Family Prayer Podcast

41. A New Year! Monday Morning - January 5, 2026 Dan shares how both his family and the town of Grace Harbor celebrated New Years. We then spend some time talk about resolutions and intentions for the upcoming year. Discussion Question(s) • What is a word or two that describes how you want to approach this new year? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for this new year and the way it can feel like a bra...

40. Reflecting on Advent and Christmas Friday Evening - December 26, 2025 We reflect on the end of Advent and the coming of Christmas. Note: The podcast is taking a break next week and will return on Monday, January 5, 2026. Discussion Question(s) • Can you name the four themes of Advent? • BONUS: Can you remember any of the mini-holidays we celebrated? • Which of the four Advent themes did you li...

39. 12 Days of Christmas Friday Morning - December 26, 2025 We learn that Christmas is not just a day, but it is a season that lasts 12 days. Dan suggests an activity to keep the season going. Discussion Question(s) • What is something you can do over the next week and a half to remind each other that it’s still the Christmas season? Prayer Dear God, we thank you that Christmas is *not* over. Over...

38. Somebody Must Love You Thursday Evening - December 25, 2025 Dan takes an afternoon walk and sees families out enjoying their new gifts. When we get a gift we need, it is a sign that the gift-giver loves us. Discussion Question(s) • When did you feel loved today? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for this day full of excitement. We thank you that all of the gifts we both gave and received today are...

37. Merry Christmas! Thursday Morning - December 25, 2025 All four themes of Advent - hope, peace, joy, and love - have ultimately been about good things happening. When we experience these things for ourselves, it makes us want to share them with others. Discussion Question(s) • What is something from the last couple of weeks that you like to say “thank you” to God for? Prayer Dear God, we thank...

36. Prayer By the Christmas Tree Wednesday Evening - December 24, 2025 Dan shares about the end of the Christmas Eve service when everyone lights a candle as they sing “Silent Night.” We talk about the temptation to hurry through Christmas tomorrow. Discussion Question(s) • What are you most hoping for as Christmas comes tomorrow? Prayer God, keep me from hurrying through all the things I hoped fo...

35. Improvised Live Nativity Wednesday Morning - December 24, 2025 The Grace Harbor Christmas Eve service features a live improvised nativity, where anyone can put on a costume a play a part. Because there’s no practice ahead of time, there are always surprises, which makes it a wonderful picture of the first Christmas. Discussion Question(s) • What was a time when you were surprised by something...

34. Love In Action Tuesday Evening - December 23, 2025 Dan helps Brie the Baker close up her shop for the Christmas break. We learn that setting intentions sometimes involves keeping our eyes open for opportunities we don’t see coming. Discussion Question(s) • What was one moment from today when you gave or received God’s love? Prayer Dear God, we thank you that your love is all around us. It fill...

33. Love Is... Tuesday Morning - December 23, 2025 The theme for the fourth and final week of Advent is love. Love is a word that everyone knows and uses, but it has so many different meanings. Discussion Question(s) • What is one silly thing and one serious thing that you love? • How can you remind yourself of the true meaning of Christmas today? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for your love. We th...

32. A Sign Unto You Monday Evening - December 22, 2025 Though the story of Jesus’ birth doesn’t happen until three-quarters of the way through the Bible, God promised he would come from the very beginning. We take a look at some of the signs God gave to show that the first Christmas was coming. Discussion Question(s) • If God put you and your family in charge of letting the world know that Christm...

31. Look for the Signs Monday Morning - December 22, 2025 Sometimes we can be waiting for something so long that we begin to worry it won’t actually happen. But one way we can reassure ourselves is by looking for signs. Discussion Question(s) • What are some signs that Christmas is actually coming? Prayer Dear God, we thank you that Christmas is *so* close. While it may feel like we’ve been waitin...

30. The Light of Joy Friday Evening - December 19, 2025 Being someone’s friend can help them through hard times because they don’t need to go through them alone. Like a full moon in the middle of the night, we can help shine light into the darkness. Discussion Question(s) • What was something that brought you joy this week? • When was a time you chose joy this week? • Who is someone you want to sh...

