God With Us 2025 Advent Series :: Re-Air: God With Us While We Wait ::

Welcome to Week 3 of the God With Us Advent re-air series on OOBT! Today’s episode invites us to pause in the midst of the busy holiday season and reflect on the deeper meaning of Advent:
He has come… and He is coming.

In this episode, we explore how Jesus, our Emmanuel, is present with us in every part of life—the hard and the good, the joy and the pain, in the weariness and in the waiting. We dive into what it means to trust God in the “in-between” moments, to let Advent slow our hearts and minds, and to recognize that the waited time is not wasted time with Him.

You’ll hear encouragement to take this season as an opportunity
to lean into God’s presence, to find hope, and to discover ways
your weary soul can truly rejoice… even while we wait.

As I’ve mentioned repeatedly in this series, I’m listening right alongside you, my OOBTers, letting the truths of this Advent message stir
my heart just as they did when I first spoke them
into the mic all those seasons ago. So good.

Next week, be sure to come back and listen as we close out the series with The Awe + Wonder of Our Savior’s Birth, releasing on Christmas Eve—a perfect way to prepare your heart and mind for our Savior’s birth.

Michelle-Fahring-Open-Our-Bibles-with-mfahring-podcast_advent 2025_with us while we wait_3

// Show Notes //

Let’s take a closer look at the arrival of Jesus long ago by reading the Christmas story to prep for our next Advent podcast episode.

:: The Christmas Story ::

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20

:: The Christmas Story With Christmas Carols ::

The Census (Luke 2:1-5)
[Prophecy of Bethlehem: Micah 5:2]
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

Christ’s Birth (Luke 2:6-7)
Away in a Manger

Angelic Birth Announcement (Luke 2:8-12)
The First Noel

Glory in the Highest (Luke 2:13-20)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come Let Us Adore Him

A Search for the King (Matthew 2:1-8)
We Three Kings

Gifts of Worship (Matthew 2:9-12)
Joy to the World

Light in the Darkness (John 1:1-14)
Silent Night (Sing by Candlelight)

What are some things you are personally seeing in a new way/for the first time
from these verses after this reading of the Christmas story?

Here are the 15 Days of Scriptures to study in the days leading up to
Christmas morning as mentioned in today’s episode as well.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. – 2 Corinthians 9:15
When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. – Galatians 4:4-5
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift – not from works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abounding in faithful love to all who call on you. – Psalm 86:5
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10
We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:19
See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated "God is with us." – Matthew 1:23
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9
This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent – Jesus Christ. – John 17:3
You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures. – Psalm 16:11