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In This Special Bonus Episode From Christian Parent, Crazy World: What if the greatest gift you give your kids this Christmas is a heart of generosity—and the chance to change someone else’s world?

Catherine Segars goes beyond stockings and wrapping paper to tackle one of the most pressing questions for believers during the holiday season: How do we practically teach our children the virtue of generosity, not just for the holidays, but for a lifetime—and in a way that makes a true, eternal difference?

Answer: Plant seeds of generosity in your family with Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Gift Catalog, a unique way for families to give gifts that can transform lives around the globe.

Browse the catalog and get involved at www.samaritanspurse.org/parent.

Catherine welcomes Kristy Graham, host of the On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse podcast and wife to Edward Graham, part of the legacy family behind this renowned global relief ministry. With firsthand experience raising four children and witnessing God’s faithfulness in some of the most challenging corners of the globe, Kristy brings unmatched insight and compassion to this timely discussion.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• Transformative Giving - The Samaritan's Purse Christmas Gift Catalog: Learn how families can open a new kind of catalog—one offering goats, honeybees, water filters, heart surgeries, and more—to provide desperately needed gifts to people across the globe.
• Real Stories, Real Impact: Kristy recounts emotional, hope-filled stories: families in Iraq whose lives are remade by a simple beehive; a mother shattered by tragedy in need of purpose and dignity, restored by a brood of baby chicks; and the power of a $9 donation to feed a hungry infant and spark the hope of the Gospel for a mother who feels forgotten.
• Generosity That Changes Hearts—Including Our Own: Discover practical ways to involve your kids in picking out gifts, writing cards for teachers in someone’s honor, or pairing a meaningful donation with something tangible.
• Biblical Parallels: Kristy and Catherine share how the work of Samaritan’s purse brings to life the stories of Ruth, who gleaned what benevolent benefactors left for those less fortunate, and Hagar, who met the God who saw her need.
• Seeds of the Gospel: Every gift given through Samaritan’s Purse meets physical needs—and intentionally opens doors for the life-changing message of Christ. Whether it’s a water well, a jar of honey, or a vital medical procedure, these gifts become vehicles for sharing hope and introducing recipients to the God who truly sees them.

Call to Action:

This Christmas, will your family give a gift that extends beyond your home?
Explore life-changing opportunities at samaritanspurse.org/parent as a family, and ask your kids: “How can we be part of God’s story of hope this Christmas?”
Let your generosity become a legacy of faith, planting seeds for eternity.

Episode Links:

• Samaritan’s Purse Gift Catalog: www.samaritanspurse.org/parent
• On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse Podcast
• Catherine's Resources for Christian Parents

About the guest: Kristy Graham hosts On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, a show she launched in 2019 to highlight God’s faithfulness through the ministry’s work. Each week, she brings listeners close to the stories

The holiday season often carries a tension between joy and heaviness. While we celebrate the birth of Christ with wonder, expectations, busyness, grief, and change can steal our peace. In John 14:27, Jesus reminds His disciples that true peace doesn’t come from a perfectly executed holiday or a trouble-free life—it comes from Him alone. When our hearts feel overwhelmed by demands or sadness, we are invited to return to the Prince of Peace and receive the rich, lasting calm only He can give. This season, peace becomes possible not by doing more, but by turning our focus back to Jesus, who is always with us.

Main Takeaways

• You’ll learn why the holiday season can feel both joy-filled and burdensome—and how Christ meets us in both.

• Discover how Jesus’ promise in John 14:27 offers a peace deeper than anything the world can provide.

• Understand how hurry, expectations, and grief can steal peace—and how to reclaim it through Christ.

• Gain practical ways to plan for peace this season through rest, margin, and time in God’s presence.

• Reflect on how focusing more on Jesus than on holiday pressures brings renewed joy and spiritual grounding.

Bible Verse References

• John 14:27
  https://www.biblestudytools.com/john/14-27.html

Your Daily Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, and I long to experience Your presence in a deeper way this season. When the holidays feel heavy, rushed, or overwhelming, quiet my spirit and calm my fears. Remind me that true peace does not come from accomplishing more, but from resting in You. Help me release the expectations I carry and receive the peace You freely give. Let Your presence steady my heart and fill my days with renewed joy as I celebrate Your birth.
Amen.

Want More?

• Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily Scripture reflections and encouragement.

• Leave a rating or review to help others discover this podcast.

• Visit LifeAudio.com for more Christian podcasts and devotional content.

