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Speaker 1: Being confident of this very thing, that he who began

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Speaker 1: a good work in you will complete it until the

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Speaker 1: day of Jesus Christ Philippians won six. Dear Lord, we

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Speaker 1: know that there is no circumstance that could ever thwart

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Speaker 1: the mighty work You've been doing in our lives. You

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Speaker 1: are determined to redeem us and restore the broken parts

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Speaker 1: of our lives. We recognize that the process of sanctification

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Speaker 1: and growth takes time. Give us patience when we are discouraged,

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Speaker 1: Give us endurance when the storms of life seek to

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Speaker 1: throw us off course. The story of Christmas, the arrival

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Speaker 1: of your son, reminds us that your plans take time

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Speaker 1: to come to fruition, but they are worth the weight.

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Speaker 1: So here we are, Lord, waiting on you and declaring

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Speaker 1: trust in your timing. We love you and praise you

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Speaker 1: in all seasons in Jesus's name. Amen.

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Speaker 2: Joseph tossed and turned in his sleep. The vivid dream

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Speaker 2: God gave him before he married Mary flooded back into

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Speaker 2: his mind, the dream he had when the angels spoke

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Speaker 2: to him about Jesus. The lightning flashed again, a piercing light,

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Speaker 2: and Joseph immediately found himself elsewhere. He was at the

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Speaker 2: base of a cave carved into the side of a mountain.

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Speaker 2: All was quiet, and the only light source was from

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Speaker 2: within the cave. Joseph followed the faint glimmer, keeping his

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Speaker 2: balance on the cave's jagged walls. As he inched closer,

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Speaker 2: the air became warmer, like a room filled with the

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Speaker 2: comfort of a fireplace. The entire cave became filled with

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Speaker 2: the scent of frankinsense, and myrh As josephnavid the cave,

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Speaker 2: he could hear the sound of a child's cry, then

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Speaker 2: a hushing lullaby. The voice singing was gentle and soft,

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Speaker 2: like the evening spring breeze. Joseph knew that voice.

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Speaker 1: Mary, is that you? He gasped.

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Speaker 2: Joseph picked up his pace and rounded the corner towards

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Speaker 2: the light. But before he could see anything, the cave

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Speaker 2: flooded with water, and Joseph found himself swimming for his

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Speaker 2: life amidst a violet storm in the middle of the sea.

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Speaker 2: Joseph awoke in a coold sweep. He held his chest

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Speaker 2: and looked over at Mary, sound asleep. He looked at

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Speaker 2: the horizon, foreboding storm clouds were galloping in from the east.

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Speaker 2: Joseph rose and began to prepare the donkey for a

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Speaker 2: quick escape. He wasn't sure why God had returned the

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Speaker 2: vision to him, but he knew better than to ignore

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Speaker 2: his dreams.

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Speaker 3: I'm so glad you've joined us on the Bible in

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Speaker 3: a Year podcast today, But before we get to today's episode,

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Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love

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Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you

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Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment

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Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits

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Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention,

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Speaker 3: but it's in the midst of all this crush and

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Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and

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Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help

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Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving,

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Speaker 3: life changing word by sending you my free daily email devotional,

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Speaker 3: PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign up

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Speaker 3: for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org, Jack

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Speaker 3: Graham dot org. In our previous episodes, Mary and Joseph

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Speaker 3: endured robbery, marital tension, and injuries. Ultimately, they grew stronger

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Speaker 3: because of it. This episode will take us through the

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Speaker 3: final few days of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.

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Speaker 3: And although they've endured many trials already, the worst is

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Speaker 3: yet to come. A storm is brewing in the distance.

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Speaker 3: Will Mary be able to endure the weather this late

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Speaker 3: in her pregnancy. Joseph has faced robbers to protect Mary,

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Speaker 3: but can he face the monsoon. Let's immerse ourselves in

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Speaker 3: this story and put ourselves in their shoes. Let's consider

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Speaker 3: the storms in our lives that seek to knock us

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Speaker 3: off course. How do we respond to difficulty and despair?

