Why wouldn't God say it like that? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 4, 2026 · 17 MIN

Why wouldn't God say it like that?

from Hearts Open to the Word · host Rev. Dr. Charissa Clark Howe

We often miss God's voice because we expect it to sound a certain way—like a choir of angels or a clear, burning bush. But the story of Epiphany challenges our desire for a "correct" revelation by introducing the Magi: foreign astrologers who found the Messiah through the "weird" medium of the stars. Join us as we explore Isaiah 60:1–6 and Matthew 2:1–12 to discover how the Light of the World breaks through our traditional boundaries.When we accept that God speaks to all people, our world expands; therefore, we must abandon our limited expectations and train ourselves to perceive God reaching out through the "weird," the foreign, and the unexpected places of our lives.If you weren't at a church this week that uses this practice, you can use this online star word generator here: https://perchance.org/starwords2022

We often miss God's voice because we expect it to sound a certain way—like a choir of angels or a clear, burning bush. But the story of Epiphany challenges our desire for a "correct" revelation by introducing the Magi: foreign astrologers who found the Messiah through the "weird" medium of the stars. Join us as we explore Isaiah 60:1–6 and Matthew 2:1–12 to discover how the Light of the World breaks through our traditional boundaries.When we accept that God speaks to all people, our world expands; therefore, we must abandon our limited expectations and train ourselves to perceive God reaching out through the "weird," the foreign, and the unexpected places of our lives.If you weren't at a church this week that uses this practice, you can use this online star word generator here: https://perchance.org/starwords2022

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Why wouldn't God say it like that?

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This episode was published on January 4, 2026.

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We often miss God's voice because we expect it to sound a certain way—like a choir of angels or a clear, burning bush. But the story of Epiphany challenges our desire for a "correct" revelation by introducing the Magi: foreign astrologers who found...

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