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🎄 Merry Christmas! In this heartfelt episode of Stories and Other Things Holy, Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson takes us back to his childhood with a story that reminds us of the power of belief and wonder during the Christmas season. When Terry’s brother, determined to preserve the magic of Christmas, goes to great lengths to recreate Santa’s visit, a profound lesson in faith and imagination emerges.

✨ Join us as we explore the courage it takes to "make belief," the beauty of childlike wonder, and the enduring mystery of the incarnation. How can choosing to believe, even for one more year, transform our lives and relationships? Terry’s reflection is a powerful reminder that the divine is woven into the everyday, and Christmas is an invitation to embrace the chaos with hope, faith, and joy.

🎁 What would it mean to believe one more year? Share your thoughts and reflections below!

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode to spread the magic of Christmas! 🌟

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Welcome to the fourth and final week of our Advent Reflection Series on Stories & Other Things Holy!

This week, Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson reflects on Rachel Held Evans’ profound meditation on the incarnation, exploring:

• The mystery of God’s vulnerability in becoming human
• Mary’s radical self-giving and her role in feeding God Himself
• The connection between surrender, self-giving, and new life
• How Advent calls us to say “Amen” to God’s presence in the messiness of life

Let this reflection invite you to embrace the beauty and mystery of the incarnation, and to offer your own “Yes” to God this Advent.

Rachel Held Evans
Wholehearted Faith (2022 - Amazon)
Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again (2018 - Amazon)

#StoriesAndOtherThingsHoly #AdventReflections #Incarnation #RachelHeldEvans #GodWithUs #MarysCourage #FaithJourney 🌟

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Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly reflections and Grace-ercises:
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Welcome to week three of the Stories & Other Things Holy Advent series!

This week, Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson reflects on Joyce Rupp’s stirring words about birthing new life and Meister Eckhart’s challenge for all of us to become “mothers of God.” Advent isn’t just about commemorating a past event—it’s about making space for God to be born in us today.

In this episode, we explore:

• The concept of spiritual availability: Are you willing to be open to God’s work in your life?
• Joyce Rupp’s prayer for trusting the birthing process of the Spirit
• Advent as a “Lamas class for believers”—a time of preparation and courage

Let this reflection inspire you to endure the sweat and the groans of spiritual growth, trusting that new life is waiting to burst forth.

Joyce Rupp, OSM
Prayers to Sophia: A Companion to "The Star in My Heart" (Amazon)
The Star in My Heart: Discovering Inner Wisdom (Amazon)
Vessels of Love: Prayers and Poems for the Later Years of Life (New - Amazon)

💬 Reflection Prompts:

1. Where might God be inviting you to create space for something new in your life?
2. What does spiritual availability mean to you this Advent season?
3. How can you practice courage and trust in the unknown?

#StoriesAndOtherThingsHoly #AdventReflections #SpiritualBirth #GodWithUs #TrustAndCourage #FaithJourney

Support the show

Support 'Stories' with Buy Me A Coffee

🔔 Stay Connected:
Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly reflections and Grace-ercises:
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