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Speaker 3: We'll answer those questions and more afterward. Let's dive into

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Speaker 3: this dramatic story of Mary and Joseph's final day on

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Speaker 3: the road to Bethlehem.

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Speaker 2: Mary awoke to the sound of thunder. The winds picked up,

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Speaker 2: bringing a foreboding message a storm was coming. Joseph was

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Speaker 2: already awake and securing the straps on the donkey. Do

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Speaker 2: you think the storm will travel south? Mary asked, gesturing

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Speaker 2: to the the lightning in the distance. Joseph looked out

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Speaker 2: and shook his head. He felt his chest tighten. The

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Speaker 2: winds are blowing westward. I'm no sailor, but I think

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Speaker 2: I can confidently say this storm is headed our way.

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Speaker 2: Joseph pointed forward to the hills overlooking the valley. There

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Speaker 2: should be some wind caves tucked into those hills. We

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Speaker 2: shall find shelter before it's too late. Joseph's voice was

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Speaker 2: broken and anxious. Mary stood up and held her back. Lately,

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Speaker 2: her body had been feeling tense and uneasy. She had

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Speaker 2: a feeling Jesus would soon be on his way. She

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Speaker 2: squeezed Joseph's hand. Storms may come, she said, her voice

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Speaker 2: gentle but with underlying steel, but.

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Speaker 3: They will also pass.

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Speaker 1: We will weather this together.

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Speaker 2: Joseph nodded and looked up. The sunrise was covered by darkness.

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Speaker 2: The winds churned them up like sand under waves. Thunder rumbled,

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Speaker 2: echoing the restless heartbeats of every creature on the land.

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Speaker 2: Birds retreated to their nests, and animals scurried back to

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Speaker 2: their burrows. Yet Joseph and Mary were exposed. The rains

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Speaker 2: descended with violent force, and the winds howled with anger.

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Speaker 2: Joseph drove his feet into the mud and guided Mary

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Speaker 2: and the donkey through the winding hills leading up to

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Speaker 2: some caves. The pass up to the caves was steep.

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Speaker 2: Joseph marched up with all his might, but the ground

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Speaker 2: beneath him gave way with every step. Before they could

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Speaker 2: reach the top, Joseph slipped on to a moving stone. Joseph.

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Speaker 2: Mary gasped as she watched him slide down the jagged

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Speaker 2: edge of the hill. Mary quickly dismounted the donkey and

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Speaker 2: reached for him, but Joseph slipped right through her fingers.

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Speaker 2: He slid down the rocky slope, but caught himself on

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Speaker 2: a route buried in the ground. Ah. Joseph gasped in pain.

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Speaker 2: The rain beat mercilessly as he tried to pull himself up,

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Speaker 2: but the mud and falling rocks weighed heavy on his body.

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Speaker 2: Mary he shouted, but the thunder and rain drowned out

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Speaker 2: his voice. Joseph feared he couldn't hold on much longer

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Speaker 2: hold on. Mary shouted she had to act before Joseph

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Speaker 2: fell over the edge. She tore her shawl in blankets

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Speaker 2: and fastened them to a rope. She tied one end

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Speaker 2: to the donkey and another to a heavy branch. Joseph,

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Speaker 2: she cried her voice barely discernible through the storm. Grab

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Speaker 2: On to this, She tossed the branch down to Joseph,

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Speaker 2: and he grabbed hold. Mary took the reins of the

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Speaker 2: donkey and led it up the hill. The donkey slowly

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Speaker 2: pulled through the rain and mud. Joseph was pulled back

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Speaker 2: over the ledge as Mary marched with the donkey. Mary

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Speaker 2: ran to him and grabbed his face. Are you okay,

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Speaker 2: she panted, I think so, Joseph said, with a weary smile.

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Speaker 2: The rain hadn't let up, and the ground underneath them

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Speaker 2: was flooding. Joseph pointed towards an opening in the mountain.

