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Hope doesn’t always arrive with trumpets. Sometimes it shows up in a small town, in a hard conversation, or in the moment you decide to trust when you’d rather run. We explore how celebration, anticipation, and tradition can be beautiful on-ramps—but not the center—of a season meant to restore weary hearts through Jesus.

We trace the promise of the Messiah from Isaiah’s prophecy to a manger in Bethlehem, showing how specific, unlikely predictions converge in the life of Jesus. From there, the story turns personal: Mary practices courageous obedience with honest questions, and Joseph responds to deep disappointment with quiet integrity. Their choices do more than carry a plot forward; they show us how faith grows inside tension. Along the way we talk about the upside-down kingdom, why Emmanuel—God with us—changes how we plan, and how provision often follows obedience in surprising ways.

You’ll hear practical takeaways for a holiday season that can feel loud but lonely: God is at work even when we can’t see it, trusting God steadies us through uncertainty, and we live differently when we remember Christ is with us. We also celebrate the global, multilingual beauty of worship and the everyday ways communities embody hope—from decorating sidewalks to serving neighbors. If you’re craving peace that outlasts the season, this conversation helps you center on the One who restores.

If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review to help more people find the message of Emmanuel.

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What if a simple thank you could change more than a moment—what if it could change your day, your focus, and your faith? We start with a warm, funny tour of “thank you” in different languages—gracias, merci, donobad, and the exuberant shokran awi—and use those stories to show how appreciation can turn strangers into allies and chaos into connection. From guards guiding cars through Cairo traffic to a shopkeeper who always had a bag of chips for a child, we highlight how gratitude softens edges and opens doors.

From there, we anchor the conversation in Scripture. Psalm 118 reminds us that God’s steadfast love endures forever, and Ephesians 5:20 calls us to give thanks always. We break down the daily choice to live gratefully—across 35,000 decisions a day—especially when feelings want to steer. Gratitude doesn’t deny pain; it refuses to let pain be the narrator. We unpack a classic selective attention study to reveal how easily we fixate on problems and miss the quiet gorillas of grace walking right through our field of vision. When we practice thanks, attention shifts from the problem to the Provider, and the Eeyore mindset loses its grip.

We close by elevating the why: God is worthy. With help from Charles Spurgeon, we move gratitude from a transaction—“I thank you because I got something”—to adoration—“I thank you because You are good.” We talk about forgiveness, freedom, mended pieces, and the faithful presence of Jesus who never leaves. If you’re new to faith or ready for a fresh start, you’ll hear a clear, hopeful invitation to follow Christ and a pathway to next steps in community.

If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review. Your words help more people choose gratitude and find hope this week.

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Words can set a home on fire or turn it into a refuge. We trace the surprising power of the tongue through James 1 and 3 and show how small choices—listening first, slowing anger, and curating our inputs—redirect the big ship of our lives. Along the way, we share unfiltered stories, from childhood “soap in the mouth” lessons to singing worship through dust and mud in Mexico, to the daily temptations of sarcasm and road rage. Each moment points to one truth: blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth, and with God’s help, they don’t have to.

We break down the images of bits, bridles, rudders, and sparks to explain why words steer outcomes far beyond the moment. If you repeat contempt, you start living it; if you speak faith, your steps begin to follow. That’s why mindset matters. Inputs shape the heart, and out of the heart, the mouth speaks. We look at how the Holy Spirit transforms speech—starting at Pentecost—freeing us to proclaim truth with love, not as noise but as healing. You’ll hear practical counsel on cooling conflicts before they blaze, replacing sarcasm with trust, and becoming the person others seek for steady, Scripture-shaped encouragement.

We close with three simple, demanding practices: speak faith over fear, speak the truth in love, and speak hope over your future. Break old labels, bless the people in your circle, and let new habits of speech pull your life into a new direction. If life feels messy, God can handle it—and He starts by changing what we say and how we say it.

If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more people can find these messages. What one phrase will you retire—and what blessing will you speak—this week?

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-...

Life Groups
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-gr...

Giving
https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.co...

Church Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZ

iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-ch...

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

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