Podcasts about spirit of christmas

Crisis 75-12-25 The Spirit Of Christmas

Stéphanie welcomes friend and author Cynthia Ruchti for a heartfelt conversation about an often-overlooked key Person in the Christmas story!Inspired by Cynthia's book, The Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence throughout the Advent Season, Stephanie and Cynthia weave together the truths of the gospel with the unique work of the Holy Spirit through the Christmas season.Cynthia beautifully outlines how the Holy Spirit is present at every turn in the story of Christmas. From the Spirit's role in Jesus' conception to His comfort and guidance of Mary on her journey to Elizabeth, we see that God's presence is not limited to grand, miraculous moments but extends to the quiet, unseen steps we take in our lives. Cynthia also notes that even in the last moments of silence preceding Jesus' birth (the 400 years between Malachi and the Gospels), the Spirit is waiting and then speaks to unlikely people—Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth—signaling God's readiness to move.Both Stéphanie and Cynthia share an affinity for observing—paying attention to the details that God reveals. Cynthia describes herself as an “observer” who seeks to notice God at work, longing to discover and dig deeper. She invites us to do the same: to live lives marked by holy expectancy, always searching for evidence of God's presence through His Spirit. The conversation encourages listeners to be lifelong learners of the faith—not settling for what we've always known, but continually growing in our understanding of Him.Cynthia offers to expand our understanding of the gospel: it is not only about Jesus or the Father, but involves the entire Trinity. The Father sends the Son, and the Son sends the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is integral, taking the words of Jesus and illuminating them for us, deepening our comprehension far beyond what we might realize. This broadening view challenges us to recognize the Holy Spirit's involvement not just during Christmas, but throughout all of Jesus' ministry and in every aspect of our faith journey.So, Stephanie and Cynthia invite YOU to make space for the Holy Spirit during this Advent season. Cynthia suggests that we sometimes need to let go of traditions or activities that crowd out our capacity to ponder the real meaning of Christmas. The invitation is to intentionally prepare our hearts, not just our homes, so we don't end Christmas feeling empty or disappointed but deeply satisfied by God's presence.Cynthia also brings attention to the overlooked figures in the Christmas story—the innkeeper, the cloth weavers, and countless unnamed helpers. These reminders inspire us to appreciate every person's role and to look for God among the unnoticed and ordinary.Ultimately, Cynthia and Stéphanie challenge us not just to trace the Holy Spirit through Advent, but through our entire lives. Reflect on how God's Spirit has been working—generations back, in your own childhood, and through every season. The Spirit of Christmas is an invitation to continual discovery, deepened intimacy, and expectation for what God will reveal next.Get ready for Advent: As you move through Advent, intentionally seek and observe the Holy Spirit—both in the Christmas story and your daily life. What will you notice when you look?MORE ABOUT “THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS”Discover the Holy Spirit's Presence in the Christmas Story--and Why It Matters Today· A faith-building, eye-opening daily advent devotional· Discover exciting new aspects of the story you thought you knew· Prepare your heart to fully celebrate the birth of JesusWhen we think of the first Christmas, we often focus on the wide-eyed young mother and her faithful fiancé, on tattered shepherds and singing angels and road-weary wise men. But the Holy Spirit was there--and just as He hovered over the waters in the beginning, He hovers over every page of the Christmas story.This Advent, join acclaimed author Cynthia Ruchti for a faith-building, eye-opening walk with the Holy Spirit. Highlighting the power and presence of the Spirit at work in the sacred story, each entry of this 26-day devotional contains· core verses on the Spirit's role in the narrative of Scripture· devotional thoughts perfect for the whole family· often overlooked details that will change the way you see and understand the Christmas story· space for pondering and reflection· practical application with optional projects to help you prepare and celebrate· an Advent prayerBefore the babe was conceived, the Holy Spirit was already at work, setting the stage and preparing the hearts of the biblical characters we know and love. This season, let Him set the stage and prepare your heart too.MORE ABOUT CYNTHIA RUCHTICynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, devotions, and nonfiction, and through speaking for women's events/retreats and writers' conferences/workshops. She draws from 33 years of experience writing and producing the 15-minute daily radio broadcast, “The Heartbeat of the Home.” Her books have received recognition from RT Reviewers' Choice Book of the Year, PW Starred Reviews, Selah Awards, Christian Retailing's BEST Awards, Golden Scroll Awards and Novel of the Year, Readers' Choice Awards, The Carol Award, two Christy finalists, and more. For 12 years she served as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, and is part of the worship team at her church. She's also a Senior Literary Agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and seven grandchildren.More at https://cynthiaruchti.com/ THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO PARTNER WITH GOSPEL SPICE TODAY!First, PAY Gospel Spice Forward: Give a tax-deductible gift so others can experience our ministry for free, just like you! You can pay it forward with any debit, credit card, or via PayPal. See below for more details about your impact.Also, PLAY Gospel Spice Forward: SHARE the podcast and the studies with your friends and family. FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW on your favorite podcast app (leave a comment + a star rating on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Pandora, IHeart, Google Podcast, etc…). It REALLY is the best way to help others find this content-rich podcast. And, last but not least, PRAY Gospel Spice Forward: We pray for you weekly. We covet your prayers for our ministry, the thousands we reach, and our team! Contact us to let us know you are praying for us!NEW!Another way to partner with us is to purchase our workbooks and online Bible studies. We keep them at the lowest possible cost, but they require a lot of work from us! For example, - a complete Bible Study requires an average of 500 man-hours. - a workbook for a series requires almost 100 man-hours.MORE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US FINANCIALLY:Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status.Our goal is to provide in-depth, high-quality, free Bible resources for all. They are free, but expensive to create! We need your financial support to keep producing and distributing them. Please pay Gospel Spice forward today! For example, a podcast episode takes close to 10 hours of work (and we release 2 each week). They come to you completely free, but we would truly love your support.We want the money to go to those who really need it. Once our operating costs are paid, 100% of your donation is redistributed to our partners who fight human trafficking. Each year, we aim to give as much as we can. For example, Stephanie works more than full time for Gospel Spice, entirely for free. All board members and volunteers are donating time. We limit our operational expenses to the bare minimum.Your pay-it-forward donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170.We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Thank you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogWhat matters to us here at Gospel Spice is to create a place where people who seek deeper intimacy with Jesus, will find Him. We want a warm, welcoming atmosphere to journey ever deeper into the heart of God. We believe it is the ultimate calling of the Christian life, and I like to summarize it with my motto, God's glory, our delight. That is why we invite you to “taste and see” that the Lord is good. And we have been doing this every day since 2019. We need YOU to keep Gospel Spice alive and growing.  Financially speaking, we rely on people who understand this vision and who understand that we cannot function without a minimum budget. We run an extremely tight budget. For example, I work full time but don't draw a salary. And yet, we have expenses – for example, the equipment and technology we use, and also the wonderfully gifted staff who make it possible to deliver high quality content all around the globe, and then the necessary occasional promotional budget to make it possible to be discovered by those who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need your help.  So we would love for you to consider if this ministry is blessing you to pay gospel spice forward. You can partner with us monthly with 10, 25, 50, 100, a month, or you can make one donation, once.And because we are a register nonprofit organization in the United States under the status of a 501c3 charity, it means that the amount that you pay to gospel spice is fully tax deductible. Completely tax deductible. So you're even saving money as you invest in gospel spice ministries. It is an eternal investment, and we are very grateful to you for it.Now it's very important to us that we give back as much as possible from what you give us. And so we commit to giving the majority of what we receive, once all of our administrative costs are paid, to organizations that fight human trafficking on the front line. There are many worthwhile causes in the world, so why this one? Because I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – maybe because I have never been its victim myself, so I feel a responsibility to help those less fortunate than me. Also, because Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and that is something that revolts the heart of God. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil.  So, we do some due diligence. We pick organizations who have proven themselves trustworthy of our support. And then we give money to these Christians organizations that fight human trafficking.So would you consider paying us forward at gospelspice.com/payitforward?Your hard-earned money is always well used at Gospel Spice. Ultimately, you are giving back to the Kingdom, a portion of what Jesus has given you. We are well aware of the privilege to steward your partnership. And my prayer is always that you will find your own life spiced with the gospel as you partner with us to flavor the lives of those around us, near and far, with the spice of the gospel. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Advent 2025 - The Spirit of Christmas Session 1 by HOP Blairsville