29. Longest Night Friday Morning - December 19, 2025 Note to grown-ups: Today's episode talks about how holidays can be hard for some families. We’re going to acknowledge loss and grief, which is an important conversation to have. I’ve done my best to frame it appropriately for all ages, but if you'd like to preview it first, please do. Not everyone feels happy at Christmas time, and that’s ok. Th...

28. Joy in Giving Thursday Evening - December 18, 2025 Dan shares what he picked up at the Grace Harbor Christmas Market. We talk about how giving is a way of sharing joy with others. Discussion Question(s) • What are some of the ways your family shares joy with each other? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for the joy that comes from both giving and receiving. Fill our hearts with joy so we have plen...

27. Christmas Market Day Thursday Morning - December 18, 2025 Today is the day of the Grace Harbor Christmas Market, where anyone can bring homemade gifts and offer them for sale or trade. We also think about how we’d like the next couple of days to go. Discussion Question(s) • What would you bring to share at the Christmas Market? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for all of the important things we g...

26. When You Need a Boost Wednesday Evening - December 17, 2025 Just like the Wright Brothers needed a boost from a strong wind to get off the ground, sometimes we too need a boost from God and others to see our dreams take flight. Discussion Question(s) • Are there any things you’d like to ask God for help with? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for the people in our life, including you, who give us...

25. Wright Brothers Day Wednesday Morning - December 17, 2025 On this day, 122 years ago, the Wright Brothers flew the world’s first successful motor-powered, human-controlled airplane. Just as they inspired the world to chase new heights, our joy can inspire others as well. Discussion Question(s) • What kinds of things do you think could happen if more people chose joy? Prayer Dear God, we thank...

24. Choosing Joy Tuesday Evening - December 16, 2025 Joy is not just an emotion that comes and goes, but it something we can choose to focus on. Choosing joy is one of the most important skills we can learn as we grow up. Discussion Question(s) • Do you think choosing joy will be easy or hard for you this week and why? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for this day and for all of your blessings. We th...

23. Joy and Happiness Tuesday Morning - December 16, 2025 Happiness and joy can be similar, but they are not the same thing. Joy is deeper and can keep going even when we aren’t feeling happy. Discussion Question(s) • If you had dinner with the people you love the most, who would be there and how would it make you feel? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for both happiness and joy. We thank for things...

22. Finding Joy Monday Evening - December 15, 2025 Dan takes a tumble while walking downtown. But with the help of some kind neighbors, it turns into an opportunity for joy. Discussion Question(s) • Who are the people in your life who bring you joy? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for the people who bring us joy. We thank you for the people who know just how to make us feel special and loved. Give u...

21. Intro to Joy Monday Morning - December 15, 2025 The theme for the third week of Advent is joy. We begin by exploring how even mistakes can turn into sources of joy. Discussion Question(s) • Do you have any holiday traditions, favorite recipes, or special activities? • What’s a story from your family when things went wrong but now you laugh about it? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for stories th...

20. Letting the Icing Dry Friday Evening, December 12, 2025 Letting the icing dry on a gingerbread house helps lock it in, Similarly, we reflect on our week to help lock in all the good stuff from the week. Discussion Question(s) • What was something good that happened to you this week and why was it good? • What was something good that you helped to make happen for someone else and why was that g...

19. Gingerbread House Day Friday Morning, December 12, 2025 Today we celebrate Gingerbread House Day! We learn that when we work together, our impact can be bigger. Discussion Question(s) • What’s something good that you’d love to see happen, not just in your family, but in your community? Listener Mail • Hazel - Lake Mary, Florida • Ben - Orlando, Florida • Kaylor - Chesterfield, Virginia • Willi...

18. You Are Grace Harbor Thursday Evening, December 11, 2025 Lighthouses help ships by showing them the way around danger and to safety. We have the opportunity to be lighthouses and safe harbors for the people in our lives. Discussion Question(s) • Who could we be a safe harbor for? • Do you know of any friends or neighbors or people in your community that would be encouraged knowing that you’re...

17. Becoming a Harbor for Others Thursday Morning, December 11, 2025 Grace Harbor got its start as a Trading Post set up by a sailor named John and his wife, Grace. Their welcome and care for the ships and crews passing through defined this as a place of refuge and safety. Discussion Question(s) • What could your family do to be more like a harbor for each other? Prayer Dear God, we thank you for...