1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Life Audio. This is Donna Jones and you are listening 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: to That's just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: ever been in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: that was just what I needed. You know how life 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: giving that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is 6 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: all about. We're women who want to know, love, and 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: follow God in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just 8 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: how to do it. So each week we'll talk about 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: what following God looks like in the midst of daily 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: we need, it's actually exactly what we need. Welcome to 12 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 1: the podcast, and if you are listening to day, this 13 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: podcast drops, Merry Christmas Eve. If not Merry Christmas, Happy 14 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: New Year. All of the stuff that I could wish 15 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: for you, I wish for you today, my friend. Well, 16 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: whether you're listening while you're wrapping your last gifts, you're 17 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: prepping your Christmas brunch or breakfast that you're going to 18 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: be having, or you're hiding in your car for a 19 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: quick moment of silence, I'm so glad you're here today. 20 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: I want to talk about two sides of the Christmas season. 21 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: The wonder of Christmas and the peace of Christmas, because 22 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: both are gifts God gives if we slow down enough 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: to receive them. So let's rewind all the Christmas Mary 24 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: and Bright were used to and let's go back to 25 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: the very first Christmas scene. It wasn't sparkly, it wasn't curated, 26 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: nobody had coordinated pajamas. It was raw, real, earthy, and 27 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: honestly a little chaotic, and yet it was full of wonder. 28 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: A young girl giving birth in the middle of the 29 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: night in a town that wasn't her hometown, away from 30 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: her family, a confused but faithful husband standing by her, 31 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: a feeding trough becoming the cradle for the King of kings. 32 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: This is God choosing the unexpected, the humble, the ordinary 33 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: to carry the greatest gift the world has ever known, Jesus. 34 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: In Luke two ten to eleven, the Angel appears to 35 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus, and he says, 36 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: do not be afraid. I bring you good news that 37 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: will cause great joy for all the people. Today in 38 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: the town of David, A savior has been born for you. 39 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: He is the Messiah, the Lord. The Angel didn't say 40 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: I bring you good news if your life is tidian together, 41 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: or I bring you good news if you've checked everything 42 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: off your list. Nope, the good news was for all people, 43 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: all temperaments, all backgrounds, all levels of holiday perfection, all ages, 44 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: all stages, all races, all ethnicities, all It was for 45 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: all people, and it was good news of great joy. 46 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but I could use a 47 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: little good news, and I know I could use a 48 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 1: lot of joy. I'm betting you're exactly like me. Well, 49 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: that is the message of Christmas. The wonder of Christmas 50 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: isn't about what we produce. It's about what God provided, 51 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: a savior who stepped into our mess so he could 52 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: walk us out of it. So fast forward to Christmas Eve, 53 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: which maybe when you're listening to this podcast every year 54 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: on Christmas Eve, it kind of feels like the world 55 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: just ex Hell's lights, them homes glow, even busy roads 56 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: goes still. Christmas Eve has kind of a hush to 57 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: it even today, a holy pause, and maybe that's exactly 58 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: what your heart needs this year. Christmas Eve invites us 59 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: to slow down, to breathe, to remember that God doesn't 60 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: arrive in our lives with fan fear, but with gentleness. 61 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: Maybe this Christmas season you need to sit in front 62 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: of your tree for a moment and whisper Jesus, thank 63 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: you for coming close. Maybe you need to let go 64 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: of something that's weighed you down all December, a fear, 65 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: a disappointment, a hurt that's been replaying in your mind. 66 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: Christmas reminds us that Jesus didn't come so we could 67 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: perform our way through life. He came so that we 68 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: could be rescued and saved in this life. Matthew one 69 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: twenty three says they will call him Immanuel, which means 70 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: God with us, God with us, not above us, not 71 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: disappointed in us, not fed up with our stress or 72 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: our emotions. With us today. Let him be with you 73 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: or better yet, realize that He is with you. Live 74 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:55,159 Speaker 1: with the awareness that He is there. And here's the 75 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: beautiful part. We can hold space for both the celebration 76 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: and the stone, well for the longing and for the living. 77 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: Christmas can be loud and joyful and messy and fun, 78 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: and it can also be peaceful and reflective. We're meant 79 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: to hold both. Jesus came to bring joy, real joy, 80 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: not the pretend kind. But he also came to bring peace, 81 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: Peace that does not depend upon our circumstances, but on Him. 82 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: So whether your Christmas looks like a storybook picture or 83 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: a full tilt circus, Jesus is there. He's there in 84 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: the laughter, He's there in the chaos. He's there in 85 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: the tears. He's there in the quiet. He's there in 86 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 1: the longing for things to be different. He's in the 87 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: gratitude for what is. God meets us wherever we are, 88 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: and he brings himself as the gift. I'd like to 89 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: close this Christmas episode with a Christmas blessing just for you. 90 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: May the God who came close on a quiet name 91 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: in Bethlehem come close to you today in your home, 92 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: in your heart, and in every place you feel stretched thin. 93 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,559 Speaker 1: May the peace of a manual steady you when life 94 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: feels loud, And may His joy rise gently in you, 95 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: like morning light after a long night. May you sense 96 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: His nearness in the ordinary, in the glow of a candle, 97 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: in the whispered prayer, in a moment of laughter, in 98 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: a breath of stillness you didn't know you needed. May 99 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: the love of Christ surround you. May the hope of 100 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: Christ anchor you and May the presence of Christ warm 101 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: every corner of your heart, and as you step into 102 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: the days ahead, may His grace go before you, his 103 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: strength care you, and his kindness follow you wherever you go. 104 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: Merry Christmas, my friend, May your soul feel its worth well. 105 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: I hope you enjoy today's podcast. I hope you have 106 00:06:55,680 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: the merriest holiday Christmas season, And as a reminder, let's 107 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: connect on social media. You'll find me at Donna A. 108 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 1: Jones on Instagram or Donna Jones dot org on my website. 109 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: And as always, my friend, I can't wait to see 110 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: you next time, for that's just what I needed.