Message by: Rev. Patrick Ballington.  The Bridge Church is located at 607 Hulsey Road, Cleveland Georgia. The church that "Connects Faith and Life". Download our app by searching "The Bridge Church, Cleveland and Apple App Store or GooglePlay Store. Bridge Streams live Sundays @ 9:00 and 11:00 am. Streaming under CCLI License Number #CSPL072350

Sermons, November 2025, 1 Peter, The Spirit of Christmas, Holy Spirit, Prophecy, Pastor Ray Fowler

There are so many reasons to love Christmas: favorite songs, special meals, and the decorations that make everything feel magical. But at its core, Christmas is about God's generosity in sending Jesus to us. His love, joy, and peace are the true Spirit of Christmas. Join us this December as we discover the True Spirit of Christmas together. 

A debate show where we pick any two random things to win the coveted cup This week: The Spirit of Christmas vs. Topo Chico We learn: We can still do a show without Elton This is the second time we have recorded this episode There is a lot of wrestling talk for some reason Support Nuzzle House by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/nuzzle-house Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/nuzzle-house/a3421f45-1299-443b-9936-601d7236bbf7

What world am I living in? Munchkin second edition? Catan sponsoring basketball? The Dice Tower saying something inappropriate? Actually, that last one tracks. Plus, there was a BUNCH of new GW releases announced, so you know we'll talk about that as we get excited for Pax Unplugged!

What world am I living in? Munchkin second edition? Catan sponsoring basketball? The Dice Tower saying something inappropriate? Actually, that last one tracks. Plus, there was a BUNCH of new GW releases announced, so you know we'll talk about that as we get excited for Pax Unplugged!

Plugged In's Adam Holz talks about how the entertainment industry is wrestling with AI-generated music and actors.  What is real??  Plus, he looks at how Hollywood is wrestling with God and asking questions more recently.  Cynthia Ruchti, author of "The Spirit of Christmas," helps us see the presence and the role of the Holy Spirit in the story of Jesus birth, and how to pursue Him this Christmas season.  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Heeey what's up everyone! We are back with another episode of The Just Talk Podcast with Episode 329. Here's the breakdown.It's the holiday season! Tommy and Rich talks about Christmas and the spirit of Christmas, how the Sony CEO blames critics for the reception of Kraven, the Wicked Sing-A-Along movie version, and much more and of course, "What Have You Been Up To?"With that said, as always, we thank you all for the listens/downloads and your continuous support. WE APPRECIATE AND LOVE YOU ALL! We hope you enjoy this episode and until next time, we're going silent.Follow Us On IG@thejusttalkpodcastEmail Usthejusttalkpodcast00@gmail.comSubscribe To Us On YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo40E9rCSueQjDxPl21u8Mg

Sunday sermon 12/29/2024

First Baptist Church Broken Arrow is located at 100 W. Albany in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We would love to connect with you online and in-person! We would love to connect with you on Facebook: / fbcbrokenarrow​ You can also check out our website: https://www.fbcba.org​

Scripture: Luke 2 and Matthew 1

In this 1607th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike drops a piece of audio he had absolutely nothing to do with. Rob Preuss put this together to celebrate Christmas 2024 in the TMU. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Yes We Are Open podcast from Moneris and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at mike@torontomike.com

Christmas has finally arrived! And you probably have some gifts under a tree with your name on it, waiting to be opened! We've got another gift for you today that's ready to be received. It's the gift of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, something available to every believer. And we'll explain what that's all about. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

In these days leading up to Christmas we're bringing you a series of special messages from John Randall. We started off preparing for Christmas, and then looked at the expectation of Christmas. Now today we go on to discuss the Spirit of Christmas! And the Spirit we're referring to is the Holy Spirit. You'll soon see how He's very much involved in the Christmas story. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

Christmastime has returned to America! Our favorite holiday celebrating the rampant consumerism and fourth-quarterly profits has finally come again and […] The post The Spirit of Christmas appeared first on Mat Labotka.

In this heartfelt Christmas edition of A Cup of Joe, Joe Morton delves into the true spirit of the holiday season—love. Reflecting on traditions, music, and scientific insights, he explores how acts of kindness, gratitude, and connection create a ripple effect that brightens lives. Joe shares inspiring stories, practical tips for leading with love, and ways to carry the magic of Christmas into the new year. A perfect listen to ignite warmth, hope, and joy this holiday season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Christmas Day soccer game in No Man's Land. The Spirit of Christmas triumphed over conflict and fear, reminding us that light, hope, and love can unite even the most divided. "Christmas reminds us to think of one another. We appreciate our families more. We renew contacts with old friends. We rise above the barriers that separate us at other times of the year. Strangers exchange greetings without embarrassment. Kindliness and consideration make a comeback. The spirit of Christmas brings out the best in us." - Dallin H. Oaks

