1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey friend, Teler creekmore here, thanks for listening 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: to the Compared To podcast Today. Today my guests is 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Cynthia Ructi, and we're just gonna have a candid conversation 4 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: that you're probably too busy to listen to. No, it's 5 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: the season, right, It's Christmas, and we get so busy. 6 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: There's so many things to do that do you often 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: miss what's important? I know I do, And Cynthia and 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: I talk about some practical, tangible ways that we cannot 9 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: miss the spirit of the Christmas season. Don't worry. There's 10 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: no shame here. There's no blame, there's no you're not 11 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: doing Christmas right. No, none of that here, just some 12 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: simple encouragement around hell maybe you can find the real 13 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: reason for the season, but also some peace during this 14 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: very busy time of year. So I'm glad you're here 15 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: for the show today. Cynthia's written like fifty books and 16 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: she's going to talk about one of them, which is 17 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: a devotional but it might just be the perfect thing 18 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 1: for you to grab just even read the week after 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: Christmas to center your heart on what Christmas really means. 20 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: And hey, friend, January's coming. This is the last episode 21 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: until December thirtieth, when we're going to start talking about 22 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: New Year and what kind of resolutions you should have, 23 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: and all of those things that are going to be 24 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: hot in culture. We're going to talk about them here, 25 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: so I hope you'll come back and join us for that. Also, 26 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: don't forget save your spot in the next forty day 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: journey starts January twentieth. Spots will go quickly for this one, 28 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: so go to improve bodymage dot com and learn more 29 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: about that. Now, let's get to today's episode. Cynthia, thanks 30 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: for being on the Compared To podcast today. 31 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: It's my joy, it's my privilege. It's always a joy 32 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: to talk to you. 33 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: Hither well, I thought you might be the perfect way 34 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: to end this whole year of episodes. It's the holidays. 35 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: You've written a beautiful devotional book, which we might be 36 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: a little too late to start now, but it would 37 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: be great to start to have on hands. You're ready 38 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: next year. But I thought maybe we could just have 39 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: a conversation today that would encourage the heart of the 40 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: woman who's listening on a way to pick up gifts, 41 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: or pick up kids, or rush to the office Christmas party, 42 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: and she has a thousand things to do, and the 43 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: reason for the season to use that cliche feels a 44 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: little faded because the to do list is long. Cynthia, 45 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: where do we start with this? How do we bring 46 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: our hearts into focus this season? 47 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: That is such a great question, and it's it's not 48 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 2: only a great one for us to discuss, but it's 49 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 2: a question we should all be asking ourselves. How have 50 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: I gotten my heart ready for this? I've gotten all 51 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: the stockings. Oh wait a second, I forgot a stocking 52 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 2: for that guest who's coming, or or thinking ahead to 53 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: h there's a single mom at church. Nobody's going to 54 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: be buying her a stocking. I should get one for 55 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: so it becomes one more thing on our to do list. 56 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 2: But how how often are we taking a moment to 57 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: really literally consider where's my heart? Not just I love Jesus? 58 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 2: So of course Christmas is going to be joy that's 59 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: that's lovely, But not just that, but this other element 60 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: of oh, this other of what did I attend to? 61 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: That was everything except my soul? Because it's so easy 62 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 2: for us to attend to all of the needs that 63 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: have everything to do with the tangible, and none of 64 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 2: the needs that have to do with the intangible, and 65 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: that's part of why in the spirit of Christmas, discovering 66 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: His presence, part of the outcome for me as I 67 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: was writing it, and as I've been talking about it, 68 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: is that idea that the that as if we pay attention, 69 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 2: if we notice, if we observe, and we make that 70 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: our aim as opposed to our list being our aim, 71 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: what we find is that all by itself is what 72 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: gets our soul ready. But the Holy Spirit is of 73 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: course intangible. So we have to figure out a way 74 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 2: as we're going through. And if it's the twenty second 75 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 2: of November or it's November twenty seventh, we still have 76 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 2: an opportunity to go back and either reflect or as 77 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 2: God would tell us, it's never too late to make 78 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 2: things right. So maybe we maybe