL.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Rangers are Christmas shopping like the rest of us: broke, stressed, and pretending everything's fine. Norm breaks down how Texas tries to rebuild a contender on a budget that shrank faster than your paycheck after holiday gifts… and spoiler: it's not pretty.Then we pivot into college football, where 61% of teams get bowl bids now—because apparently eligibility is just a cute suggestion. Coaches are fleeing, players are portal-hopping for NIL checks, bowl games are being declined like a bad Tinder date, and conferences are fining their own teams for saying “nah, we're good.”It's festive chaos. And Norm is wondering—loudly—if the “good old days” are starting to look a lot better in the rearview mirror. CHAPTERS0:00 – Norm Wonders About Rangers Christmas Shopping & CFB Chaos0:22 – Sponsor: Fluent Financial1:26 – The Rangers' Annual Holiday Tradition: Not Enough Money2:01 – A Team Full of Holes & a Wallet Full of Nothing2:22 – Budget Reality Check (Except for the Dodgers, of course)3:25 – Attendance Drop = Big Ouch for Ray Davis4:08 – $25 Million Gone… Like Hot Dogs at a Doubleheader4:20 – The TV Revenue Problem That Keeps Revenuing Nothing5:06 – The Rangers' Budget Math: It's Giving ‘Spreadsheet Panic'5:54 – Shopping for a Catcher: Please Be Cheap6:30 – Searching for a Quality Starter on a Clearance Rack7:01 – Evan Carter's Back & The Outfield Problem7:47 – The Bullpen Needs… More of Everything8:59 – Closers Cost HOW MUCH?!?9:27 – Can You Cobble Together a Bullpen Twice?9:51 – Rangers' Christmas Shopping Deadline: Yesterday10:32 – Sponsor: Bob's Steak & Chop House10:54 – Sponsor: Full Moon Healing Balm11:47 – College Football: 84 Teams in Bowl Games (Yes… 84)12:16 – 61% of Teams Make Bowls… Participation Trophy Season12:51 – Some Bowl Games Are Absolutely Junk13:00 – Five-Win Teams Are Bowl Teams Now. Sure. Why Not.13:21 – Kansas State & Iowa State Say “No Thanks” to Bowls13:39 – Why Coaches Leaving = Bowl Game Bailouts14:11 – Transfer Portal Chaos & NIL Checks Everywhere15:10 – Players Skipping Bowls: Protect the Bag15:38 – Big 12 Fines Two Teams $500K for Saying No16:25 – College Football's Dysfunction in Full Holiday Bloom17:38 – Notre Dame vs ACC Drama (Because Why Not?)18:21 – Longing for the ‘Good Ol' Days' (Yes, Even the Cheating)18:56 – Final Sponsor Message19:18 – Norm's Closing Thoughts19:49 – Mary Signs Off19:59 – Stolen Water Media Production

