Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol
Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol is a weekly podcast dedicated to helping men, women, and couples experience good health, loving relationships and joyful spirituality that Jesus came to bring.
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Are You Getting What You Wanted: The Christian Man's Key to the Life You Always Wanted
05/07/2024
Are You Getting What You Wanted: The Christian Man's Key to the Life You Always Wanted
What did you expect out of life and marriage? Are you getting what you wanted? Life can get busy and overwhelming for a man in the "stress bubble" in trying to manage life, marriage, perhaps kids, career, and trying to be the man God created you to be. You could use some help. Jim Ramos, author, speaker, and founder of Men in the Arena, is Dr. Carol's guest on this episode. They talk about the major mindset shift Jim had to experience that changed everything in his life and especially in his marriage. Husbands will be both encouraged and challenged, and we've got a few words for women as well. Check out Jim Ramos and Men in the Arena on , , , , or Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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How to Maintain a Soft Heart in a Hard-edged Society
04/30/2024
How to Maintain a Soft Heart in a Hard-edged Society
There are many reasons for and ways of becoming hard in our cruel world. You may think a hard heart is a good and protective thing. When harm or disappointment comes, a natural human response is to develop a tough and closed heart. But that also closes you off to the good things God intends for you and wants to work in you. Is there a way to cherish a soft heart in a tough world? Mother, writer, and teacher Charaia Rush is Dr. Carol's guest on this encouraging episode. They talk about how shame and pain can harden our heart, what a hard heart is and isn't, and God's process for softening our heart which opens us up to all His good things. Connect with Charaia Rush on her , , , or Find Charaia's book Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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Getting to the Roots of Sexual Issues and the Way to Healing
04/23/2024
Getting to the Roots of Sexual Issues and the Way to Healing
If you've been wrestling with sexual "stuff," you may wonder things like, How did I end up this way? Why do I keep doing this? Why do I keep trying harder and nothing seems to change? Why aren't my prayers working? How do I get out of this mess? In this conversation with Dr. Carol, counselor, author, and minister Jay Stringer explains why the details of your story, especially your sexual story, shine the light on the path to healing. He uses attachment theory to explain how we come to be where we are, including how our relationship with God is impacted. And he describes what is takes to find the path to wholeness and holiness. Find Jay Stringer on his , , , or . Check out the Find Jay's book Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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A Transgender's Story of Brokenness, Faith, and Healing
04/16/2024
A Transgender's Story of Brokenness, Faith, and Healing
Transgender issues have become a hot topic in culture and in the Christian church. Is the cultural narrative missing the point, and if so, where? How can Christians address the distress those struggling with gender issues experience in a redemptive way? Dr. Carol's guest on this fascinating episode is Walt Heyer, who transitioned to living as a woman for eight years, and then de-transitioned back to his birth gender. Walt has now devoted his life and influence to helping others who are struggling with these issues. His faith and relentless pursuit of wholeness will inspire you. Check out , and offering help to those struggling with gender issues, especially those who regret their transition Check out Walt's books or Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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Why Information Alone Can't Fix Sexual Brokenness Part II
04/09/2024
Why Information Alone Can't Fix Sexual Brokenness Part II
In part one of last week's conversation, Dr. Carol described why information alone is not effective in bringing sexual wholeness, and why experiences and true connection is necessary. In part two, you'll hear what Dr. Carol Ministries has already been doing to help people grow into sexual wholeness, and some of the results. And you'll hear about the new kind of experience we are offering to help people bring Jesus into the places they need Him most, and how you - or a friend - can be a part of this. Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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Why Information Alone Can't Fix Sexual Brokenness
04/02/2024
Why Information Alone Can't Fix Sexual Brokenness
