Key Takeaways:

• The wise men of the Christmas story anticipated a grand king but found a humble child in a manger, embodying the values of a new kingdom.

• While Jesus did not bring a new political system, he revealed a profound new understanding of God's nature.

• True spiritual searches lead to a personal encounter with Jesus, rather than wealth or ideological rules.

• Listeners are urged to follow their own "star risen in the east" as a metaphorical call to seek God with their whole heart.

• The Christmas narrative is presented as an invitation to find meaning and purpose through a personal relationship with God.

Notable Quotes:

• “The wise men's search led them to a God who was personal—an almighty creator who came in a form that we could understand.”

• “In Christmas, we see that God has already come to seek us.”

• “The journey for God won't lead us to riches, rules, or an ideology, but to a person, one who takes our burdens.”

• “This was God's way of communicating the values of a different kingdom.”

The God of the Bible is a talking God. All throughout the Scriptures, God is seen talking to people. First to the prophets, then most fully in Jesus and today through his Holy Spirit. When we choose to follow Jesus, the Spirit speaks to remind us of all that Jesus established and apply it to our lives.

So how does the Spirit speak? How do we know it’s God? And what happens afterwards? Join Rev Dr Tania Harris as she explores what the Spirit is saying to us. Everyday God Conversations will encourage you weekly to reflect on the God-conversations of Scripture, the ultimate God-conversation in Jesus and to hear from the Holy Spirit yourself. Remember, it was never meant to be a one-way conversation!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• Consistent Seeking: The stories of Simeon and Anna teach the value of maintaining a lifelong commitment to seeking God’s presence and purposes.

• Spiritual Fulfillment: Believers are reminded that finding God and experiencing Jesus personally transforms one's life indefinitely.

• Expectancy in Faith: The narrative emphasizes the need to remain expectant and open to God’s timing and revelations, even after years of waiting.

• Personal Spiritual Journey: Tania shares her own journey of moving from second-hand beliefs to a personal encounter with God, illustrating a universal quest for authentic spiritual connection.

• Boundless Divine Treasures: You are invited to seek out the boundless treasures of wisdom and insight available in a deeply personal relationship with God.

Notable Quotes:

• "There seems to be a need in each one of us to find meaning and purpose in our lives."

• "Our temptation is that as time goes by, we stop seeking. We get a little lazy and passive."

• "You will be found by me, God said, when you seek me with all your heart."

• "There are boundless treasures in God for those who seek."

The God of the Bible is a talking God. All throughout the Scriptures, God is seen talking to people. First to the prophets, then most fully in Jesus and today through his Holy Spirit. When we choose to follow Jesus, the Spirit speaks to remind us of all that Jesus established and apply it to our lives.

So how does the Spirit speak? How do we know it’s God? And what happens afterwards? Join Rev Dr Tania Harris as she explores what the Spirit is saying to us. Everyday God Conversations will encourage you weekly to reflect on the God-conversations of Scripture, the ultimate God-conversation in Jesus and to hear from the Holy Spirit yourself. Remember, it was never meant to be a one-way conversation!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways:

• King Herod's destructive self-interest never led him to find true purpose or fulfillment.

• A self-seeking journey ultimately leads to a dead end and personal ruin.

• Contrastingly, Bill Gates' use of his achievements for global good exemplifies finding meaning through altruism.

• Our greatest meaning is found when we connect with God and bless others, reflecting a purpose beyond ourselves.

• "When we seek things only for ourselves, we'll never find what we're looking for," is a central message of this episode.

Notable Quotes:

• "Everybody's looking for something, the Eurythmics once sang. There seems to be a need in each one of us to find meaning and purpose in our lives."

• "A self-serving journey will never lead us there. We will become like the Herods of history."

• "When he (Bill Gates) and his wife eventually achieved that, they channeled all of their success into a purpose beyond themselves."

• "God calls us on a journey to find him and in doing so, to bless others."

• "He never found the newborn king. God had warned the wise men in a dream not to report back and tell him what they'd seen."

The God of the Bible is a talking God. All throughout the Scriptures, God is seen talking to people. First to the prophets, then most fully in Jesus and today through his Holy Spirit. When we choose to follow Jesus, the Spirit speaks to remind us of all that Jesus established and apply it to our lives.

So how does the Spirit speak? How do we know it’s God? And what happens afterwards? Join Rev Dr Tania Harris as she explores what the Spirit is saying to us. Everyday God Conversations will encourage you weekly to reflect on the God-conversations of Scripture, the ultimate God-conversation in Jesus and to hear from the Holy Spirit yourself. Remember, it was never meant to be a one-way conversation!

Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.