Voices in My Head Podcast – Episode 605: Christmas Cards - A Christmas Sermon by Rick Lee James Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 605: The God Who Lets Us Carry Him   In this special Advent/Christmas episode, chaplain, songwriter, and host Rick Lee James shares a chapel message from Springfield Regional Medical Center titled “The God Who Lets Us Carry Him.”   Drawing from Jeremiah 10:5 and Matthew 2:13–18, Rick explores the tension between:   Idols that must be carried because they are lifeless And Jesus, God in the flesh, who chooses to be carried as a vulnerable baby     Rather than the soft, sentimental scenes we see on many Christmas cards, Rick invites us into the real world Jesus was born into—a world of:   A small, ordinary village (Bethlehem) Roman occupation and political fear Herod's brutality and the Massacre of the Innocents Refugee families fleeing in the night Grieving mothers and real human sorrow     From there, he proclaims the hope of Christmas: that God does not wait for a perfect world to show up, but enters the world as it actually is—vulnerable, dependent, “carry-able” in human arms. This is a God who walks at three miles an hour, slowing down to move at human speed, to stop, to touch, to weep, to heal, and even to entrust Himself to us.   Along the way, Rick reflects on:   Jeremiah's image of idols as “scarecrows in a cucumber field” How idols only gain “power” when we give them our imagination Historical background on Herod the Great and Bethlehem's likely size The courage and defiant hope of a God who lets Himself be carried by Mary and Joseph The contrast between Hallmark-style Christmas and the raw honesty of the Gospel     The episode concludes with Rick's original song “Christmas Cards,” a musical meditation on the parts of the story we don't usually see on our mantels—the fear, the flight, the soldiers in the streets—and the deeper hope that God is greater than the version of Christmas our cards describe.     Scriptures referenced in this episode:   Jeremiah 10:5 – “Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak; they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.” Matthew 2:13–18 – The flight into Egypt and the Massacre of the Innocents       Highlights:   Why a God who chooses to be carried is the opposite of a powerless idol How the first Christmas speaks hope into fear, grief, and injustice “A God small enough to be carried is a God big enough to save the world.” Closing performance of Rick's original song “Christmas Cards”       Connect with Rick Lee James:   Website: RickLeeJames.com Music & merch: search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform Subscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.     Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast                 Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20 ----more---- Don't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp. Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase. Blessings, Rick Lee James Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com Don't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp. Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase. Blessings, Rick Lee James Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com Blessings, Rick Lee James Get the new song - Whatever You Do VINYL SALE THUNDER by Rick Lee James ONLY $9.99. (Plus you get a free digital download of the album) VINYL SALE - “KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD” BY RICK LEE JAMES

Why do we often long for the very thing that once enslaved us? What keeps us trapped in situations from which God has already delivered us? Join us for a workshop of Numbers 11, as we explore the children of Israel's journey in the wilderness. You will gain insight and find hope for overcoming this pattern.

Mark Williams-Wynn takes us back to the wilderness of Exodus to contrast the Israelites' distant longing with the confident hope we have today to speak with God face-to-face.

Esther Guy leads us through an examination of longing, and it's connection to a life of wild obedience.Support the show

Rev. Rachel Rhodes - Zephaniah 3:14-20

Isaiah 11: 1-10Today's sermon explores how Jesus understands the poor and the powerless. The Son of God didn't come down as someone with large amounts of wealth and power, he came into a family who was considered poor.

And today: longing fulfilled! So excited! To get our fabulous new book, go to https://happybooks.me/exploring

Part #17 – A Song of Hope Psalm 42:1, 3, 5, 10 Five Steps to Renewed Hope 1. Longing for God When the Soul Is Parched (Psalm 42:1) 2. Lecturing the Soul When Feelings Fail (Psalm 42:5) 3. Leaning on God When the “Waves” Roll Over You (Vss. 6–11) Matthew 19:14 4. Looking to God When People Wound You (Psalm 43:1–4) ● Verse 1 — “Plead my cause…” ● Verse 3 — “O send out Thy light and Thy truth…” ● Verse 15 — reference to 1 Corinthians 2:12–13. Psalm 43:3–4 5. Lifting Your Voice Even Before Circumstances Change Psalm 43:5 Three Tools for the Days When Your “Barometer Drops” 1. Remember His Presence — Longing ● When God feels far, call out to Him. 2. Recall His Faithfulness — Lecturing ● Talk back to your own emotions using Scripture. 3. Rely on His Truth — Light ● Let God's Word cut through the darkness.

If you've ever felt restless, homesick, or like something in life is just… missing—you're not alone. This Advent message explores the deep ache we all carry for a place where everything is finally right. From the groaning of creation in Romans 8 to the story that began in Eden and culminates in Jesus' arrival, we discover why our longings are real, where they come from, and why they point us home. In a world that feels weary and out-of-place, Advent reminds us that Home has come for us—and Home is coming again. If you're tired, searching, or hoping for more, this episode invites you to the One who can finally satisfy the longing in your soul.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:1. Where do you most feel the “longing for home” in your own life right now? (i.e. where do yousense restlessness, incompleteness, or longing — even if things around you look “fine”?)2. How does understanding that our original home with God was lost (Genesis 3) help you makesense of the deep longings and frustrations you feel today?3. In what ways has Jesus in His first coming (Advent) already begun restoring a sense of“home” in your life? Where have you tasted that “foretaste of glory” Paul talks about in Romans8:23?4. How does the promise of our future home with God (Revelation 21; Romans 8; John 14)reframe the way you view your temporary pains and/or unmet desires in the present?5. What behavior or mindset would change in your life this week if you fully embraced the realityof the HOME you have in Jesus (now and forever)?+ + + + +Hey, while you're here, please help Generation by clicking the 'Subscribe' button, then click on the BELL