we did get caught 79 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: up in the ruckus of this season. Maybe we are 80 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 2: feeling exhausted and a little irritated over a few things, 81 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: and maybe we're feeling that even that weight distribution of 82 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: how much work we put into it compared to how 83 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: much work other people were putting into family Christmas, whatever 84 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: it is, or even or even we're already at the 85 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: place of I know good and well, nobody's gonna help 86 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,119 Speaker 2: me in the kitchen at the end when the dishes 87 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 2: are dirty. Whatever the thought in our minds is still 88 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: not too late to re adjust and to start thinking 89 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: not just of Yep, Jesus is the reason for the season, 90 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 2: as you said, But where's my heart in all of this? 91 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 2: Am I truly joyful ampating the wonder part? Am I 92 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 2: even finding the wonder? Or am I drowning under everything else? 93 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah? Slowing down and observing. And then my first response, 94 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: my knee jerk response, is I don't have time to 95 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: slow down? Sorry, rreat, Like why am I supposed to 96 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: do that? Like? You know what? 97 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 2: You know that God's math is really different than that. 98 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: So let's think about I can't afford to give. Well, 99 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 2: if we give, he makes us have more than what 100 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 2: we had in the first place. We've seen that happen 101 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 2: over and over. So this is one of those lessons 102 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: we keep learning. If I give of my time, He's 103 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: going to multiply that back to me somehow. If I 104 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 2: stop because there's a person in need, If I stop, 105 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: my my time is still the same. Twenty four hours 106 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: is going to accomplish what I need to do, but 107 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: it will then be miraculous. It'll then be something to 108 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: praise him for because of the way that he worked. 109 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 2: He always does that. So if we thought about that, 110 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 2: just in regard to our own soul's health in the 111 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: middle of this particular season and what that means, then 112 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 2: if I actually write on my list, ponder if I 113 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 2: actually refuse to dive into the list until after I've 114 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 2: taken time to think. If I'm rushing through from even 115 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 2: if I'm Let's use this as an example. If I'm 116 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 2: putting on one podcast after another, good, holy awesome podcast 117 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: one after another, as I'm rushing my way through the season, 118 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: maybe what I need to do instead is stop the 119 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: podcast I just heard and think about what it's and 120 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 2: absorb what it said and implement what it taught me, 121 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: or even just linger on the thought. God loves lingering. 122 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 2: There's a verse I haven't quoted for quite a while, 123 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 2: but I just love this. It's we're going to take 124 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 2: it out of context, but it'll be for a good reason, 125 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: which is in Ecclesiastes. I think it is where it says, 126 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: don't be in a hurry to leave the King's presence, 127 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: and at the moment they were talking about the literal 128 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 2: king on a throne in front of them. But I 129 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: see that so much with us and Jesus as well. 130 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: Don't be in a hurry to leave the king's presence. 131 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: The king has invited you into his presence. So yes, 132 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 2: is that going to be? Oh easy? I just decided 133 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: that's what my Christmas is going to be. Like now, yep, 134 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 2: it's a way, and that's what it's not that. It's 135 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 2: not simple, No, it is simple. It's not easy. 136 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: That's so good. A God loves lingering. 137 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 2: He loves lingering, like I. 138 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 1: Just I want to say that again. God loves lingering. 139 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: And you're so right about God's upside down kingdom. Yep, 140 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: you know. I was actually I had the thought this morning. 141 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: I have had a lot to do last couple of weeks. 142 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: You just happen to be my literary agent, and so 143 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: you know that I've had book deadlines and all these things. 144 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: And I was thinking this morning about this reality that 145 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: I've had more like one on one, like coffee, like 146 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: let's go to lunch kind of appointments over the last 147 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: couple of weeks that I would normally have in the 148 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: season because my normal would be block everything off. Heather 149 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: can do nothing others than the cave of writing. And 150 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:52,199 Speaker 1: it's been interesting for me to see how no actually 151 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: engaging in relationships has multiplied my time because even though 152 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: I'm not sitting at my death thanks for that hour 153 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: or two hours that I'm lingering at lunch, I'm coming 154 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: back refreshed and energized, and I'm able to work faster. 