The Holy Spirit of Christmas // 12-22-24

December 22, 2024 The Spirit of Christmas: His People Pastor Darrell Feemster

As we reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus, we're reminded of the profound humility of our God. The Christmas story isn't just about a baby in a manger; it's about the Creator of the universe choosing to enter His creation in the most humble way imaginable. Born in a barn, laid in a feeding trough - this is our God, demonstrating a level of humility we can scarcely comprehend. The virgin birth, as prophesied in Isaiah, is the cornerstone of our faith. It's not just a miraculous event but the very means by which God entered the world to redeem us. As we celebrate this first advent, let's also anticipate the second one with equal joy. Just as the remnant in Israel eagerly awaited the Messiah's first coming, we too should be filled with excitement for His return. This Christmas, let's renew our wonder at God's plan of salvation and His incredible love for us. Merry Christmas!

Pastor Mich Michener - Recorded Sunday 12/22/2024

In these days leading up to Christmas we're bringing you a series of special messages from John Randall. We started off preparing for Christmas, and then looked at the expectation of Christmas. Now today we go on to discuss the Spirit of Christmas! And the Spirit we're referring to is the Holy Spirit. You'll soon see how He's very much involved in the Christmas story. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

Introducing the newest series from Deep Spirituality, "The Unbreakable Spirit of Christmas. " This series will teach you how to experience the resilient power of Jesus during the holidays and beyond. We are excited to let you know that you can now listen to The Unbreakable Spirit of Christmas as you read along on our website deepspirituality.com

Surviving retail during the holidays can feel like navigating a battlefield of long lines, stressed-out customers, and the relentless demand for cheer. And a cheesy list of funny retail sayings to bring 'humor' to the holiday madness.All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814All material, unless otherwise stated, written and performed by The Clopen EffectFrom our other podcast, the book: Anxiety Makes Me Poop, Too: https://a.co/d/3eDNUzn

Christmastime Topic of the Week from Trammin' Episode 245Christmas comes this time each year, and with it, comes its spirit. What does it mean to celebrate Christmas? To let the joy flow through you? There's more to Christmas than just Disneyland. There's a whole marshmallow world out there. In Pennsylvania, folks are Trammin'. And yet, there's no place like home for the holidays. Whether you're walking in a winter wonderland or roasting chestnuts over an open fire, sit with us for a moment, cause it's cold outside. Join Kirk & Rain as they feel the Christmas spirit on a cozy new episode of Trammin' Through the Snow!Listen to full episodes every Windsday and topic-only uploads on Big Thunder Thursdays!InstagramTrammin' - https://instagram.com/TramminPodcastChristian Rainwater - https://instagram.com/imrainwaterMusicLocal Forecast - Elevator Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Trammin' - The Disneylanders, Addy DaddyUsed with permission.Character Art & AnimationNadia Dar - https://nadsdardraws.carrd.co/Trammin.comTrammin' is written without the use of Artificial Intelligence.©Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast

In this episode, we take a heartfelt and introspective journey into the meaning of the ‘spirit of Christmas.' Is it just a warm feeling tied to traditions, or is it something deeper—an opportunity to reconnect with love, forgiveness, and divine unity? Through personal experiences and thoughtful analogies, we explore how the true gifts of Christmas might not be wrapped in paper but found in our ability to be present, release judgment, and embrace the light of connection within ourselves and others. Whether you're navigating holiday stress or seeking a deeper connection to the meaning of Christmas, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on celebrating with intention, grace, and joy. Together, let's uncover the spirit of Christmas as a daily practice of choosing love, peace, and unity.  If this episode resonated with you or you feel someone you know would benefit, please share it and take a moment to rate and review at RateThisPodcast.com/ourreimaginedlife. Until next time, Merry Christmas! I love you!

