Podcast

This is the story of a Christmas baby.

This season is all about gifts. We give gifts to one another, and we remember the very good gift of God’s son, given to a weary world on the first Christmas Day.

But is God still in the business of giving good gifts?

This is the story of how to keep doing your ordinary work without feeling discouraged during the Christmas season.

The wonder of the holidays can be diluted when we have to balance it with the work we do that makes gifts and celebrations possible. This week Lisa-Jo and Christie unpack the reality that everything doesn’t stop just because it’s December. Instead there are still deadlines and work commitments and maybe that’s actually OK too. Maybe we don’t need to believe the Hallmark premise that everything stops around the holidays in time for hot chocolate and mistletoe. Maybe for so many of us the courage to keep providing for our families in the midst of the meaningful season is itself a good and generous gift.

This is the story of a how to be a Keeper of Seasons.

We share our favorite do’s and don’ts around the Advent and Christmas season. For example, DO give yourself a “get out of Advent free” card if you’re a mom of littles or just a weary wanderer like so many of us. And DON’T stress celebrating the season in any way other than works for you and your people.

These are the stories of a sick child and the birth of a book.

“How do you do it all?” we’re often asked. The short answer? We don’t. The longer answer? Well, those are the stories we’re telling today. Because life often feels like a series of interruptions stitched together.

But interruptions can be invitations. Invitations to rest, invitations to care, invitations to pay attention. Interruptions can also be serious, heavy disruptions. What then?

This is the story about an invisibility cloak.

Because it’s only natural to feel unseen when the ordinary routines of ordinary life close in around us. No one is handing out gold stars for washing the dishes, or changing the oil in the car, or dealing with that pile of junk mail. No one gives a round of applause when we tackle one more ordinary task on one more ordinary day.

This is the story about a house, a baby, and a hope disappointed.

Lisa-Jo and Christie get real honest this week as they wonder out loud if hope really is a risk worth taking. Because what if you’re disappointed. What does that say about the God you believed and hoped in? What does that say about you?

They both share their riskiest hope stories today. How they were both deeply disappointed and then what came next.

This is the story about taking apart a vegetable garden to make place for a parking lot.

Does that sound crazy? It looked crazy. It felt crazy. But this is the story about being brave enough to break down what you thought you wanted in order to make room for what you believe you need.

This is the story about one thousand Easter eggs.

Really it’s the story about listening for invitations rather than setting goals. It’s the difference between taking control of your future and surrendering control.

This is an honest conversation about why the language of goal setting is a struggle for us, and why we both tend to use the word “invitation” instead.

This is the story about a business card.

For years, Lisa-Jo and Christie defined their significance according to the business cards in their pockets. They knew just what they wanted those cards to say, and exactly what they never wanted to see printed there.

This is the story about being full.
Really it’s the story about understanding the difference between being empty, being full and then being stuffed to feeling sick. And we’re not even talking about food.

This is an honest conversation about what we hunger and thirst after. How do we fix our cravings?