155 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: And I probably lived through some of the things you're 156 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:19,199 Speaker 2: needing to write about, probably had conversations that we're I've 157 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 2: got one right now, and I don't want to interrupt 158 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: you here, but so carry on after we get through this. 159 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 2: But I'll forget my story if I don't get through it. 160 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 2: But that whole idea too, of I have a book deadline, 161 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 2: and there was an interruption in a way that came 162 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 2: in the middle of my week. Then I realized, after 163 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: the interruption that had to happen before I could finish 164 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: this book. Thank you Lord, that I just responded with 165 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 2: yes to you what you were asking, because it had 166 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 2: to happen before I could finish the book. Yeah, so 167 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 2: I'm sure that that's what was happening over the table 168 00:10:58,520 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 2: where you were lingering. 169 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: Well, That's what I was just thinking, right, like lingering 170 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: with God of course first and foremost right. 171 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 3: But I hate to confess this. This was the theme 172 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 3: of the Hallmark movie I. 173 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: Was watching yesterday, but just this concept of we can 174 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: get so busy doing the Christmas things that not only 175 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: do we leave God out of it, but we leave 176 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,200 Speaker 1: the people that we want to be celebrating with out 177 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: of it, right, and so really slowing down and embracing 178 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: I guess it's a matter of trust, right, Cynthia, Like, 179 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to trust you Lord that you're gonna help 180 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: me with this to do list, but I'm going to 181 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 1: keep what's first and foremost first and foremost. 182 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 2: What happens to us when we fail to notice, when 183 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 2: we get so tied up, when we get so laser 184 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 2: focused on what it is we need to do, that 185 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: we failed to notice the crying child, or the slumped 186 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 2: shoulders of someone, or the fact that a friend's sighed 187 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 2: over the phone. If we're so intent on what it 188 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 2: is we need to accomplish in order for whether it's 189 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 2: Christmas or the birthing of the New Year, or it's 190 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 2: long beyond that, if we're walking through not noticing this 191 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: is the thing that's been a lesson that really has 192 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 2: struck hard with me. When tasked with this book about 193 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 2: where's the Holy Spirit in the Christmas Story, one of 194 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: my chief responsibilities was notice, I need to go through 195 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 2: the word and notice where is he showing up in 196 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 2: ways that are either looking ahead to the Redeemer coming 197 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 2: or where he was in the background of something that 198 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 2: was happening in the Christmas story. It had been there 199 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 2: all along, I just hadn't noticed. The noticing now has 200 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: become a habit. That habit has made the pondering much 201 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 2: easier because it's such a joyful habit. So as we're 202 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 2: thinking about what can I do differently, even though it's 203 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,680 Speaker 2: this laid into the season, what can I do differently? 204 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: Some of that may be just the intentionality of paying attention. 205 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: You're a writer, What stories do you have? 206 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 3: Like how this looks for you? You gotta have a story, Cyndia. 207 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 2: Okay, there's been plenty of them, but here's there are 208 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 2: a couple of them that I refer to again and again, 209 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 2: even though it happened over and over and over for me. 210 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 2: But here's one that lasts us all year long. Okay, 211 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 2: So I'm reading in Isaiah, because that's where you go 212 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 2: when you're going to study about where's the Holy Spirit 213 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 2: in the Christmas story? Of course, and I was backing 214 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 2: up a few verses from that beautiful time when we 215 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 2: first hear a virgin will conceive. We know this verse 216 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 2: somewhere in the Old Testament. Turns out it's Isaiah. But 217 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 2: I didn't think about the context of where that was said. 218 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: If you just look at it, just look at it 219 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 2: academically as you're reading the pages, you'll think, what is 220 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 2: that doing there? Why was that inserted in that particular spot. 221 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 2: King a Has was one of David's sons, and he 222 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: was a misbehavior David had several of those. He tried 223 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 2: to be a good leader. He was listening to the 224 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: prophet Isaiah, who by the Holy Spirit, was led to 225 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: save messages that King a Has needed to hear. A 226 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 2: Has was searching for an answer about a war move, 227 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 2: a strategic military move, and he heard from God through 228 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 2: Isaiah what he should do. But he doubted that that 229 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 2: was enough. He wanted other counselors to and he was 230 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 2: going to go to counselors that weren't so wise, and 231 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 