Text: Ruth 2For more resources and information from Anthem Church, visit us at https://www.anthemcolumbia.com/

Brian reflects on our longing, glory, and shalom, and how each points us to Jesus, the One who fulfills the deepest desires of the human soul.

Welcome to the second week of our Advent Meditation Journey. In this sacred season of waiting, we turn our attention to peace—not just as a feeling, but as a way of being rooted in God's presence. This meditation invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and explore the longings that stir beneath the surface. However you are today—tense or calm, weary or expectant—you are welcome here. Let this be a moment to bring your whole self before God and receive the peace that passes understanding. To receive all four meditations, visit  https://thethrivecenter.org/ and sign up for our newsletter  https://youtu.be/FYCPLepj1kU We at the Thrive Center wish you a season filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ. Check out our blog - Second Sunday of Advent: Peace. About the Thrive Center Learn more at thethrivecenter.org. Follow us on Instagram @thrivecenter Follow us on X @thrivecenter Follow us on LinkedIn @thethrivecenter   About Dr. Pam King Dr. Pam King is Executive Director the Thrive Center and is Peter L. Benson Professor of Applied Developmental Science at Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.  Follow her @drpamking.   About With & For Host: Pam King Senior Director and Producer: Jill Westbrook Operations Manager: Lauren Kim Social Media Graphic Designer: Wren Juergensen Special thanks to the team at Fuller Studio and the Fuller School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy.

Philippians 4:2-9

Preaching: Ben ConachanMuch is wrong with the world and it breaks our hearts. We feel discouraged. We feel overwhelmed. We feel hopeless. Our Advent sermon series, Held by Longing, will plumb the depths of our sorrow. But then, we'll keep going. We'll follow the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures in considering how our discouragement, overwhelm, and hopelessness can, like the North Star, hold us in light that guides us onward. Onward, to participate in Divine Love, which is capable of making all things new.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.

Once we taste the grace of Christ, our lives will never be the same. Today, R.C. Sproul tells the story of an outcast whose encounter with Jesus brought satisfaction to her soul's deepest desires. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/living-water-for-longing-souls/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

