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Some days feel more like “grit your teeth and get through it” than “rejoice and be glad,” yet Psalm 118:24 anchors us in a deeper truth: God handcrafted this day—yes, even the messy, painful, overwhelming ones. When joy feels out of reach, His sovereignty, His goodness, and His nearness remind us that rejoicing isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about trusting the One who made the day and fills it with quiet blessings we often miss when we’re rushing, worrying, or hurting.

Highlights

• Psalm 118:24 calls us to rejoice because God made the day, not because the day itself is easy.

• Joy can feel elusive in seasons of pain, fear, or exhaustion—but God sees and understands your struggle.

• God’s sovereignty means nothing in your day is wasted; everything He allows is woven with purpose.

• Blessings often sit in small, overlooked moments—noticed only when we slow down and stay present with Him.

• Rejoicing becomes possible when we remember God’s goodness, even when circumstances don’t feel good.

• Starting the day with truth (“This is the day the Lord has made…”) reorients your heart toward hope.

• Joy isn’t the absence of hardship; it’s the presence of God in the middle of it.

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

Enjoying Moments When You Don’t Feel Joyful

By Keri Eichberger

Bible Reading:
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

I have a confession. I was once known to secretly roll my eyes at a Bible verse that you probably know well. But you know what makes this easier to admit? The truth is that likely many of you have struggled with this scripture too. Psalm 118:24 proclaims, This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Well, let’s be honest. There are loads of days we don’t feel a lot like rejoicing. There are many moments we don’t seem to have much to be glad about. Personally, I have been dealing with debilitating pain for the entire past year. I feel insufficient to fight through the next few demanding months. And I have lots of fear concerning another major surgery on the horizon. The bottom line is, I’ve been digging deep to find joy each and every day. 

Is there something going on around or inside of you that is keeping you from feeling joyful on this day or lately? You may not necessarily be in a season where joy is hard to find. Maybe you are feeling full of reasons

The Christmas season offers countless distractions—from festive traditions to sentimental storylines—but Scripture reminds us that Christ desires to dwell at the very center of our hearts. In Ephesians 3:16–18, Paul prays that believers would be strengthened by the Spirit so their faith becomes firmly rooted, enabling them to grasp the immeasurable love of Christ. Like the deeply rooted Christmas tree in the devotional story, our faith grows strong when we remain grounded in truth and nourished by God’s presence. This season, we are invited to welcome Christ fully, stand firm in our faith, and radiate His love to others.

Main Takeaways

• You’ll learn how Paul’s prayer in Ephesians encourages believers to root their faith deeply in Christ.

• Discover why spiritual stability comes from being grounded in truth and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

• See how community and fellowship help us grasp the depth of Christ’s love together.

• Understand practical ways to welcome Christ into your heart during the Christmas season.

• Reflect on how to make Christ—not busyness or tradition—the focal point of holiday celebrations.

Bible Verse References

• Ephesians 3:16–18

Your Daily Prayer

God, as we enter this beautiful Christmas season, we welcome You into our hearts and our celebrations. Strengthen our faith through Your Spirit so that Christ may dwell in us fully. Help us stay rooted in Your truth, anchored in Your love, and attentive to the ways You are working around us. Give us soft, responsive hearts that reflect Your compassion, and make us ready to share the hope of Christ with those around us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Relevant Links & Resources

• Exp

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.

In this powerful episode of March or Die, Jeremy Stalnecker sits down with Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and K9 handler Alfred Brenner to unpack the life-altering moments of his deployment to Afghanistan, including the blast that nearly took his life and the loss of his partner, his military working dog, Grief. Alfred shares the raw truth of survivor’s guilt, trauma, faith, and rediscovering identity after war. 

Follow Alfred: https://www.instagram.com/sgtbrenner 
Learn more about Alfred & Grief: https://www.survivingwithgrief.com 
Get the book: https://www.survivingwithgrief.com/thebook  

If you or someone you love is navigating grief, transition, or the search for purpose, this conversation will deeply resonate.

Hit Subscribe, share this episode with your community, and drop a comment on what landed hardest for you.

Want more reinforcement? Subscribe to our newsletter, The Forward Edge, to go beyond the podcast and dig deeper into these topics and more: https://marchordie.substack.com!

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#USMC #combatveteran #warstories

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The sanctuary is full—every seat taken, voices rising, lights twinkling—and yet somehow, you feel alone. You feel unseen. You feel forgotten.

It’s a strange ache, isn’t it? To be surrounded by people, beauty, and celebration, while quietly wrestling with the thought that God is holding everyone else close except you. Pain has a way of twisting our perception, making us believe God’s nearness is meant for others but not for us.

