Christmas magic makers - do you have a group you are needing to feed? Perhaps you have one significant meal you are preparing for, or like us, you have days of meals that are needed to feed more than are usually home. We have some tips for you! From how to make the food stretch (think loaves and fishes but in soup format) to how to get others to help (assign jobs or favorite foods) we've got ideas for you. We also cover how to balance from sit down to feed yourselves, how a "food bar" helps meet various preferences and dietary restrictions, and how bigger kids eat more, but also can take on a lot more responsibility. Food during the holidays can bring an extra dose of nostalgia. Let's not let it also bring an extra dose of stress. Plan ahead. Bring a joyful attitude. And celebrate that you have mouths to feed and food to offer them. Expectations might need to be adjusted, but we believe in you and trust that, along with your team of helpers, you can feed ALL the people this holiday season. A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Proverbs 11:25

Italian Meatball Orzo Soup

Italian Sausage White Bean Soup

Apres Ski Chicken Dumplings Soup

Zuppa Toscana

Clam Chowder in bread bowls

panini maker

Chicken Marbella

Soft Peanut Brittle

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What does success look like to you as you gather people this season?
2. What is one way you can prepare now to gather and feed people near Christmas?
3. What would it look like to involve others in the cooking this year?
4. Make a list of possible meals that you can make or you can download Krista's Christmas planning guide, get it out of your head to the paper.
5. How can you embody the spirit of Christmas this year as you host others?

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Are you hosting over the holidays… or avoiding it? Do you ever wonder what actually matters when you open your home—and what absolutely doesn't? If so, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.

This week, Alex and Krista sit down with author and hospitality mentor Abby Kuykendall, whose book Let the Biscuits Burn gives permission to let go of entertaining to embrace the true heart of hospitality. Let's peel back the pressure, perfectionism, and Pinterest-level expectations surrounding hosting—especially during the holidays—and get honest about what true Biblical hospitality really looks like.

Takeaways:

• Hospitality is both a spiritual gift and a discipline.
• True hospitality focuses on making others feel loved and seen.
• Entertaining is different from hospitality; it's more self-centered.
• Setting boundaries is crucial to prevent burnout during hosting.
• Practical tips can help incorporate hospitality into daily life.
• Creating a welcoming environment is key to effective hospitality.
• Hospitality can be transformative for both host and guest.
• Personal experiences highlight the power of opening one's home.
• Hospitality doesn't have to be perfect; it's about connection.
• The conversation encourages embracing hospitality as a rhythm.

FIND MORE ABOUT ABBY KUYKENDALL

Abby Kuykendall- Website and Instagram

Abby Kuykendall's Book- Let the Biscuit Burn

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Revelation 19

1 Peter

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. When have you felt seen, known and loved, what did the other person do to help you feel that way?
2. How can you be disciplined to build hospitality into your rhythms?
3. What is one visual reminder you can create in your home or office that will trigger an invitation of hospitality?
4. How can you get ready to be ready this holiday season?

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How is the world feeling to you these days? How does Christmas fit into all of the headlines of the day? What about grief during a time when we are told we should be celebrating? Alex reminds us of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Jesus came BECAUSE OF the grief of the world. He surprised the world with his arrival and now we wait with expectation for his return.

Whether you aren't sure how to celebrate when your neighbors are suffering, or you are the one facing difficult circumstances - this is your annual reminder that Jesus is the hope of the world and this is why we remember his arrival every year.

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Books

Celebrating Abundance by Walter Brueggermann

Loving My Actual Christmas by Alex Kuykendall

Episodes

Episode 311- Christmas is Coming

Episode 105- Loving My Actual Christmas

Episode 480- Make Room for Hope

Episode 481-Make Room for Peace

Episode 482- Make Room for Joy

Episode 483- Make Room for Love

Episode 310- Moving Through Grief and Loss at Christmas

Episode 507- Walking Kids Through Grief + Loss

Sermon

Colorado Community Church

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How are you doing this week friend? Are you experiencing the busy of Thanksgiving week? The threshold of the holiday season can be overwhelming with so many responsibilities and shoulds. We are often the holiday makers for those ahead of us in life (our parents) and those behind (our kids and grandkids.) On top of the to-do list there can be the relational heaviness midlife can bring. The holidays can highlight where we are already hurting. Other midlife stressors can be equally painful.

