Latest / Fostering Faith / Holly Jolly Finding Joy in the Chaos: A Light-Hearted Holiday Reset.”

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Holly Jolly Finding Joy in the Chaos: A Light-Hearted Holiday Reset.” · Fostering Faith

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  Welcome back to Fostering Faith.
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  And so in this season, we are doing something a little different as we navigate through
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  our kind of really busy life and season as Gia has more sports that she's playing and
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  we are walking through volleyball and basketball and she has to maintain good grades.
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  And so she is focusing on studying and doing all the things necessary for her to be successful.
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  So welcome back to Fostering Faith.
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  I am Tracy Foster, mom of Gia.
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  I'm so excited to spend some time with you today as we approach the holiday seasons and
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  prepare for the new year.
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  I know how busy life is and how overwhelming life can feel, but holidays can bring joy
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  and they can also bring a little chaos.
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  It's okay.
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  A lot of chaos between shopping and family and gathering and work obligations and trying
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  to keep up with life.
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  It's really easy to lose sight on what truly matters.
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  And so in today's episode, it's not all about the chaos, but it's about finding joy in the
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  midst of it all.
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  It's about let's laugh a little bit.
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  Let's take a deep breath.
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  And so right now, take a deep breath and let's talk about practical ways to embrace the season
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  with peace and hope.
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  Plus I'll share how to prepare your heart and mindset for the new year without a pressure
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  of a million resolutions.
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  So let's dive in.
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  And so it's about embracing the imperfections of the season.
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  You know, we are often going to holidays with this picture perfect idea, but maybe it's
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  the visions of kids behaving like little angels, the tree decorated just the way that you wanted
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  to, the turkey coming out in the oven and looking like it's magazine ready.
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  And let's be honest, reality never looks that way.
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  And so for even just our Thanksgiving, we had two turkeys that did not get cooked right.
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  We had lights on the tree that did not go upright.
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  And so just in a matter of a day, we had this envision this of perfect turkeys coming out
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  of the roaster, a perfect turkey coming out of the smoker.
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  And the two turkeys didn't get cooked right.
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  And so we didn't have any turkey for Thanksgiving.
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  And so it's okay.
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  We laughed because we remembered the turkey season that we did for the church where we
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  literally were defrosting 25 turkeys in our bathtub because they didn't get turned.
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  They didn't get set out in time.
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  And so we had to make turkeys for like 600 people.
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  And it was such it was so we still talk about it.
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  And it was years ago, but it was just a great way to think about the beauty of imperfect
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  moments.
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  The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 12 through 13, it says, I know that there is nothing
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  better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live here.
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  Each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in their toils as it's a gift from God.
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  And so finding a practical tip is to find joy in your mess, looking for the beauty of
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  chaos, whether it's messy kids baking cookies or lopsided gingerbread houses.
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  And that reminds me I need to get gingerbread houses because we do it every year as a hilarious
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  way.
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  Our family ties, you know, looking at memories of making to leans as a family and making
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  Christmas cookies.
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  Remember that it's about the connection and laughter and that moment and not being perfect.
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  And so as my mom and Gia and I make Christmas cookies every year as a tradition, I was kind
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  of prepping the meal, the cookies and I had the dough made and I had that I was making
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  icing and my mom if you know her, she is the she can cook anything she can literally cook
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  anything and it just turned out amazing.
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  And I mean, she would bake whatever I worked at the hospital, she would bring up stuff
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  every every weekend, she would bring up something and it was so good.
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  And so people would literally come back to ICU.
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  Hey, is your mom bringing something this week?
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  Hey, is your mom bringing something this week?
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  And they would put like orders in.
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  So my mom would bring up stuff.
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  And so it was just she said was a wonderful cook.
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  And just growing up like that was like I loved Christmas cookies.
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  I loved her icing.
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  I loved her Christmas cookies and the sprinkles and like all the things.
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  And so I was making the icing and I had the powdered sugar.
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  I had the milk.
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  I had the vanilla and I was just I put them in my stand up mixer and I was just, you know,
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  whipping it and like nothing else.
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  I mean, I was like, man, I added more milk and it was just not turning out the way that
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  moms was.
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  And I like, what am I doing wrong?
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  I just could not think of it like I did the measuring of the cap and the milk and like
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  and so she walks in and I was like, what am I doing wrong?
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  And I had been whipping this for like ever and it's not turning into anything.
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  And she said, did you put butter in it?
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  And so I'm making buttercream frosting and totally forgot to put the butter into it.
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  And so it's just like little funny memories like that.
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  And it's about keeping the holidays light hearted.
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  The holidays are meant to be fun.
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  And so, you know, let's add some fun into the mix.
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  And so holidays don't have to be so serious.
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  It's OK to let loose and have a little fun.
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  Proverbs 1513 says a cheerful heart brings a smile to your face and a sad heart makes
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  it hard to get through the day.