I’ve been there more times than I can count. Seasons of grief, uncertainty, and emotional heaviness can convince us that perhaps God has turned His face toward someone more worthy, someone stronger, someone holier. And yet, when I take a breath and ground myself in Scripture, I remember something truer than my feelings:
God cannot forget me. God cannot forget you.

Isaiah 49:16 gives us one of the most intimate images in all of Scripture:
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

Not written in ink.
Not penciled in lightly.
Engraved.
Carved. Permanent. Unlosable.

Engraving is deliberate. Painstaking. Permanent.
God chose an image that reminds us—no circumstance, no silence, no sorrow can erase the nearness of His love.

You may feel invisible, but you are fully seen.
You may feel forgotten, but you are held.
You may feel lost in the swirl of the season, but His eyes are always on you.

Christmas is the greatest proof of this promise.
The God who engraved you on His hands also sent His Son into the world—God in flesh, God with us—to ensure you would never walk alone. The same hands that stretched over a manger and later stretched out on a cross carry your name in everlasting love.

Tonight, let this truth settle deeper than your emotions:
You are remembered. You are known. You are held in the very hands of God.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
— Isaiah 49:16

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Lord,
Remind me this Christmas season, and always, that I am never forgotten. Anchor my heart in the truth of your Word, not in the confusion of my thoughts. When I feel invisible—even in crowded rooms—whisper to my soul that I am engraved on the palms of your hands. Let this truth steady me, comfort me, and draw me near.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. A moment you recently felt unseen or forgotten.
   When you revisit that moment with clearer perspe

John reveals his least favorite candy and learns what beloved TV special killed the aluminum Christmas tree industry. Meanwhile, Jonnie has lunch with some comedian pals and tells the tale of the Pet Rock craze of the 1970s.

Plus, a conversation about red flags, toxic people, and how weaponized “therapy talk” has led to a loneliness epidemic.

Today's episode is NOT sponsored by Trail Mix: “It’s the healthiest way to eat a pound of M&M’s.”

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Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!

What happens when you feel like a "hot mess" right in the middle of the holiday rush? How do you silence the lies of the enemy when your to-do list is overflowing and your heart feels overwhelmed by imperfection?

In this devotional on Psalm 45, we explore the surprising connection between "The King’s Marriage" and our own inadequacies. While this beautiful wedding song celebrates the union of the King and His Bride, it also invites us to lay down the pressure of perfectionism. We learn that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and that He can redeem even our most chaotic moments for His glory.

Join host Jaime Hampton for this encouraging scripture meditation on the Praying Christian Women podcast. Whether you are battling holiday stress or spiritual attacks, discover how to turn away from old mindsets and the lies of the enemy to fully embrace your identity. Come ready to "give attention and incline your ear" to the One whose grace is sufficient for you.

Discover More:

Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com

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Faith-based Christmas movies, family Christmas comedies, and inspirational holiday films are among the most searched terms this season—and All Is Merry and Bright delivers all three. Actor Eric Close joins us to talk about the new faith-based Christmas comedy-drama releasing November 7, exploring how the film blends humor, heartfelt family dynamics, and a message our culture needs right now.

Eric shares why this script stood out among other Christmas films, what it was like working with an all-star cast (including Emily Rose, John O'Hurley, Doug Jones, Sherry Rigby, and Nancy Stafford), and how the film highlights the true joy of Christmas—not perfection, but love, grace, and togetherness. He also opens up about his own journey in Hollywood, how faith guides his career choices, and the moment everything shifted for him spiritually.

If you're looking for uplifting Christmas entertainment, a feel-good story with depth, or insight into how faith translates into filmmaking, this episode is packed with warmth, honesty, and holiday hope.

Highlights

• What drew Eric Close to All Is Merry and Bright

• How the film tackles Christmas chaos, family dynamics, and joy

• Working with Emily Rose and the film’s powerhouse cast

• Why authenticity and natural faith themes mattered in this script

• Eric’s acting journey—from childhood theatre to TV and film

• His most meaningful “I think I’m really in this business” moment

• How faith influences the roles he accepts (and declines)

• Why we need uplifting, joy-filled stories—especially this holiday season

• The film’s reminder that we can’t control everything…and shouldn’t try

Resources & Links

• All Is Merry and Bright
  In theaters November 7
  merryandbright.movie

• Follow Eric Close on Instagram

• Explore more faith-based podcasts at LifeAudio.com

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This episode is part 39 in a study of the gospel of Luke. In this episode Jesus is aked when the Kingdom of God would come. But, they may have been expecting something very different when they asked from what Jesus had in mind.

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