But we don't have to dread our life - or our holiday season. Gary Thomas is here to remind us that we live in freedom because Jesus offers us this gift. Yes, we have heartache, but more than that we have the promise of Christ that he has overcome the world. As you are baking your pies and basting your turkey over the next few days, join us as we dismantle some lies that are keeping us from walking in the way of Christ. Gary is honest, humble, and not wrong! This season of midlife can be disorienting and difficult. We also can experience the contrast of hope and good news that is in the resurrected Christ.

FIND MORE ABOUT GARY THOMAS

Gary Thomas- Website and Instagram

Gary Thomas Book- The Life You Were Reborn to Live

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Genesis 3:16

Romans 7

1 Corinthians 15

John 16:33

1 Timothy 6:8

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What does it look like to pursue wisdom of God over everything at this stage in life?
2. What does it look like to offer up your child to God, like Abraham did with Isaac?
3. Is there an area of life where you feel you have unknowingly tipped into entitlement?
4. Is there an area of good in your life that has become normal that you can see with fresh eyes again?

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Midlife can be exhausting. The amount of change we go through in this season of life brings grief. At the same time our bodies are changing in a way that can make us feel even more out of sorts. That is why Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is talking to us about emotional rest. It's not a surprise that fear peaks its head and identity is questioned in this storm of change. Dr. Dalton-Smith reminds us we must pray for God's clarity and as we move through this journey. We need to watch our self-talk and the messages we are repeating in our own minds. And we must find a community of true belonging, where we are safe to explore these changes and how they impact our self perception. We hope this is a place that feels like true belonging to you. As you experience the stress of midlife, we hope you press play, exhale, and remember that you belong to God no matter your age or stage. FIND MORE ABOUT DR. SAUNDRA DALTON-SMITH

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith- Website and Instagram

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Book- Being Fully Known

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

DR. Saundra's other books

Sacred Rest

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Where in your life are you resisting change?
2. If your pot is being stirred, is there something coming up in you that you need to pay attention to?
3. What does it look like to accept your current situation so you can find the joy in what is?
4. What form of sacred rest are you practicing so your soul is being watered?
5. How can you explore what is underneath a fear you have? What have you been avoiding facing?
6. What part of you are you holding back?

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Do you want to make the most of this holiday season? Do you want to let go of what doesn't matter and grab onto those things that make real and lasting memories? So do we. In this episode, Jessica Smartt joins us to discuss how to create lasting memories during the holidays while balancing traditions and new experiences. We talk about the importance of creating a welcoming home environment, managing expectations, and engaging older kids in meaningful activities. We also dive into the significance of building sibling relationships and the challenges that come with the holiday season, always landing with both feet on the hope that comes from celebrating together despite difficulties. If you want to prepare your head and heart for the holiday season, listen in! Takeaways

• The holidays are a time to create special memories with family.
• Strong families are built through intentional moments and connections.
• It's important to balance time-honored traditions with new experiences.
• Creating a welcoming home environment can enhance family gatherings.
• Managing expectations is crucial to enjoying the holiday season.
• Flexibility is key when planning holiday activities.
• Engaging older kids in meaningful traditions can strengthen family bonds.
• Sibling relationships can be nurtured through shared holiday activities.
• Every family faces challenges during the holidays, and that's okay.
• Celebrating the holidays is an opportunity to embody hope and joy.

Titles

• Creating Lasting Holiday Memories
• Balancing Traditions and New Experiences

Sound Bites

• "I want our memories to be special."
• "What is your howling coyote?"
• "That's hope. That's beautiful."

FIND MORE ABOUT JESSICA SMARTT

Jessica Smartt's- Website and Instagram

Jessica Smartt's Book- Come on Home

A FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Jessica's Other Book

Memory Making Mom

The Light at Tern Rock-

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. What would it look like to take a posture of flexibility this holiday season?

2. As Jessica said, God has uniquely wired you with gifts for your family, how can you capitalize on those gifts that you already have to create more of a nest for your family?

3. How can you embody the spirit of the holiday you are celebrating?

4. What is one action step from the podcast you can implement and be specific is it an idea, posture, game or tradition?

5. What is the opportunity God is inviting you into your specific hard this holiday season?

LET'S CONNECT!

