EPISODE 22 — Light Has Come

December 25 | Christmas Day

Christmas Day declares victory. In this final episode of A Thrill of Hope, we turn to John 1 and look at what it means that Jesus is the Light of the world — a light the darkness cannot overcome. This episode lifts our eyes beyond the manger to the enduring truth that darkness does not get the final word. Hope has arrived, and the Light is still shining.

Kids Scripture: John 1:4–5

EPISODE 21 — Emmanuel: God With Us

December 24 | Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is about presence, not performance. In this anchor episode, we focus on the name Emmanuel — God with us — and what it means that God did not remain distant, silent, or detached from our suffering. This episode is a quiet, reverent pause to remember that God has come near and stayed near, even when life feels heavy or uncertain.

Kids Scripture: Matthew 1:23

EPISODE 20 — The Manger: The Humble Arrival

December 23

The manger is not a sweet detail — it’s a theological statement. In this episode, we slow down and sit with the humility of Christ’s arrival and what it means that God chose vulnerability instead of power. Jesus did not come insulated from human need; He came close to it. This episode invites weary hearts, especially tired moms, to see how deeply God understands embodied, sacrificial love.

Kids Scripture: Luke 2:7

EPISODE 19 — Bethlehem: God in the Small Places

December 22

Bethlehem was small, overlooked, and unimpressive — and that was exactly where God chose to enter the world. In this episode, we look at the prophecy of Micah 5:2 and what it reveals about how God works through obscurity, faithfulness, and ordinary places. If your life feels quiet, unseen, or insignificant right now, this episode reminds you that God often does His greatest work where the world isn’t looking.

Kids Scripture: Micah 5:2

Megan and Heather chat about this weeks advent

Episode 5

Knowing About God vs. Knowing God

You can know Scripture, attend church, and still miss intimacy with God.

In this episode, we talk about the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him — and why biblical knowledge without relationship can quietly harden our hearts instead of transforming them. This is a gentle but necessary invitation to move beyond familiarity into real faith.

Herod: Darkness Cannot Stop the Light

The birth of Christ exposed the darkness of a fearful king. Today we enter the tense world of Herod, explore the true timeline of the wise men’s visit, and see how even human evil could not derail God’s unstoppable plan.

Kids’ devotional included at the end.

EPISODE 16 — The Wise Men: Gifts Fit for a King

A star rises, a journey begins, and seekers from far away come to bow before the Savior. Today we uncover what drew the wise men, what their gifts meant, and why God still guides sincere hearts toward Jesus.

Kids’ devotional included at the end.

Episode 15 — Simeon & Anna: When Waiting Turns Into Worship

What if God’s promises take longer than you expected — but they still come?

In this episode, we step into a quiet temple scene often overlooked in the Christmas story. Simeon and Anna had waited decades for God to move, and when Jesus finally arrived, they recognized Him instantly. Their story reminds us that God honors long obedience, sees faithful hearts, and meets us in the slow seasons of life and motherhood.

If you’re tired of waiting, this episode is for you.

EPISODE 14 — The Shepherds: God Comes to the Lowly

The first people to hear the news of Christ’s birth weren’t powerful, respected, or religious — they were exhausted shepherds in the dark. Today we look at why God chose them, what their fear reveals about our own, and how the message of “good news of great joy” was meant for the ones who felt the least worthy.

Kids’ devotional included at the end.