I am SO EXCITED to talk to Pastor Rich Villodas about Advent and the Christian calendar. Advent officially started yesterday and Rich is helping us better understand why the Christian calendar even matters and what Advent means to our relationship with God. We're going to talk about what it looks like to wait well (which I don't like to do!), and we unpack the reality of living in the middle of both pain and rejoicing. Advent is all of it, right?  If you're looking for a study to go through this Advent, it's not too late to start one. You can grab it today and jump right in. Our Stay Tuned series is available to download now at shopanniefdowns.com AND you're going to love hearing about Rich's Advent devotional, Waiting for Jesus, today. If you're following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, We're on page 127. As always, the guidebook is available for you at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . .  Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guest If you enjoyed this episode, I think you'd also love: Advent Makes Space for our Grief, but Christmas Makes Space for our Joy with Lanier Ivester- Episode 943 Episode 500: She Reads Truth + Advent . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp: My friends get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Our Place: Our Place is having their biggest sale of the year right now! Save up to 35% site-wide through December 2nd. Shop the Our Place Black Friday Sale right now, no code needed at ourplace.com. Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. AG1: If you go to drinkag1.com/soundsfun you'll get the welcome kit, a Morning Person hat, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, an AG1 Flavor Sampler, and you'll get to try their new sleep supplement AGZ for free! WayFair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at ⁠capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun⁠. Helix Sleep: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 27% off sitewide.  Wonder Project: Start your free trial and make sure to choose the annual subscription at watch.thewonderproject.com/thatsoundsfun. When you pick the annual plan, you save money and directly support their mission to bring more of these stories to the world.  NIV Application Bible: If you're looking for a new Bible or know someone you'd like to gift a Bible to, I highly recommend the ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠! Antique Candle Co: Use code “thatsoundsfun” to get a free Gift Set on any order of $40 or more through Dec 15 at ⁠antiquecandleco.com⁠.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we begin our Advent journey in Eden, a place of freedom, communion, and life without shame. Eden is not only a moment in history, but also an interior garden within each of our hearts. We talk about the deep ache we all feel for union, rest, and peace, and how this longing reveals our original design for communion with God. We also reflect on the shame that often accompanies this desire for communion with others, especially when our desires are left unmet, and how bringing these places of poverty to Jesus opens us up to real, lived communion with Him.   Heather's One Thing - The Renew Conference in Toronto Heather's Other One Thing - Her Advent Worship Playlist Sister Miriam's One Thing - Sacred Anchor Artisans (Catholic Etsy!) founded by Tim and Molly Olsen Michelle's One Thing - The Inspired Living and this Chrism Candle Michelle's Other One Thing - Fr. Innocent Montgomery, CFR   Welcome, dear friends… to this Advent journey, a pilgrimage of the heart, through four sacred spaces where heaven once touched the earth.   These are the places of Advent. Eden. Loreto. Elizabeth's home. And a stable under starlight.   Each one holds a mystery… a whisper of God's coming, a rhythm of waiting, a quiet invitation to abide.   We begin… in Eden — the garden of beginnings and original designs, Here, everything was whole once, every breath in attunement with God's own. But even in the ache of what was lost, something sacred remains, a longing, a promise, a memory of shalom harmony still written in our bones.   Eden reminds us: our waiting is not empty. It is the remembering of love that has never stopped pursuing us.   Journal Questions: What are the unique gifts that God has placed inside of you? When do I experience shame in the ache for communion? When have I recently experienced a rupture from Eden? Who in your life allows you to feel at home and at ease? How can I return to Eden through a daily practice?   Discussion Questions: How have you experienced yourself as a gift? When have you experienced an ache for Eden in your life? When do you feel exiled from Eden? What glimpses of Eden have you seen in your life recently?   Quote to Ponder: "We all long for Eden, and we are constantly glimpsing it: our whole nature at its best and least corrupted, its gentlest and most human, is still soaked with the sense of exile." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien)   Scripture for Lectio: "Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." (Genesis 2:25)   Sponsor - Altar + Home: Altar and Home by Conception Abbey exists to bring the beauty of Benedictine spirituality into your domestic church. The way we as Benedictine monks punctuate our days with prayer. The way we balance prayer and work (ora et labora). The way we pray with scripture in lectio divina. The way we live in community to support one another. Incorporating these treasures into your daily lives can draw you and your domestic church into Christ one day – one prayer – at a time. Our online store offers intentionally Catholic products for every occasion and every season. Lectio Divina rosary guides, daily journals, greeting cards, sacrament gifts, icons, and prints, along with books, bibles, and everything you need to make your home a sacred space.  Make Advent and Christmas a time of joy and peace with our Monk-Curated Collections—bundled sets specifically chosen by the monks to share our lives with each of you. They make the perfect gift for the Catholic in your life. Through this Altar + Home ministry, the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey share the prayer God calls us to at the altar into the domestic church of our customers as we seek to cultivate one holy, apostolic, Catholic Church. We invite you shop with us at www.altarandhome.org. Use the discount code ABIDE to get 20% off your order.   Chapters:  00:00 Altar + Home 01:25 Intro 02:17 Welcome to Eden 09:38 Our Heart is a Garden and Place of Communion 11:18 We are Made as a Gift 13:32 Healing from Shame in Our Ache 17:57 Homesickness and Exile 20:23 God is Longing for Us 22:16 Imaginative Prayer 24:13 The Goodness of Our Bodies 26:06 Inviting the Lord into Communion 27:47 Advent is a Time of Preparation 29:32 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0