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The holidays are approaching, which means conversations around the dinner table. Are you looking forward to them or dreading them? We can prepare mentally and spiritually for those moments, by choosing the opposite of our natural inclinations. Jesus calls us to be peacemakers, but often we don't feel like it when our buttons are being pushed. So how? How do we choose the opposite of anger, and gotcha, when that is what our instincts are indicating? On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to not only consider the opposite, but also practice it. Tammy Melchien, a teaching pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicago, joins us as we consider what it means to be people of peace this holiday season. We do not need to meet anger with anger. We CAN make different choices with the help of the Holy Spirit. We can allow God's goodness to work in us, and therefore through us. Push play to listen in. FIND MORE ABOUT TAMMY MELCHIEN Tammy's- Website and Instagram Tammy's Book- Choosing the Opposite A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Finding Nemo Movie QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Where is a place in your life where you could choose the opposite?
2. Is there a person you will see over the holidays that may cause you to respond in a way that is not aligned with who you want to be?
3. How can you prepare now to practice healthy detachment in the moment when you are with them?
4. How can you cultivate becoming more of a person of peace both internally, what you're experiencing in your soul and externally how you respond to other people?

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Letting go is the name of the game in midlife. We're invited to open our hands, releasing what was and receiving what is. Whether it's a role we once held, a relationship that's shifted, a long-held dream, or even our health, midlife invites deep transformation through loss and renewal.

In this episode, Krista Gilbert and Alex Kuykendall explore the sacred art of letting go through the lens of Scripture and grounded psychological insight. They discuss the necessity of grieving what's been lost while making space for new beginnings. Ultimately, letting go isn't a passive act - it's an intentional, faith-filled practice that opens the door to freedom, peace, and deeper trust in God's unfolding story.

If you find yourself in a surrendering season, this episode is for you!

TAKEAWAYS:

• It's essential to discern when to end something and when to persevere.
• Letting go is a gradual process, much like building a muscle.
• Midlife brings significant changes that require us to let go.
• Grief is a natural response to change and loss.
• Surrendering to God's will is a key aspect of faith.
• Self-regulation is essential in navigating life's transitions.
• Letting go can be painful, as it often involves loss of identity.
• Ending well is important for personal growth and closure.
• Recognizing expectations can help in the letting go process.
• Scripture provides numerous examples of letting go and trusting God.

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

John 12:24

Episode 469- Who Am I if?

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. Is there an area where you need to surrender?
2. Thinking of Ecclesiastes 3, what season is changing for you right now?
3. Can you form a statement much like in Ecclesiastes 3 that says there is a season for one thing and a season for another in your life, be specific in how your seasons are changing.
4. What is God inviting you into as you discern your next steps?
5. When have you been blessed by letting go?

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Jessica Kastner isn't afraid to talk about divorce. Though it's not part of what she anticipated as part of her story, it is and she wants to give women, especially Christian women, the space and place to talk about it. What does it feel like? How do we understand it in terms of faith? How can we move forward in health for ourselves and our children?

Midlife is often a time when divorce enters the picture. The changes and stressors that happen can accentuate hurtful patterns. This episode is meant to be a reminder that God meets us in all circumstances. Whether divorce is part of your story or you have friends walking that road, this conversation provides a framework for forging a path toward healing.

FIND MORE ABOUT JESSICA KASTNER

Jessica Kastner/Blog – Website and Facebook

Jessica Kastner Podcast- Free Failing

Jessica Kastner Book- Hiding from My Kids in the Prayer Closet

FEW THINGS MENTIONED

Psalms 91

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Alex's Book- Seeking Out Goodness

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. How has divorce impacted you?
2. What insights did you gain from this conversation and how will it impact your relationships?
3. How can you be a good friend to someone else that's been impacted by divorce

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Most resources around adoption focus on early childhood—when questions are simple and development is more predictable. But what happens when our kids become teens and young adults, and the questions grow deeper?

In this episode, we sit down with Sherri Crandall, children's book author and VP of Global Ministries and Leadership Experience for The MomCo, Sherri opens up about her family's path to adoption and the evolving conversations she's having now with her daughter, Lexi, as she steps into adulthood.

Together we explore:

• Why it's important to invite young adults to lead conversations about identity, heritage, and belonging
• How to honor each child's unique story, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all narrative
• Practical ways to help adopted young people connect to their cultural roots

If you're a parent, family member, or anyone who loves an adopted child, this episode is especially for you. Join us as we dive into what it really means to walk alongside someone through adoption during the teen and young adult years.

FIND MORE ABOUT SHERRI CRANDALL

Sherri Crandall's – Website and Instagram

Sherri Crandall's Book- Lexi the Butterfly

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU RISE

1. If you are not adopted, consider for a moment what it would be like to enter adulthood with no connections to your birth family, what questions would you picture rising up in you?
2. If you are an adoptive parent, how can you let your child or young-adult lead the conversation around adoption?
3. How can you honor your child's heritage and birth family in both your traditions and conversations?
4. What message do you want to make sure they know from you?

LET'S CONNECT!

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