There's an abundance of information available in regards to sexuality and relationships. But that information has not resulted in any lessening of sexual brokenness - in the culture at large or within the Christian church. Something is missing. In this first of a two-part conversation, Dr. Carol addresses that missing piece by discussing neurobiology, the way God created human beings with the need for intimacy (different from sex), and the process God uses to bring us to integration and wholeness. You'll understand what leads to true change, and why more information doesn't work. Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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Love Across the Spectrum: Neurodiversity and Your Christian Marriage
03/26/2024
Love Across the Spectrum: Neurodiversity and Your Christian Marriage
If your marriage is difficult, when is it a character issue? And when is it the way someone's brain is wired? How do you respond with grace while protecting your sanity? Neurodiversity, in particular autism spectrum disorder, impacts human relationships deeply, especially marriages. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Dr. Stephanie Holmes, psychologist and coach specializing in neurodiverse Christian marriages, about how understanding brain wiring provides perspective on living wisely in a difficult marriage, differentiating character issues vs. neurology issues, and provides an honest look at how to find a God-honoring way to function well. Find out more about Dr. Stephanie Holmes at her , and at or . Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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One Woman's Journey of Homosexuality, Healing, and Jesus
03/19/2024
One Woman's Journey of Homosexuality, Healing, and Jesus
Same-sex attraction and homosexuality are hot-button issues both in culture and in the Christian church. But beneath the debates about behavior, as important as those are, there are deeper matters of the heart including the need for attachment and intimacy. How does that connect with what Scripture says about homosexuality? In this challenging and deep episode, Dr. Carol talks with Anne Edward about her own journey through lesbianism, the matters in her heart that led her out of that, and what it's looked like for her to follow Jesus and now minister to countless others wrestling with issues of broken sexuality and relationships. Connect with Anne Edward and Restored Hope Network on their , , or . Check out the conference by Restored Hope Network coming this June. Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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The Impact of Narcissistic Abuse in Marriage
03/12/2024
The Impact of Narcissistic Abuse in Marriage
Confused, emotionally exhausted, or feeling crazy or depressed about your marriage? These might be signs you are being impacted by narcissistic and emotional abuse. Narcissism is a loaded word in our contemporary culture. But how do you know if that's what you're experiencing is your imagination, or is truly toxic? Dr. David Hawkins, director of the Marriage Recovery Center, has been dealing with individuals so affected for over 40 years. He joins Dr. Carol on this episode to provide a sobering picture of the suffering narcissistic and emotional abuse brings, and also to offer some wonderful guidance and hope for some steps to take next if this is you. Connect with Dr. Hawkins and the Marriage Recovery Center on , , , or Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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The Truth About Faith, Trauma, PTSD, and Post-Traumatic Growth
03/05/2024
The Truth About Faith, Trauma, PTSD, and Post-Traumatic Growth
Bad things happen even to good people. What happens in a person when they experience trauma or ongoing hardship? There's been a lot of talk in the last few years about trauma-informed care, PTSD, and such. How does all that integrate with faith in God and one's Christian experience? Dr. Shannae Anderson, licensed clinical psychologist, has been working in this field for over 25 years. She talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about integrating psychological trauma-informed care with the Holy Spirit's presence and work in a person's heart to bring healing, growth, meaning, and resilience. They talk about sexual trauma in particular, and also the role of the body of Christ in healing for people so affected. Find out more about Dr. Shannae Anderson . Read Dr. Carol's article Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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How Feeling Entitled to Sex Can Destroy Your Marriage
02/27/2024
How Feeling Entitled to Sex Can Destroy Your Marriage
Culture has made many people believe you must have a happy sex life in order to be whole and fulfilled in life. The church has "Christianized" that idea, leading many to believe you are entitled to sex, especially if you're married. But countless Christian married people are finding that doesn't work out well. Author, husband, podcaster, and pastor Noah Filipiak talks with Dr. Carol on this episode about how feeling entitled to sex almost destroyed his marriage, and what he believes now. They talk about the belief some have that sex is the "prize" for getting married God's way, 1 Corinthians 7, handling one's sex drive in a God-honoring and spouse-honoring way, and more. Find Noah Filipiak on his , , , or . Check out the community Noah facilitates. Read Noah's book Noah's Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential message .
