Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast

The Presentation in the Temple Painting by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648

You can be filled with joy and led by the Spirit! Join the podcast today as we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation with Anna and Simeon. These two seniors, guided by the Holy Spirit and filled with joy when they recognized the Savior, will show us how.

Today, we will discuss these points: (1) Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary follow the Mosaic Law for the presentation of Jesus in the temple and Mary’s purification; (2) the meaning of the presentation and redemption; (3) the humble Blessed Mother offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” as prescribed in Leviticus 12:8; (4) although their lives differed, hope-filled seniors Simeon and Anna saw the Lord and had much in common; (5) Simeon prayed the “Nunc Dimittis,” now a canticle in the Liturgy of the Hours; and (6) you too can be led by the Spirit and filled with joy and peace. 

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The Presentation of Jesus with Anna & Simeon: Be Filled with Joy & Led by the Spirit appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Domenico Zampieri, 1610

Today, we return to the book of Luke. There, we join Blessed Mary and Joseph on their 80-mile trek to Bethlehem. When they arrive, they find it crowded with people who, like them, had come at the command of Caesar Augustus. We will encounter the Angels and Shepherds who have much to share. Connecting your heart with the Angel’s Gloria and the Shepherd’s praises will help you find more JOY and peace.

Join us today as we discuss these points: (1) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City of David, prophesied over 700 years earlier by the Prophet Micah (Micah 5:1-3). (2) Emperor Caesar Augustus issued a decree requiring a public enrollment of his subjects. (3) Joseph, a descendant of King David, had to travel to Bethlehem because he was of David’s lineage. Mary also went along—she might have been required to register, or Joseph wanted her with him. (4) Finding no room in an inn, Jesus, God Incarnate and the Savior of the World, was born and wrapped tightly in cloth by His Mother Mary, then laid in a manger where animals eat. (5) We join the Angel’s “Gloria” (Luke 2:14-20), named because the first word in St. Jerome’s Latin translation is “Gloria,” and then visit the Baby in the manger with the shepherds. (6) This is the night to create a “manger” for Jesus in your heart by inviting Him to be your Savior and Lord now and forever.

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen notes: Joseph “searched in vain for a place where He, to Whom heaven and earth belonged, might be born. Could the Creator not find a home in creation? …  A stable would be the last place in the world where one would have looked for Him. Divinity is always where one least expects to find it”(Life of Christ, 1958, p. 13-24).

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The Joy of Advent #6 ~ Jesus Christ is Born: Join the Angels & Shepherds in Praise appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Dream of St. Joseph, Painting by Anton Raphael Mengs, 1773

Today, we turn to Matthew’s Gospel and hear about Joseph’s dream to take Mary as his wife, and how he joyfully embraced God’s plan. Mary and Joseph often changed their plans  as they listened to God. They serve as an example to us of how to trust in God’s plan rather than our own. Join the podcast today as we learn about an angel sent to Joseph in a dream and discover how God can help us most when we exchange our plans for His!

Today, we will discuss these points: (1) the genealogical record or family tree, of Jesus through Joseph, (2) how Jewish lineages around the time of Christ often did not include women’s names, but Christ’s ancestry in Matthew mentions five women, (3) Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba were four women in Christ’s lineage who turned from sin or idolatry to God, (4) Joseph’s dream involving communication from an angel and his response to embrace God’s plans, and (5) how we can trust in God’s plan. 

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The Joy of Advent #5 ~ Joseph Takes Mary as His Wife & Joyfully Embraces God’s Plans appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Birth of John the Baptist: “Zachariah wrote, His Name is ‘John’.” Painting by Jacopo Pontormo, 1526, USA

The Scriptures invite us to a celebration at Zechariah’s home. It’s time to name his newborn boy and perform the baby’s circumcision. You can imagine yourself as one of the neighbors who has come to help name the baby born to the old couple, the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. What would you say? Maybe this: “The boy is a miracle baby! What a blessing from the Lord for Elizabeth! Shockingly, Zechariah has been muted since the last time he served in the temple. I wonder if he will ever recover his speech.”

Today, we will cover these points: (1) John’s circumcision, (2) the neighbors choosing the name Zechariah to honor his father, (3) Zechariah wrote, “his name is John” and immediately, his tongue was freed, (4) Zechariah praises God for the promises that will be fulfilled  in His son John and the coming of the Messiah, and (5) we can pray the Benedictus with joy every day of Advent.

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The Joy of Advent #4 ~ Joy at the Birth of John the Baptist & Zechariah’s Benedictus appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Visitation Painting by Philippe de Champaigne, 1643-1648

The Visitation of Mary & Sharing Joy with Elizabeth

Do you need more JOY  in your life this Advent? Today, Mary and Elizabeth will show you how to share and receive more joy.

In this podcast, we join Blessed Mary on her journey from Nazareth to the Hill Country of Judea, near Jerusalem. There she visits her old cousin Elizabeth. Both women are expecting, celebrating the upcoming births, and excited to see each other. Previously, we read that God supernaturally conceived His Son Jesus in the Virgin Mary and granted a child to be born to old Zechariah and Elizabeth. “For nothing is impossible with God!”