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Speaker 2: Get to the caves, he yelled. Mary helped Joseph to

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Speaker 2: his feet and put his arm around her shoulders. The

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Speaker 2: two of them took the donkey and limped to a

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Speaker 2: nearby cave. It wasn't warm or comfortable, but it was

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Speaker 2: safe from the onslaught of wind and rain. As the

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Speaker 2: rain intensified, the cave became a sanctuary, its walls muting

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Speaker 2: the storm's roar. Inside, the dim light painted shadows that

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Speaker 2: danced to the storm's song. Mary wrapped herself in the

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Speaker 2: tattered remains of the blankets and settled down. Exhaustion was

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Speaker 2: evident in her every movement. Joseph wrapped his arms around her,

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Speaker 2: worried the worst wasn't over. An hour passed, and each

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Speaker 2: moment seemed to last a lifetime. Amidst the storm's cacophony,

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Speaker 2: Mary's voice began to sing a soft lullaby. She sang

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Speaker 2: of hope, journeys, and love that endures. The cave amplified

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Speaker 2: its healing notes. Joseph listened to her singing, lost in

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Speaker 2: thought and affection for his wife. Then his memory flooded

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Speaker 2: with images of the dream God had given him. He

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Speaker 2: remembered hearing Mary's voice singing softly in a cave before

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Speaker 2: he was swept up in water. Joseph's eyes widen and

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Speaker 2: his ears percked up to the sound of rushing water

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Speaker 2: behind them. Mary, he interrupted, we need to leave now.

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Speaker 2: What's wrong? Mary asked, but before Joseph could respond, a

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Speaker 2: flash flood of monsoon water began to burst through the

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Speaker 2: opposite end of the cave. Joseph scooped Mery up in

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Speaker 2: his arms and ran outside. The floodwaters burst through the

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Speaker 2: cave behind them, nearly knocking them onto the jagged rocks.

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Speaker 2: Joseph rounded the corner of the rocks and sprang up,

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Speaker 2: with Mary still in his arms. He got at a

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Speaker 2: safety on the hill's summit and slid down to retrieve

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Speaker 2: the donkey. He pulled at its reins, forcing it forward

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Speaker 2: and onto the stones. With them, Joseph wrapped himself over Mary,

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Speaker 2: the only covering between her and the raging winds hell

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Speaker 2: purse lord Mary whimpered. The two prayed silently and held

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Speaker 2: each other close, the sound of rushing water below them

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Speaker 2: and howling winds above. The two prayed silently and held

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Speaker 2: each other close, the sound of rushing water below them

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Speaker 2: and howling winds above. The storm roared louder, as if

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Speaker 2: sensing the challenge. Mary and Joseph didn't lose hope. They

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Speaker 2: continued in prayer and lifted up a shout of praise

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Speaker 2: to God. Slowly, but surely, the worst of the storm left.

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Speaker 2: As dawn approached, the wind waned, the first rays of

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Speaker 2: sunlight pierced the dark clouds outside the cave. The wilderness

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Speaker 2: was transformed. Puddles shimmered like mirrors reflecting the sky, and

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Speaker 2: the fresh and invigorating air seemed to promise new beginnings.

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Speaker 2: Joseph and Mary looked up taking in the world, reborn.

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Speaker 2: The trials of their journey, though harsh, had also been transformative.

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Speaker 2: Like the desert after the storm, they too were renewed.

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Speaker 2: Their bond was stronger than ever. The storm had been

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Speaker 2: a reminder of life's unpredictability and the enduring power of faith, love,

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Speaker 2: and hope. Now high in the sky, the sun cast

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Speaker 2: its golden glow over the land, guiding Mary and Joseph

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Speaker 2: on their journey. Bethlehem was in sight. Their footsteps, those

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Speaker 2: all in the vastness of the valley, were steps towards

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Speaker 2: the future that would change the course of human history.

