Are you struggling to find joy this Christmas season? In this week's message, Pastor Stephen Mizell cuts through the shallow happiness of the holidays to reveal what real joy actually is—and where it comes from.

Through the lens of Mary's Magnificat prayer in Luke 1, discover how a teenage girl facing scandal, fear, and uncertainty chose to magnify God instead of her overwhelming circumstances. This isn't a feel-good Christmas message. It's a prophetic declaration that will challenge what you're focusing on in your own life.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Why joy is not a season, reaction, or outcome—it's a revelation of who God is
• The surprising connection between magnifying God and experiencing joy
• How what we ruminate on eventually masters us (including politics, fears, and circumstances)
• Why Mary's ability to articulate her prayer at 12-16 years old was supernatural
• The power of remembering God's faithfulness when circumstances press in
• How traditions and rhythms help us look back and see God's hand in our lives

KEY QUOTE: "Joy is not found in what you hold—it's found in who holds you. Real joy is settled confidence that God is present even when life is painful."

PERFECT FOR: Anyone feeling overwhelmed by circumstances, struggling to find joy beyond temporary happiness, or needing to remember God's faithfulness during difficult seasons.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:45-55 (Mary's Magnificat)

Open Door Church
Edenton, NC Pastor
Stephen Mizell

In this powerful Advent message, Pastor Stephen Mizell explores how God brought peace to shepherds in a field before bringing it to a palace. Discover why peace isn't the absence of chaos, but the presence of Jesus Christ—and why it requires pursuit, not passivity.

The shepherds watching over sacrificial lambs were the first to hear the greatest announcement in history. Their story reveals profound truths about how God meets us in forgotten places, interrupts our ordinary moments, and transforms us from the inside out. If you're waiting for life to calm down before you can have peace, this message will challenge and encourage you.

Key Takeaways:

• Peace is not a place you escape to—it's a person you embrace
• God starts in the places the world has forgotten
• Peace begins when you realize you're not in control
• Anxiety lives in the gap between God's command and our action
• You can have peace even when your circumstances don't change
• Peace requires pursuit—you must move toward Jesus

Scripture References: Luke 2:8-20 (The Shepherds and the Angels)

Open Door Church
Edenton, NC Pastor
Stephen Mizell

🌐 Website: www.visitopendoor.com

Have you ever prayed for something so long that you stopped expecting the answer? In this powerful Advent message, Pastor Stephen Mizell explores the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth—a faithful couple who waited 40 years for a child while continuing to serve God in the temple.

Through their story found in Luke 1, discover a profound truth: God's silence isn't His absence. Sometimes heaven's delays aren't denials—God is preparing something bigger than what you're praying for.

In This Episode:

• Why biblical hope is different from wishful thinking—it's confident expectation based on God's character
• How Zechariah and Elizabeth's obedience positioned them for a miracle they'd stopped expecting
• The difference between faith that believes God "can" versus faith that serves Him even when He "doesn't"
• Why both Zechariah and Mary asked "how?" but received different responses from the angel
• What it means to "keep lighting the incense"—staying faithful in service while waiting for answers
• How God sometimes closes our mouth so He can open our understanding

Pastor Stephen challenges us with this question: What do you do when your prayers seem unanswered? The answer may surprise you—it's not to stop praying or stop serving, but to continue faithfully because hope is forged in consistency, not excitement.

This message kicks off Open Door Church's Advent series, preparing hearts for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting beginning January 4th.

Key Quote: "Sometimes the most righteous people carry the heaviest crosses. Faith is not just believing God can—it's continuing to serve Him when He doesn't answer the way you expect."

Scripture Focus: Luke 1:5-25