In today's bonus episode, Rachelle and Kelsey discuss the cinematic experience that is 2015's The Spirit of Christmas. Warning: we could not stop talking about sex and drugs in this episode, maybe because the movie is so chaste.Get tickets to Kelsey's book tour here!Pre-order Kelsey's book, YOU DIDN'T HEAR THIS FROM ME, here!Subscribe to our newsletter for writing from Rachelle, Se'era, Kelsey and Alex, blog recommendations, and bonus secrets!You can support Normal Gossip directly by buying merch or becoming a Friend or a Friend-of-Friend at supportnormalgossip.com.Our merch shop is run by Dan McQuade. You can also find all kinds of info about us and how to submit gossip on our Komi page: https://normalgossip.komi.io/Episode transcript here.Follow the show on Instagram @normalgossip, and if you have gossip, email us at normalgossip@defector.com or leave us a voicemail at 26-79-GOSSIP.Normal Gossip is hosted by Kelsey McKinney (@mckinneykelsey) and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin (@alexlaughs), Se'era Spragley Ricks (@seera_sharae), Ozzy Llinas Goodman (@ozzy_llinas), and Jae Towle Vieira (@jaetowlevieira). Abigail Segel (@AbigailSegel) is our intern. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Show art by Tara Jacoby.Normal Gossip is a proud member of Radiotopia.

Christmas comes this time each year, and with it, comes its spirit. What does it mean to celebrate Christmas? To let the joy flow through you? There's more to Christmas than just Disneyland. There's a whole marshmallow world out there. In Pennsylvania, folks are Trammin'. And yet, there's no place like home for the holidays. Whether you're walking in a winter wonderland or roasting chestnuts over an open fire, sit with us for a moment, cause it's cold outside. Join Kirk & Rain as they feel the Christmas spirit on a cozy new episode of Trammin' Through the Snow!Listen to full episodes every Windsday and topic-only uploads on Big Thunder Thursdays!InstagramTrammin' - https://instagram.com/TramminPodcastChristian Rainwater - https://instagram.com/imrainwaterMusicLocal Forecast - Elevator Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Trammin' - The Disneylanders, Addy DaddyUsed with permission.Character Art & AnimationNadia Dar - https://nadsdardraws.carrd.co/Trammin.comTrammin' is written without the use of Artificial Intelligence.©Trammin' - A Disneyland Podcast

In this encoure presentation we look at the fourth of the seven churches in Asia, explore the informal fallcy known as Bulverism and share a story that reminds us of the meaning of Christmas presents.

Welcome to another heartfelt episode of "Have Faith, Let It Begin" hosted by Angel Santana. As the holiday season approaches, we explore the common dilemma of last-minute Christmas shopping. Are we ultimately procrastinators or simply enjoying the thrill of finding a perfect deal? In this episode, we delve into the question of whether the essence of Christmas is truly about the exchange of gifts or if there's more to it. What if the season was about spreading goodwill and performing acts of kindness every day, rather than focusing on material presents? Join us as we contemplate the power of prayer and the idea of gifting kindness, making this festive season meaningful and spiritually fulfilling. Don't miss out on this inspiring discussion that encourages us to reimagine our holiday traditions and embrace the true spirit of giving.

Most of us are familiar with Charles Dickens,' A Christmas Carol.It's the story in which old Ebenezer Scrooge gets a visit from the “Spirit of Christmas Past” as well as two other “spirits.”  In this episode of Live the Bible, we look at the HOLY Spirit of Christmas past. Why? The Spirit of God worked in the life of a young couple, and their amazing response offers us rich insights when we look at our future. Think about the year you just came through! What will next year hold? Whatever 2025 brings, this episode gives us what we need to know to face the future with confidence. Support the show

The Holy Spirit of Christmas // 12-15-24

Uncover the legend of Krampus, the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas. From his roots in pagan solstice traditions to modern Krampuslauf parades, we explore how this nature spirit embodies the duality of light and dark, responsibility and transformation. Discover the deeper spiritual lessons of Krampus and why his story remains a hauntingly powerful part of the holiday season. --------- LINGEN INSTITUTE OF INTUITIVE STUDIES Website: https://www.lingeninstitute.com/

Are you dreaming this holiday season, or are you just trying to get by? Jesus was resolute and visionary. We can learn from his life to never quit on dreaming, but rather to quit on quitting. The holidays and new year are the perfect time to dream in ways we never have before. Join us for the first episode of our special holiday edition of the podcast which highlights our new series, "The Unbreakable Spirit of Christmas," and learn how to dream as Jesus did. The Unbreakable Spirit of Christmas study series → deepspirituality.com/christmas Subscribe to get our email series → deepspirituality.com/subscribe Show Notes "Dream On" by Ben Rector Proverbs 29:18 AMPC Mark 3:6 Voice Luke 9:51 NLT Luke 11:8 NLT A Christmas Story This Christmas

