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Podcast #250: “Noel” by Chris Tomlin ft. Lauren Daigle

Delving into the Symbols of Christmas

When you drive up to a traffic circle and encounter a red triangular sign, it triggers a behavior to yield to traffic in the circle. If you’re married and gaze upon your wedding band, it may trigger memories of your wedding day or perhaps just bring your spouse’s face to mind. There are signs and symbols everywhere that prick our memories or guide our behaviors — especially at Christmas. This week, we will use “Noel” as sung by Lauren Daigle on Chris Tomlin’s Christmas album to point us to the symbols of Christmas and Scriptural truth we can take with us all year long.

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Invest in some time learning Scripture references that the symbols of Christmas can spark in your mind for years to come.

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #249: “When I Think Upon Christmas” by Hillsong Worship

Comparing and Contrasting Accounts of Christ's Birth in the Gospels

What do you think of when you think of Christmas? Family traditions? Decorations? Gift giving and receiving? When Hillsong Worship sings “When I Think Upon Christmas” they sing of the greatest gift of all time…Jesus, God with us, Savior of the world.

Let’s take a close look at the accounts of the birth of Christ together.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #248: “Thank You, Lord” by Dennis Jernigan

Lingering in Psalm 148, Daniel 6, Jonah 2, and Isaiah 26

How could I miss that? The answer is usually because I’m not paying attention. Dennis Jernigan’s song, “Thank You, Lord,” might not be a new worship anthem, but it gives us a great structure to linger in some areas of Scripture we’ve covered in the past few weeks on the podcast. It will do our hearts good to go back over some ground we’ve covered to see if there might be something we missed that we can turn into thanksgiving to our God.

Try a new technique to tarry in God’s Word with new purpose.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #247: “Peace Be Still” by The Belonging Co (feat. Lauren Daigle)

Pursuing Perfect Peace in Isaiah 26

Maybe it’s too many Hallmark Movies, but I love it when the protagonist leans in and puts her head on the shoulder of the man she’s fallen in love with. In that act there is a sense of love, safety, and trust. In the song by The Belonging Co, “Peace Be Still,” Lauren Daigle sings about faith rising up and peace reigning. This very thing shows up in another song found in the book of Isaiah where we learn to “lean in” to our Father through trust.

Join me as we explore the words of this Old Testament prophet.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #246: “Head Above Water” by Avril Lavigne

A Cry From the Depths in Jonah 2

Do you ever feel like you are drowning with seaweed wrapped around your head? It’s a pretty descriptive picture of distress that I see in Scripture AND in Avril Lavigne’s new song, “Head Above Water.” When we’re drowning in life let’s cry out to God for rescue because “salvation belongs to the Lord!”

Let’s talk about Jonah, Jesus, and the folly of taking things into our own hands.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #245: “Confidence” by Sanctus Real

Gauging Our Confidence Against Daniel, Moses, and David

The world today has a way taking good and noble things and twisting them into something God never intended. As we spend time in Scripture inspired by Sanctus Real’s song “Confidence,” the stark contrast between God’s way and the world’s way rises to the surface.

Join me as we jump into God’s Word and combat bad ideas with truth.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #244: “So Will I (100 Billion X)” by Hillsong United

Comparing Our Worship With All of Creation in Genesis 1 and Psalm 148

The Psalmist readily acknowledges that all of creation praises God. Humans are mentioned in just two verses that call on God’s heavenly and earthly creation to worship Him in Psalm 148. Hillsong United sings of this in their song “So Will I” when they lyrically recognize that our praise is not unique to humankind.

Join me as we consider the ramifications of our worship.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #243: “The Way” by Pat Barrett

Stopping to Look Up in John 14

What we believe matters. It will impact how we think and how we live. In the song titled “The Way” by Pat Barrett, he sings of a fundamental belief that Christians hold — that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As we explore the area of Scripture where this doxology originated we discover this belief is important in so many ways.

Join me as we meditate on the words of Christ and find comfort in the process.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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Podcast #242: “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns

Surveying the Soul in Psalm 42

The waters of our soul are deep. The cry of the song “Oh My Soul” by Casting Crowns reminds us that we can bare our souls to the One who created us inside and out. If we spend some time tending to our souls, we can experience the faithfulness of God in the deepest places of our being.

The Psalms include many soul-baring moments, and Psalm 42 contains an example of this. It won’t be hard to relate to the psalmist this week!

On this episode I discuss:

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Podcast #241: “Satisfied In You (Psalm 42)” by The Sing Team

Poring Over Psalm 42

The Rolling Stones really captured the essence of culture when they sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Our world is in a constant state of discontent. When you weigh the philosophy of this week’s song by The Sing Team, “Satisfied In You (Psalm 42),” you discover that our satisfaction doesn’t lie in our effort as sung by our friend Mick, but rather in God.

There are unlikely discoveries in a Psalm you may know in part. Join me this week as we pore over Psalm 42.

On this week’s episode I discuss:

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