Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/a-few-less-fears-an-advent-journey Christmas is a time of gift giving. We give gifts to others to remind ourselves of God’s gift to us: Jesus. As children, we are excited about Christmas. But as we get older, we may lose much of that excitement for Christmas. We've probably opened “God’s Christmas present” so many times there isn’t much to get excited about. Or, have we? In the Nativity Story, we see the same gift being offered, again and again. To Mary. To Joseph. To the shepherds. “Don’t be afraid.” This is God’s gift to you, even today. Have we really opened this gift at Christmas? The gift of just a few less fears. This Advent season, using a weekly recording and some follow-on thoughts to consider, let’s name our fears, at least let’s name even one fear, and consider what Christmas has to do with lessening that fear. © 2025 Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff 5b410236-1190-5c78-801b-af86a1a77908 no en Fri, 09 Feb 2024 12:09:35 -0800 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:07:46 -0800 https://img.transistor.fm/YfTtvfHdjTpd9T8dR_l_keD9l8wRzGoKg0H1OTZWibA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM2Nzc0LzE2Njk5/MTI1OTItYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg episodic Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff Christmas is a time of gift giving. We give gifts to others to remind ourselves of God’s gift to us: Jesus. As children, we are excited about Christmas. But as we get older, we may lose much of that excitement for Christmas. We've probably opened “God’s Christmas present” so many times there isn’t much to get excited about. Or, have we? In the Nativity Story, we see the same gift being offered, again and again. To Mary. To Joseph. To the shepherds. “Don’t be afraid.” This is God’s gift to you, even today. Have we really opened this gift at Christmas? The gift of just a few less fears. This Advent season, using a weekly recording and some follow-on thoughts to consider, let’s name our fears, at least let’s name even one fear, and consider what Christmas has to do with lessening that fear. Christmas is a time of gift giving. Julie Stevens No No 3 3 Week 3 full 01bff5b1-a96a-4d09-9a99-050285a4a319 https://share.transistor.fm/s/3b78b4f9 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:12:57 -0800 Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff 446 No 2 2 Week 2 full ddfffe5f-6078-4573-af9f-adb7f64e6135 https://share.transistor.fm/s/54e63420 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:16:19 -0800 Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff 489 No 1 1 Week 1 full 882734e0-3864-4e96-aac9-b132f9e74f6d https://share.transistor.fm/s/2f03d50a Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:37:10 -0800 Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff Julie Stevens and Charles Ortloff 488 No