As we approach the Christmas season, we're reminded of the stark contrast between the 'Christmas spirit' and the Spirit of God. While the former is a fleeting cultural phenomenon, the latter is a constant, powerful presence available to us year-round. This message challenges us to examine our spiritual patterns and discernment. Are we as intentional about cultivating God's Spirit in our lives as we are about embracing the holiday spirit? The scripture from 1 Corinthians 2:14 reminds us that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Just as we create an atmosphere for Christmas with decorations and traditions, we're called to create an environment conducive to God's Spirit through prayer, Bible study, and worship. This parallel invites us to reflect on our daily habits and consider how we can better align our lives with God's presence, not just during special seasons, but every day. Join us for service live every Sunday at 10am at 1852 95th St, Naperville, IL 60564 (The education-wing entrance of Wheatland Salem Church)Connect with us at our website www.revivechicago.church

With Pastor Marques DunhamVisit cotr.com for more resources and sermons from GTCOTR.

December 15, 2024 The Spirit Of Christmas: It's Personal Pastor Darrell Feemster

Questions? Comments? Prayer Requests? Let us know: http://cc.gshep.us Stay connected with your Good Shepherd Family by downloading the FREE Church Center App: http://churchcenter.gshep.us Give online: http://give.gshep.us

Send us a textImagine celebrating Christmas in the rugged lands of the Old West, where pioneers faced harsh winters and isolation but still crafted warm, heartfelt celebrations. Join us as we journey back to the mid-1800s, exploring the unique and resilient festive traditions of families like the Kincaids in Oregon and William Lehigh in Routt County. These pioneers, despite their sparse resources, managed to fill their homes with the spirit of the season through homemade decorations and modest gatherings that brought them comfort and unity. Discover how these early customs not only warmed the souls of those settlers but also laid the foundation for the Christmas traditions we hold dear today.In a heartwarming tale of hope, we share the story of a Christmas tree that transformed the life of a young girl living in poverty. Despite the tree's physical decay, its symbolic light kindled joy and healing, reminding us of the powerful impact a simple act of kindness can have. As we wrap up our series, Mike and I express our gratitude to you, our listeners, for joining us in celebrating the true essence of Christmas. It's a season that unites us across generations, encouraging us to embrace hospitality and charity, and to always do a little something extra for others. Let this episode inspire you to carry forward the warmth and generosity that Christmas embodies.Support the show

What is the Spirit of Christmas? Lead Pastor John Lindell delivers a powerful message on the spirit of Christmas, reminding us why the gift of our Savior's birth is truly worthy of worship. Our prayer is this message would be an encouragement as you grow in your walk with the Lord!

The Holy Spirit of Christmas // 12-8-24

Go to www.JoniandFriends.org/Christmas to receive a downloadable version of Joni singing  “O Come All Ye Faithful." You'll also find some behind-the-scenes photos and videos and other resources there.  --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

We continue our walk through Luke 2, where infant Jesus is presented at the temple. It's there he encounters a unique prophet with a unique prophecy.

During this message, we looked at Luke chapter 1 to see the foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist. The Spirit's activity... uses unlikely people and prioritizes relationship repair. Pastor Steve Huffman guided us through these two points as we began our Christmas message series. This week be encouraged look for the invitation of the Holy Spirit in your life.

At a Christmas dinner held at our church to celebrate the cultures of the international guests, I joyfully clapped along to the sound of the darbuka (a type of drum) and the oud (a guitar-like instrument), as a band played the traditional Middle Eastern carol, “Laylat Al-Milad.” The band’s singer explained the title means “Nativity Night.” The lyrics remind hearers that the spirit of Christmas is found in serving others, in ways like offering a thirsty person water or comforting someone weeping. This carol likely draws from a parable where Jesus commends His followers for deeds they’d done for Him: providing food when He was hungry, drink when He was thirsty, and companionship and care when He was sick and alone (Matthew 25:34—36). Instead of simply accepting Jesus’ commendation, the people in the parable are surprised—thinking they hadn’t actually done these things for Christ. He responded, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (v. 40). During the holiday season, the encouragement to get in the Christmas spirit is often a nudge toward expressing a festive attitude. “Laylat Al-Milad” reminds us that we can put into practice the true Christmas spirit by caring for others. And amazingly, when we do, we not only serve others but Jesus too.

The Holy Spirit of Christmas // 12-1-24