• Explore more daily devotionals and Bible study resources at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Most of us learned Acts 20:35 as children: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Back then, it sounded like good manners or a moral lesson—something parents said when encouraging us to share. As children, receiving felt like the real prize. Gifts, attention, affection—those were the things that felt meaningful, tangible, exciting.

Giving, however, often felt like sacrifice, like losing something.
But time has a way of reshaping our understanding.

Through relationships, disappointments, parenting, ministry, and simple everyday moments of helping others, we begin to see the truth of this Scripture come alive: giving isn’t loss at all. It's multiplication. Giving multiplies joy, purpose, and connection. It shifts our focus from ourselves to something bigger—reflecting the very heart of God.

Every act of giving mirrors the nature and character of Christ. While receiving teaches humility and gratitude, giving—especially when it costs us something—forms us into His likeness. It stretches us. It reorients our priorities. It teaches us to love as Jesus loved: sacrificially, generously, with eternity in mind.

The pleasure of receiving fades quickly.
But the joy of giving endures.

This is why Jesus could confidently say that giving brings a deeper blessing. The blessing isn’t just in the act—it’s in who we become when we give. Like Jesus, the greatest giver of all time, we are shaped into people whose lives spill over with grace.

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

"And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
— Acts 20:35

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
It truly is better to give than to receive. Everything I have ever been given is because of your goodness. Help me never forget that truth. Shape my heart to reflect yours—a heart that gives freely, humbly, and sacrificially. Let my life echo your generosity and bring joy to those around me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE ON

1. Does my life reflect the truth of Acts 20:35?

2. Am I practicing sacrificial giving—the kind that costs me something yet forms me spiritually?

3. What one intentional act of giving can I offer this week to reflect Christ to someone around me?

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Is Mormonism Christian? What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teach about different Jesus, the gospel, the nature of God, the afterlife, grace, and more? Bill McKeever, founder of Mormonism Research Ministry, is one of the leading experts on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today. He brings a deep understand of LDS theology as well as the history of the church. He joins me to tackle questions many people are asking but often afraid to voice. Join us and let us know what you think!

READ: Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints by Bill McKeever (https://amzn.to/48txpwG)

VISIT: mrm.org (Mormonism Research Ministry)

*Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf)

*USE Discount Code [smdcertdisc] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM)

*See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK)

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://x.com/Sean_McDowell

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Website: https://seanmcdowell.org

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Are you feeling crushed by the pressure to lose weight? You’re not alone. In this honest and compassionate episode, Heather Creekmore tackles the overwhelming desire so many women carry to lose weight—even when we know the struggle all too well.

Heather Creekmore dives deep into the real reasons why our culture is fixated on shrinking our bodies, the rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, and what it means now that nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US have tried these weight-loss shots. Whether you use them, are considering them, or tried them and now feel even more burned by diet culture, this episode is for you.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why so many of us feel pressured to be thinner, especially during the holiday season

• How body image struggles are magnified by social media, holiday events, and cultural expectations

• What the Gospel teaches us on humility, worth, and where our true value is rooted (hint: it’s not in the scale or in being the “thinnest one in the photo”)

• Real talk about the cost—mentally, physically, and spiritually—of making weight loss your primary goal

• Encouraging reminders that your struggle is not a “you problem,” but a symptom of a wider issue in our society

• Practical steps for what to do when the desire to lose weight feels overwhelming

If you’re tired of wrestling with disappointment from the latest weight loss trends, or you need encouragement to find freedom from the idol of body image, tune in for wise, compassionate truth that will point you to lasting hope.

Special Invitation:
Ready for a new way—one that invites more freedom, less comparison, and true worth? Don’t miss the announcement about the next 40-Day Body Image Journey (starts January 20th)! Head to improvebodyimage.com to learn more.

Share this episode with a friend or leave a review if it encourages you—your support helps others find hope and healing too.

Stop comparing. Start living. Listen now to “When the Want to Lose Weight Is Overwhelming” on Compared to Who?

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Today’s Bible Verse
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)

John 16:33 reminds us that following Christ does not promise a life free from trials, but it does promise peace and victory in the midst of them. Jesus acknowledges the reality of trouble, yet He offers a peace rooted in His triumph over the world.

Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery

Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker, multi-published author, and founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose.

Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.

Learn more at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com

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Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Lonein Lara, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. Let God restore you to your home in Him. Meditate on Jeremiah 29:13. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.