What is the "wilderness"? It's when our understanding of God does not match our experience.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Faith Eury Cho talks about the raw honesty we can have with God and how that plants roots for friendship.
As we look ahead to the new year we want to be considering how to live a faithful life, how to rise to meet the moments in front of us, even when we're not FEELING our faith. Gratitude. Curiosity. Thanksgiving. These are practices we can use to remember who God is, invite him into our daily minutia of life, and thank him for what he has already done and has yet to do.
If you're wondering how to face the next few weeks or next year, we invite you to listen in to this conversation and tell us how you are cultivating a real friendship with the living God.
Connect with Faith
On her website or Instagram
Mentioned on the show
Faith's new book Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence
Questions for reflection
-How do you see God drawing near to you?
- In what ways can you be more honest with him as you end this year?
-How can you live in expectation that he will be with you, no matter what you're facing, in 2024?
Christmas doesn't arrive on our terms. Whether we are ready for a party or not, the holiday is still here. It's okay to be sad (and if you are, it's okay to give yourself permission to be sad.) It's also okay to have grief and joy at the same time or on different days. There is no right way to feel this Christmas.
Our guest for this episode, Jami Nato, knows a few things about grief during the holidays. Her life as she knew it fell apart nearly a decade ago - right between Thanksgiving and New Year's. For years to follow she couldn't figure out why she wasn't better able to welcome the holiday season. She needed to give herself permission to grieve. From infidelity to addiction to that missing person at the table, we cover how heartbreak can feel acute this time of year.
And yet....we also know the very holiday we are celebrating right now is our reminder that God comes near to us because he loves us. He doesn't come because we have put together lives, just the opposite, he comes because we need him. If you are feeling low today, or you love someone who is, this is a great listen to remind us all that God loves the sinners - that's all of us - and he is with us no matter what.
Connect with Jami
On Instagram, or Facebook
A few things mentioned
Jami's book This Must Be the Place: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Discover Your Purpose Today
Breathing Through Grief: A Devotional Journal for Seasons of Loss by Dorina Gilmore-Young
Some questions for reflection
-How are you going to make sure you take care of yourself in your grief?
-How are you going to reach out to a friend who may be hurting?
-How might you hold on to the hope that is Christmas?
To all of the Christmas movie buffs in the world, this episode is for YOU. In this fun episode Alex and Krista list their top ten holiday movies to watch PLUS snack ideas to go with each one.
With winter comes cozy movie time and snuggling up on the sofa. We list some classics that are in the must-watch category and a few new feel-good films.
Let’s get in the holiday spirit together!