Today, we cover these inspiring events: (1) John the Baptist leaps for joy, (2) Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaims words of great joy, (3) Mary praises and skips with joy in the Magnificat Canticle, (4) and the two share joy-filled fellowship around stories of Gabriel and Scriptural promises about to be fulfilled with their sons, including Jesus, the Messiah.

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The Joy of Advent #3 ~ Filled with JOY: The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Joy of Advent – Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary & Nothing is Impossible with God

With God, nothing is impossible! If God can supernaturally conceive the Son of God in a virgin and grant a child to an elderly couple, then He can make your impossible become POSSIBLE. Join us today as we travel to Nazareth. We will hear the Great Annunciation of JOY to Mary as well as Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy. “For nothing is impossible with God.”  The episode is based on my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

Today, we will cover these points from Luke 1: 25-38: (1) The powerful Archangel Gabriel brings the second annunciation– this time to a young girl in Nazareth, (2) The Baby would be named Jesus, [Yeshua in Hebrew] after His Heavenly Father [Yahweh God in Hebrew], (3) Mary’s Fiat [Latin for Let it Be],  (4) The incarnation means God became man, reaching out to mankind, and (5) Mary’s example shows us to Listen, Dialogue with God, and Surrender.

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

The post The JOY of Advent #2 ~ The Annunciation of Mary: With God, Nothing is Impossible appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Are you hoping for a Joy-filled Advent?  Join our podcast series and celebrate the joy of the people, events, and prayers at Jesus’ first coming. You will meet Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the Angels, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and the Magi.  It’s as if you will travel with them via Scripture and partake in the most meaningful events in their lives. In Episode #1, we will share the Joy of Zechariah and God’s answer to his prayers.

Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Stay hopeful this Advent!  In our Joy of Advent Episode #1, we meet Zechariah. He will teach us a joy-filled lesson in an unusual way: Don’t give up hope – God hears & God answers prayer. We will cover these points today: (1)  the meaning of Advent, (2) the two annunciations in Luke 1: 1-7, (3) Gabriel, the might of God- no puny angel, (4) God was preparing Joseph and Mary while Zechariah had to wait a little longer, and (5) prayer points for a new and fresh encounter God, asking for new joy and everyday miracles.

For bookmarks or prayer points from A Joyful Advent Journey Podcast, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Click here for the Advent book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

The post The Joy of Advent #1: Zachariah ~ Keep Hope Alive, God Answers Prayer appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

WRAP fosters a personal two-way conversation with your heavenly Father through prayer and Scripture.

Have you heard from God today? He wants to speak to you. Are you listening? Join the podcast this week and learn how to hear from God and “WRAP yourself in Scripture.” (Scroll Down to play the Podcast.)

You can have a personal two-way conversation with your heavenly Father. He wants to speak to you. Begin today to practice the original WRAP method for reading, reflecting on, and hearing God’s voice in Scripture with author Karen Dwyer. Karen, with husband Larry, created the WRAP acronym and the book WRAP Yourself in Scripture in 2009, and now it’s in a NEW 4th edition. We will cover these points:

Download the template and the 14 Days of WRAP bookmark from my website WRAPyourselfinJOY.com and start practicing WRAP with Psalm 103: 1-13.

The post Wrap Yourself in Scripture #1 ~ Hearing God’s Voice appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

WRAP can lead you to hear Jesus Christ with a personal message just for you.

Have you ever thought, “Can I really hear from God every day?” The answer is, “Yes, you can!” But you have to pause. WRAP can help you hear Jesus Christ with a personal message meant just for you. With WRAP, you’ll discover that God’s Word is truly alive and that He wants to speak to you. But you have to pause and make room for Him. Being faithful in reading and praying the Word of God will transform your life forever! Join us today and discover the tips you need to hear from God every day, pausing for a message specifically for you. (Scroll Down for Podcast.)

Fr. John Horn, in the foreword of our book, WRAP Yourself in Scripture, says,  “WRAP provides a way of receiving practical counsel in the Holy Spirit and a new, intimate relationship with Jesus and the Father. This method of prayer will awaken your inner desire to become more and more ‘filled with all the fullness of God’” (Ephesians 3: 19). Today, we will cover these tips for hearing God every day, pausing, and being ‘filled with all the fullness of God.”

The post Wrap Yourself in Scripture #4 ~ Tips for Hearing God Every Day appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

WRAP with the “Four M’s of Christian Mediation” will guide you in Prayer and Reflection

Have you ever wondered if meditation could really be part of prayer? It can! Meditation on Scripture can bring you into a two-way conversation with God. Join us today to learn how to approach the Word of God with Holy Heavenly Meditation and prayer, guided by WRAP. (Scroll Down for Podcast.)

There is a big distinction between prayerful Biblical meditation and other forms of meditation. Eastern or New Age meditations have an inward focus on the deepest self. Biblical meditation, on the other hand, brings us into a closer encounter with God and His presence around Scripture. We will cover the “Four M’s of Christian Meditation” and these points:

The post Wrap Yourself in Scripture #3 ~ Holy, Heavenly Meditation appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.