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Speaker 3: The storms of life often come with little warning, leaving

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Speaker 3: us to scramble for shelter, security, and sanity as the

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Speaker 3: winds whip and the rains pour. We may feel battered,

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Speaker 3: broken and defeated. But the storms we face in life

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Speaker 3: are meant to strengthen us. Just as in the moving

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Speaker 3: depiction of Mary and Joseph facing a literal storm on

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Speaker 3: their way to Bethlehem, we're reminded that it is not

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Speaker 3: the trials themselves, but how we respond to them that

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Speaker 3: shapes our faith. In this Biblical fiction, Joseph's wisdom and

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Speaker 3: Mary's steadfast faith are anchors during their ordeal. The unexpected

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Speaker 3: trials they endure magnified their trust in God and their

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Speaker 3: love for one another. As we face our storms, let

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Speaker 3: us also recognize the hand of God working in our lives,

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Speaker 3: guiding us, strengthening us, and even using these challenges to

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Speaker 3: transform us. In the story, Mary and Joseph's faith is tested,

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Speaker 3: yet instead of succumbing to fear, they embrace the storm.

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Speaker 3: The storms of life aren't inevitable. There is no avoiding

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Speaker 3: hard times. The choice we have is how we endure them.

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Speaker 3: Mary's words storms may come, but they also pass. Will

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Speaker 3: weather this together speak of hope, resilience, and confidence in

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Speaker 3: God's faithfulness. Paul echoes this in Philippians chapter one, verse six, saying,

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Speaker 3: being confident of this that He who began a good

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Speaker 3: work in you will carry it on to completion until

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Speaker 3: the day of Christ Jesus. This promise encourages us to

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Speaker 3: recognize that even the strongest storms will not thwart the

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Speaker 3: work God wants to do in our lives. Throughout the

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Speaker 3: harrowing experience, Joseph and Mary's bond is their greatest strength.

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Speaker 3: They support and encourage each other, reflecting the importance of

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Speaker 3: community in our own lives. In our walk with Christ,

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Speaker 3: we need to surround ourselves with those who will lift

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Speaker 3: us up, pray for us, and remind us of God's promises.

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Speaker 3: Think for a moment about your fondest Christmas memories. I

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Speaker 3: would guess that those memories rarely involve specific gifts you received,

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Speaker 3: but rather the people you were surrounded by and the

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Speaker 3: bond you shared. The Christmas season often reminds us that

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Speaker 3: loving community is greater than the gifts we can receive.

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Speaker 3: While the world relies on comfort and material possessions, we

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Speaker 3: rely on the loving embrace of God and the community

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Speaker 3: he surrounds us with. This episode also highlights prayer and

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Speaker 3: praise as a weapon against despair. Mary and Joseph's response

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Speaker 3: to the crisis is marked by prayer and praise. They

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Speaker 3: call upon the Lord and even shout praises amidst the

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Speaker 3: raging storm. This illustrates a profound truth. Prayer and praise

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Speaker 3: are powerful weapons in our spiritual arsenal. They shift our

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Speaker 3: focus from the problem to the provider, from the storm

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Speaker 3: to the savior. After the storm, the wilderness is transformed,

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Speaker 3: and so are Mary and Joseph. They emerge renewed, their

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Speaker 3: bond stronger, their faith deepened. Similarly, the storms in our

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Speaker 3: lives can lead to transformation. As we trust God through

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Speaker 3: the trials, we are shaped into the likeness of Christ.

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Speaker 3: Our faith matures, and our character is refined. The storms

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Speaker 3: we face are not meant to break us, but to

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Speaker 3: build us. The story of Mary and Joseph on their

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Speaker 3: journey to Bethlehem is a beautiful reminder that God's faithfulness

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Speaker 3: is unchanging, his love is unending, and His purpose for

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Speaker 3: our lives is unshakable. As we face the storms of life,

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Speaker 3: may we take hold of the assurance found in Philippians

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Speaker 3: Chapter one, verse six, knowing that God, who began a

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Speaker 3: good work in us, will be faithful to complete it.

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Speaker 3: May we embrace the challenges with faith, navigate them with

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Speaker 3: the support of the community, respond with prayer and praise,

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Speaker 3: and emerge renewed and transformed, ready to walk the path

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Speaker 3: that God has sent before us. Thank you for listening

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Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham

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Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas, and before we go, I want you

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Speaker 3: to know that I would love to send you my

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Speaker 3: daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement every single day,

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Speaker 3: so visit Jack Graham dot org to sign up for

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Speaker 3: your PowerPoint Today devotional that's Jack Graham dot org