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Addressing the Hole in Your Heart: Sex, Intimacy, and Relationships
02/20/2024
Addressing the Hole in Your Heart: Sex, Intimacy, and Relationships
How are you attempting to fill the empty places in your heart? If it's with sex, how's that working for you? And when it hasn't gone well, how do you find grace for your messy story? On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Matt and Laurie Krieg. Matt's a licensed therapist. Laurie is president of Impossible Ministries. Together they help people deal with issues around sexuality and marriage, including LGBTQ+ issues, in God-honoring ways. Here they share how they are living out grace in their own messy stories, and what it's been like to help other people do the same. Find Laurie Krieg on her , , , or Find Matt Krieg on his or Find their book Check out Dr. Carol's new book And look around at all the supplementary resources at .
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10 Questions Christians Most Ask About Sex
02/13/2024
10 Questions Christians Most Ask About Sex
Christians have questions about sex! But where do you go for the answers? Some questions have factual answers, but more often the questions have to do with deeper matters of the heart. In this challenging episode Dr. Carol responds to 10 questions YOU have asked, about all kinds of things - married sex, sexless marriages, single and sexual, porn, masturbation, different sexual practices, STDs, sex ed, and more. Yup, we're "going there!" And you'll want to find out more about Dr. Carol's new book . If you're listening to this when it first airs, mark your calendar for TONIGHT, February 13, 8pm eastern/7pm central for our ! We'll have giveaways, fun facts about sex, Christians, love, and relationships, answering your questions, and more.
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How to Have the Intimacy You Always Wanted in Your Marriage
02/06/2024
How to Have the Intimacy You Always Wanted in Your Marriage
The illusion that intimacy in marriage just "happens" may not even last as long as the wedding cake. Maybe the intimate connection between you was good but became broken, or maybe you've never had that strong of a connection. What are the practical steps for those who want more from their relationship to actually build true intimacy that lasts? Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith had to wrestle with that question in their own marriage. On this episode they talk with Dr. Carol about not only their story, but the practical framework they've developed to help couples at every stage of their relationship build (or improve) the foundation of safety, develop trust, and enjoy a deeper intimacy than they thought possible. Connect with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith on or . Find their book Find out more about Dr. Carol's new book . Check out Dr. Carol's article Don't forget to mark your calendar for next Tuesday, February 13, 8pm eastern/7pm central for our !
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A Christian Lawyer Addresses Sexual Abuse by Church Leaders
01/30/2024
A Christian Lawyer Addresses Sexual Abuse by Church Leaders
Tragically there are too many times when a spiritual leader uses their spiritual authority to perpetrate sexual harm and abuse on individuals under their care. The harm such victims experience is deep and long-lasting. And when these individuals seek help, the church's response has too often only added to their pain. In this sobering but enlightening episode Dr. Carol talks with Christian lawyer Boz Tchividjian about clergy sexual abuse in the Protestant church - a cause he has devoted a good share of his career to. Boz has worked for decades on behalf of those who have experienced sexual abuse, assault, and harrassment, and brings both courage and grace to this important conversation. Find out more about Boz Tchividjian's work on . If you have been harmed sexually in a religious context, please check out . Check out Dr. Carol's article Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential comment .
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Empowering the Next Generation: A Conversation on Leadership and Creativity
01/23/2024
Empowering the Next Generation: A Conversation on Leadership and Creativity
Young people today are growing up in a very different world than adults did even a decade or two ago. For parents, teachers, pastors, and others who care about kids, it feels challenging to connect with them and help them become who they were created to be. Giving them facts doesn't nurture the creativity or leadership they need to develop. But what does? Dr. Tim Elmore, author, speaker, and founder of the Growing Leaders organization, joins Dr. Carol on this episode to talk about how adults can nurture kids to become creative and develop leadership in the way God has gifted them. Stories of other kids are an encouraging and powerful way to do this. Connect with Dr. Elmore on , , , or . Find all the resources around his latest book , or get it on . Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave a confidential comment .
