229: Thankful For Encouraging People
You Were Made for This
With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner here in the US, I’ve been thinking about how grateful I am for the encouraging people I see all around me. People who encourage me by their thoughtfulness towards me, and also towards others. I’ve got some examples for you in today’s show that I think will encourage you. But first, I’m John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 229 of You Were Made for This, the podcast about enriching our lives by reflecting upon the relational moments of everyday life that reflect the character, image, and likeness of God. It’s what we...
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228: Beyond the Landscape - The Beauty I saw in Ireland
You Were Made for This
Beauty is more than scenery My wife and I recently returned from a vacation trip to Ireland. We saw the same things people typically see when they visit the Emerald Isle. The museums, the pubs, the walking tours led by local guides. And those sheep; all those sheep. Then, of course, there was the rich beauty of the green rolling hills, and the breathtaking rugged cliffs that border the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea. But I also saw a different kind of beauty, the beauty of relationships as people reflected the character and image of God. This is what I will remember most, and what I talk about...
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227: When Anxious Thoughts Come
You Were Made for This
In last week’s blog post ( if you missed it) I wrote about taking a break from the news media because of how unsettling and agitated it was making me feel. All the violence and discord were making me anxious. I needed to withdraw myself from the news and turn to something more positive. It led me to a passage in the Bible from Philippians 4:8, which reads, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” I then wrote...
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226: End-of-Summer Conversations
You Were Made for This
Labor Day here in the U.S. on the first Monday in September is near the top of my list of favorite holidays. There’s a freshness and energy about this time of year I find appealing. But before we launch into fall, there are some end-of-summer conversations I’ve recently had that I don’t want to forget because they add to the richness and energy of autumn. So I’m going to give you only a brief snap shot of some of them because they deserve more reflection than I have time to consider now. I bet you’ve had some similar end-of-summer conversations you’d like to think more about later...
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225: A Joy to Be Around
You Were Made for This
Today’s episode Some people are a joy to be around. I have a story for you today about one of them, and what I learned about being more like him. But first, I’m John Certalic, and you are listening to episode 225 of You Were Made for This, the podcast about finding joy in being the person God created each of us to be. Namely, someone who reflects the character, image, and likeness of God in all our relationships. It’s the THIS we were made for. Someone once told me “always have a doctor you like who is younger than you. The older ones retire, and then you are stuck and have to...
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224: God Cares For Us In Ways We Rarely Consider
You Were Made for This
I’ve been reflecting more and more lately about how much God cares about us. When we hurt he hurts. Today’s episode is about how God responds to the dark times we go through, and what he models for us in relating to the hurting people in our lives. But before we begin, I’m John Certalic, and you’re listening to episode 224 of You Were Made for This, the podcast about the joy of relationships we were made for. Those that reflect the character and image of God in the unique way he made each of us. Today’s episode is an example of how this works An unwanted anniversary I’ve been...
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223: A Christmas in July Story
You Were Made for This
As I’m recording this, Christmas is almost six months away. I recall last Christmas, when I heard a few people say they wished we could have the Christmas spirit all year long. We can if we reflect the image and character of God. And I have a Christmas in July story for you today that shows us how. Welcome to episode 223 of You Were Made for This, the podcast about finding joy in being the person God created each of us to be. Namely, someone who reflects the character, image, and likeness of God in all our relationships. It’s the THIS, we were made for. ————————————...
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222: “I Want to Hear Your Story”
You Were Made for This
I’ve come to learn that relating with people through the lens of “I want to hear your story” is a great way to live. It enriches our lives in more ways than you can imagine. I started thinking more deeply about this principle when Janet and I visited William Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-on-Avon in England. Several years later, during a trip to Savannah, Georgia, I witnessed “I want to hear your story” play out in real-time. And more recently, I saw it demonstrated in a church service, where a 20-something law school student shared a story he experienced. So that’s what I...
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221: An Act of Kindness Remembered Decades Later
You Were Made for This
You never know how an act of kindness will be remembered with fondness many decades later. It reminds us that when we are kind, it’s because God made us that way. Today’s episode is an example of how this works. Welcome to You Were Made for This But first - I’m John Certalic and you are listening to episode 221 of You Were Made for This, the podcast about reflecting the character, image, and likeness of God. It’s what enables us to enjoy being the unique person he created each of us to be. In today’s show we pick up where we left off last time in episode 220. In that episode I...
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220: A Podcast You and I Want to Listen To
You Were Made for This
Have you noticed how everyone seems to have a podcast these days? Most of them just don’t appeal to me. So, in 2018, I created one that does— a podcast I want to listen to and one you’ll want to listen to as well. I’m going to give you an example of what I mean shortly. Welcome to Season Nine and episode 220 But first, I’m John Certalic and you are listening to episode 220 of You Were Made for This, a podcast about … well, … stick with me and you’ll soon find out soon. It’s been quite a number of months since I recorded any new episodes on a regular basis. It’s not been...
info_outlineOn that first Christmas Day, Mary treasured all its details and thought about them often. May we do the same with the Christmas story in 2024.
So here's the original story told in Luke's Gospel, just as it happened:
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,
but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of
David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
~ Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV)
There you have it. The Christmas Story for 2024.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
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I hope you enjoyed hearing or reading the Christmas Story one more time. Here are other episodes about Christmas from our podcast library you may listen to or read.
The Gift of Joy - Part 2, episode 6
Make it a Merry Christmas This Year episode 136
Christmas with a Good Man Brings Joy episode 135
A Christmas Gift of Silence, episode 80
The Christmas Gift of Deep Personal Connection, episode 81
A Christmas Gift of Anticipation, episode 82
The Best Christmas Gift - Be With People in Community, episode 83