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  One thing my family loves to do is make fun of me for my laugh.
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  They say that I am serious and that I don't laugh.
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  And then we end up laughing about how I laugh.
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  And it's about the moments that lighten the mood and remembering and reminding us not
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  to be and take life so serious ourselves.
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  And so we think about all of the times where we had this vision of something and it just
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  did not turn out the way.
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  But that was the funniest part of the holiday season.
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  You know, me getting stuck on the roof one year trying to put Christmas lights up because
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  I was so afraid of heights, but I was determined to have lights on there.
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  I got stuck on the roof one year because I was afraid to get off the ladder.
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  And I mean, just the turkeys for the Thanksgiving.
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  And that just brings a smile to our face just thinking about it.
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  And the fact that I can't make buttermilk, buttercream icing without butter.
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  And so a new tradition, maybe it's a holiday scavenger hunt.
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  Maybe it's a game night where everyone wears Christmas pajamas or a contest to see the
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  over the top ugly sweater.
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  And so traditions don't have to be Pinterest perfect.
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  They just have to be fun.
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  And so, you know, if it's a tradition, just making sure that you guys are smiling in the
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  midst of this chaos, your kids are going to remember the screw ups and the funny moments
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  more than they're going to remember the pristine packages underneath your tree, the perfect
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  Christmas tree and just having fun and creating the craziest Christmas tree or, you know,
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  the fact that you decorated the whole house or you guys have snowball fights.
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  And so we have fake snowballs.
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  And so every time that the winter comes around, we get the fake snowballs out and we have
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  snowball wars in our basement upstairs and we just have fun playing and chasing each
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  other around.
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  And it's about reclaiming your peace in the midst of this chaos.
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  As much as we want to embrace the joy, let's be real.
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  Holiday seasons can be stressful.
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  The pressure can just let us feel drained.
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  But the truth is that God has never intended us to carry all of these burdens.
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  In Matthew 11, 28 through 30, it says Jesus says, come to me, all that you are weary and
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  burdened and I will give you rest.
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  Take my yoke upon you and learn for me, for I am a gentle and humble in heart and you
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  will find rest in our soul.
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  And so as you find rest in him.
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  And so as you know, may know what a yoke is, and so it's what is used in like farming animals.
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  Like it could be, I guess, used today, but used back in the day.
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  And it's about just being strapped to somebody that has no limitations.
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  He is your heavenly father.
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  He loves you.
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  And he doesn't know what you need unless you tell him.
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  And that's what we think.
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  But he knows everything.
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  He knows exactly what you need before you need it.
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  But he just wants a relationship with you.
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  He wants you to want him.
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  And so going to him and being like, you know what, I can't do this holiday season.
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  I am crabby.
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  I am this.
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  I have expectations and just letting him know.
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  And it's just like talking to your best friend.
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  And so scheduling time to rest is so important blocking and out at 15 minutes, an hour to
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  yourself, even if you have to trap yourself in the bathroom.
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  I mean, and that's why I like getting up so early in the morning is that I like to sit,
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  drink my coffee, read my scripture.
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  And just reading my Bible and sitting quietly in prayer is literally the best way to start
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  my day.
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  So I had read a statistic a while ago where it said like the average American gets up at 7 o'clock
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  And so they get 12 months in the year. And so if you get up at 5 o'clock you get
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  13 months in a year and then so I kind of get up at 4 ish and so like I get 13 and a half months
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  roughly
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  To my side so I get a whole month's vacation 45 days of vacation
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  I get to do whatever I want and so everyone is sleeping. I have that much time 45 days 45 days of vacation. I
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  Have time to do my scripture. I have time for reading. I have time for exercise. I have time for crafts
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  I have time, you know for all of these things because I get up and I schedule my rest and
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  My recreation in the morning and I know that's not practical for some people but for that in my life
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  That's what works
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  I go to bed at night and I ask him and I pray wake me up in the morning and he wakes me up
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  In the morning. So whatever time he gets me up is what time I get up and so and I prepare
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  for the new year each year with a word and a grateful heart and so spending the last couple of weeks in
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  Prayer about what he has in store for us for the next coming up season
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  And so as we approach the new year, many of us are thinking about resolutions
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  And what can I do to be shifting our focus from doing to being instead of creating a long-to-do list?