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Boundaries for Christians: How to Guard Your Heart and Love Wisely
01/16/2024
Boundaries for Christians: How to Guard Your Heart and Love Wisely
Do you find yourself struggling with people pleasing, unhealthy relationships, avoiding conflict, or trouble setting boundaries? Have you lost yourself along the way of trying to love those closest to you? Perhaps you're suffering and struggle to understand why. On this episode Dr. Carol talks with Courtney Burg about the family-of-origin dynamics that may set you up for codependency and ongoing dysfunction. And then you'll hear how to overcome your fear of setting boundaries, and what that looks like for a follower of Jesus. You can learn to love in ways that are wise and life-giving. Connect with Courtney Burg on , , or . Find Courtney's book Check out Dr. Carol's article Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can leave her a confidential message .
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How to Help Your Children Adopt Positive Attitudes, Act Righteously, and Develop Healthy Habits
01/09/2024
How to Help Your Children Adopt Positive Attitudes, Act Righteously, and Develop Healthy Habits
Does trying to get your children to obey leave you frustrated and upset? And does it seem that if you clamp down harder, your kids only resist more? What if there were a way to help your kids want to "be good," know how to do that, and actually demonstrate a healthy godly character even when you're not watching? Dr. Kathy Koch from Celebrate Kids joins Dr. Carol on this episode to help you learn how to Parent Differently. She offers practical, relatable, and spiritually-related insights and strategies that focus on guiding and growing your kids so they develop character from the inside out to become who God created them to be. Connect with Dr. Kathy Koch on , , , or . Find Dr. Koch's book You may want to check out - and preorder - Dr. Carol's upcoming book Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. Leave her a confidential message .
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 12
01/05/2024
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 12
It's the twelfth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Your internal picture of God matters. That's perhaps the most important thing for 2024. The verse for today: "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." John 1:16-18
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11
01/04/2024
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11
It's the eleventh day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. What do YOU want for this year? Addressing our deepest desires matters - to your wellbeing, and to God. The verse for today: "The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” " John 1:35-39
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 10
01/03/2024
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 10
It's the tenth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. What do you think God's goal for you is, for 2024? I think it's primarily for you to be WITH Him! The verse for today: "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:1-2
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 9
01/02/2024
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 9
It's the ninth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. As we transition into a new year, what is your intention? How are you planning to live this year? What decisions are you making? The verse for today: "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life." 1 John 2:24-25
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8
01/01/2024
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8
It's the eighth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. It's also the beginning of a new year. What have you been waiting for? And what is your hope for this year? The verse for today: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4:4-6
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 7
12/31/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 7
It's the seventh day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. On the last day of 2023, let's talk about time - our experience of time, and God's perspective on time. The verse for today: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6
12/30/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 6
It's the sixth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Reflecting on 2023, are you more like Jesus today than you were a year ago? How does that happen? The verse for today: "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:12-15
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 5
12/29/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 5
It's the fifth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. HOW can we walk as Jesus walked? What makes it work? We contemplate here how Jesus did it, and how we can too. The verse for today: "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." 1 John 2:3-6
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 4
12/28/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 4
It's the fourth day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Today we celebrate children! (the Feast of the Holy Innocents). And we pray for the end of evil. The verse for today: "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt." Matthew 2:13-14
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 3
12/27/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 3
It's the third day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Christmas means that God came to be WITH us. How can you experience that? The verse for today: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— . . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1,3
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2
12/26/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 2
It's the second day of Christmas. We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Today - Christmas is not just for you! What does it mean to share - your story, and perhaps your resources? The verse for today: "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some . . . rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." Acts 6:8-10
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The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1
12/25/2023
The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1
Merry Christmas! We're celebrating Christmastide - 12 days of brief Scriptures and thoughts to let the message of Christmas nourish our heart and impact our lives. Today, Christmas Day, we consider what it means that Jesus entered our world - God becoming human. The verse for today: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
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