Christmastime is a season of festivity—carols, parties, decorations, food. But do we understand the true meaning of festivity and its divine origins? Haley Stewart—mom, author, and editor at Word on Fire Spark—joins us this week to give us a true vision of festivity, one that begins with encountering God and responds with an overflow of joy for who He is and what He has done. Listen in for a rich conversation on true Christmas joy and finding echoes of festivity in our favorite Christmas stories. We also talk about how the countercultural practice of Advent prepares us to celebrate Christmas with greater joy.

Download your free Strong Women Advent resource guide! Advent begins Sunday, December 3rd. Explore "Prepare the Way of the Lord-Advent 2023" for books, devotional, music, and art that tunes your heart to worship in preparation for the coming King this Christmas season. Landed.Colsoncenter.org/advent

Mouse Nuns series by Haley Stewart and Elizabeth Wallin: The Pursuit of the Pilfered Cheese

The Curious Christmas Trail, and Strange Sound by the Sea

"The Sham Practice of Christmas" article by Haley Stewart on the University of Notre Dame's Journal of Church Life

In Tune with the World, a Theory of Festivity by Joseph Peeper

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander

Advent Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, O Come Divine Messiah, People, Look East, Handel's Messiah

Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Silas Marner by George Elliot

Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson

Works of Mercy by Sally Thomas

Strong Women is partnering with our amazing friends at Drinklings to offer a special Flannery O'Connor mug and Strong Women coffee blend just in time for Christmas! Check out these products here and get yours today. These also make great Christmas gifts for the other Strong Women on your list!

Today, Christians face mounting pressure to conform to harmful secular ideologies about race, sexuality, human identity, and more. In response, the Colson Center seeks to equip believers with a Christian worldview on all these things, so they can know, live, and speak the truth in love. As we reach the end of the year, would you consider donating to support the ongoing work of the Colson Center? You can make your donation at colsoncenter.org/swyearend.

How do we remain faithful to Christ when our faith clashes with this cultural moment, or when we have to choose between conscience and career? We need courage, and courage must be cultivated. Join us at CCNC 2024 to find answers and tools to cultivate courageous faith for the specific challenges you face in this cultural moment. Speakers include Dr. Al Mohler, Father Calvin Robinson, Riley Gaines, Katy Faust, and more. For full speaker lineup and registration, go to colsonconference.org.

The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them. Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/

Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women

Join Strong Women on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/

https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/