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  And let's ask God what he wants to cultivate in us as we move ahead into the next year
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  And so choosing a theme word or word for the year pray about what God wants us to do
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  What God is speaking into you and maybe maybe it's peace. Maybe it's growth
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  Maybe it's trust boldness write down and keep it somewhere visible on the fridge and on a mirror in your Bible
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  Our word goes on to our family calendar that's in the kitchen
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  And so this year we had a word of miracle
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  And I had told my friend that I have been in prayer over it and in December
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  I said hey my word this year is miracle
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  And then we go into church because we do 21 days of prayer and fast in January and if your church does that I can
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  Only encourage you so much the trip to the from like the deepest part of my heart is go do it
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  It's life-changing and so we do it through the Church of Highlands at through City Hope and we watch the message through that
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  We have 25 to 30 minutes of extra prayer time. It's a whole hour
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  It's from 6 to 7 and so that makes you have discipline about getting up putting God first in your day
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  You're driving in the middle of the snow. You're driving at dark, you know to get to church to pray
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  collectively with people and about certain things and you journal and you write and you worship and it literally is
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  The best time and it can really just change the trajectory of your year
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  Then we do another one in kind of August ish
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  and so with another one days of 21 day or prayer and fast and it's just a wonderful wonderful time and
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  As we sat down for 21 days of prayer this year
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  And I'll and it's so good as you are in connection and prayer and as the guy got on screen
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  he said the year the word for this year is miracle and my friend and I were across like the
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  sanctuary and
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  Auditorium and we just looked at each other like shut up like what it was so good
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  Like it was just and it really was and out of all the small little miracles
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  The biggest miracle was my my brother got baptized and we still have a few weeks left in this year
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  And so I am still in prayer over some larger miracles
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  But there was really nothing better than having someone that did not believe in Jesus come to faith
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  And so I know that
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  He will be in heaven with us. I know that his life is changing. I know that
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  because
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  Of the God that we serve he gives you chance after chance after chance
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  And even though you screwed up even though you've done all the things he loves you
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  He wants that relationship with you
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  And so if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you repent and you you you know ask him to forgive you
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  For the sins because we were all sinners. We are all unworthy of a life with God and yet
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  He loves us and chooses us and so his grace and mercy is new every day
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  And so I can only encourage you guys to just kind of dive deeper into your faith and use this podcast to help you grow
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  And so as as you guys go into the next year
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  Just be in and talk with God about what he has in store for you because he has a plan for you
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  And so as we go into the next year and having practical tips
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  I'm having a gratitude attitude and so I've spoke about this so many times
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  But a gratitude is one of the best ways to shift your focus from what's missing to what's already there even in difficult seasons
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  There are blessings all around us
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  And so here's some fun meaningful tips to carry us into the new year and so I had my kids do this
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  In youth and it's about starting a gratitude jar and so you grab a jar Dollar Tree
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  They're plastic get strips of paper each day write down one thing that you're thankful for it could be as simple as a beautiful sunset
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  A kind word that a friend said to you even a great cup of coffee
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  Which I have every day and by next year
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  You'll have an entire jar of filled with God's faithfulness to look back on and so you can have your whole family do it like
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  Your daughter could do it your son could do it your wife could do it your friends could do it with you and
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  And just that way you can literally see because we were visual people and so whenever you were feeling down and out you can grab
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  A piece of paper and say I remember that I remember that you maybe just take a little date
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  By it and that way that can kind of jog your memory about what season that you were in that year
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  But you'll have 365 pieces of paper to remind you that you were loved that you were seen
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  That even just the smallest things because it's about those small things in life that can really just put a smile on your face
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  And as we stay connected through the reason for the season and so finally not forgetting the reason that we celebrate
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  Christmas and Christmas trees and all the things and the holiday is a time to reflect on the greatest gift of all
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  Which is Jesus in the hustle and bustle take time and pause and meditate on his goodness
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  Isaiah 9 6 says for a child is born to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders and he
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  Will be called a wonderful counselor a mighty God everlasting father and a prince of peace
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  so whether you're reading the Christmas story as a family or
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  attending a candlelight service as simple as spending 10 minutes in prayer each morning and
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  Let him in the center of your celebrations
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  Because he is the reason for the season and I just can't express just how much
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  You know, we have grown as a family just because we are trying to put you know
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  God in the center of everything that we do the decisions the money that we spend because it's his and not ours and just being a
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  Great steward of what he's given us
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  And just really it just changes your approach to life and you have someone to lean back on
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  You have his arms to rest in you have him guiding you in every step of the way and it's just so
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  Life-changing that I cannot I just I don't know that could put it even into words
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  And so as we close on this episode, I want to thank you so much for spending time with me today during fostering faith
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  I hope this episode leaves you feeling a little lighter a little more joyful and ready to embrace the beautiful
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  Season that is ahead of us. Remember the holidays don't have to be perfect, but they have to be meaningful
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  And it's about the imperfections that what makes a holidays memorable. So take time and rest and laugh
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  savor those little moments of burnt cookies and
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  Remember to put butter in your icing and as you prepare for the new year
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  Trust that God is in every step of the way guiding you into the season of hope and purpose
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  I hope this episode has encouraged you if it has share with a friend share with someone that needs a little holiday cheer
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  Don't forget to subscribe and so we don't want to miss what's coming up into the new year and until next time keep
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  Fostering your faith and spreading the joy of the season. And so thank you so much again for tuning in rate
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  Subscribe share it with somebody and have an amazing week