2: they weren't looking at all to God for answers, but 232 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: he insisted, and Isaiah was led by the Holy Spirit 233 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: to say to him, I ask God to give you 234 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 2: a sign. Ask him to give you a sign that 235 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 2: what he has told you is what he wants you 236 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 2: to do. And God will speak to you, and that's 237 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 2: who you need to be hearing from. And a Has said, Oh, 238 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 2: I just I don't know if I don't want to 239 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 2: bother him. If we ever said that before, I don't 240 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: want to bother him. And I just I feel like 241 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: I should be asking these other people to you already 242 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 2: know as what you're supposed to do. The very next 243 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 2: line is Isaiah. And I'm going to put my own 244 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 2: tone in this, but Isaiah said, God, God says to you, 245 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: I'll give you a sign a virgin will conceive and 246 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 2: bear a son. And my mind is thinking, what is 247 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 2: that Christmas Verse doing in the middle of all of that, 248 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: and how was the Holy Spirit working there in all 249 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 2: the messages that he's communicating. And his message really was 250 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: I need to insert and tell you here God is 251 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 2: God and no word is ever going to fail of 252 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: what he said. And so the prophet was telling a 253 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 2: Has I'll give you a sign of virgin will conceive 254 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: and Aas must have thought what kind of counsel was 255 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 2: that at the time, But we know it was so 256 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 2: important in the Christmas story, and it was all about 257 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: the message. If you hear from God, you already know 258 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 2: what to do. If his word says it, don't need 259 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 2: to go running for other influencers to tell you. If 260 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 2: God has said you are My beloved child, you do 261 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: not need to seek an answer to that question from 262 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:16,959 Speaker 2: any other place. And God is able to do things 263 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 2: like seven hundred years later bring about the fulfillment of 264 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 2: the verse that was said to King a Has when 265 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 2: he was misbehaving. So now that and it looks like, wow, 266 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,479 Speaker 2: my extrapulate extralating too much. No, no, there it is 267 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,719 Speaker 2: right in front of us where the Christmas story. He 268 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 2: appears in the Book of Isaiah. Part of it that's 269 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 2: not fulfilled for many hundreds of years, but it was 270 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 2: intentionally said so we could have it, and so a 271 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 2: Has would know You've heard God. And God's word does 272 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 2: not fail. Every other human being's word is going to 273 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: fail you sometime or another. So I know I made 274 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:04,199 Speaker 2: that way a long story, but it's so stuck with me. 275 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 2: Ed Oh my goodness. If I were going to analyze it, 276 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,919 Speaker 2: I would think, what is that verse doing here? But 277 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 2: instead I realized, because I was noticing, I realized, Oh, 278 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 2: that was so much in that for me today, for 279 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 2: me tomorrow, for me six months from now. 280 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's so good. I mean, you know, kind of 281 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: what I'm hearing and all that. Maybe it's a message 282 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: for me. We lose our awe in wonder of just 283 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: how big and amazing God is. We have. We have 284 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: a I don't even know what it is. It's not lego, 285 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 1: but it's some fake lego Nativity sets, yes, and we've 286 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: had it for a long time. And so there's shepherds 287 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: losing that don't have limbs, and I don't think the 288 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,800 Speaker 1: sheep stands up anymore. And this was kind of a joke, 289 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: like it's on the shelf where it always goes, but 290 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: it's just as shambles. And I'm thinking that's somewhat symbolic. Yeah, 291 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: of me be what I do in my heart, it's like, 292 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: oh yeah, the Nativity story, like oh yeah, that's that's 293 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: that little things and yeah, like whoa, No, it's big. 294 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: It's big. 295 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 2: It's big, and it's laced from the first versus the 296 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 2: Bible to the very last verses of the Bible. The 297 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 2: redemption story and the birth of Christ can't can't be 298 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:26,400 Speaker 2: told separately. It is part of the overarching story. Here's 299 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 2: a here's a practical thing that that I was thinking 300 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 2: about just now as you mentioned that. I wonder how 301 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 2: many people's Nativity sets are completely intact that haven't been 302 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 2: through something, if they're more than a year old. I 303 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 2: was putting up my willow tree Nativity set, which is 304 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: simple and not fancy at all. There's no glitter on it, 305 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:55,680 Speaker 2: but it's just a beautiful, simple reminder of this beautifully 306 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 2: simple yet so deep story. Putting that up the other day, 307 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 2: and I noticed, Huh, somebody's super glued the shepherd's shoulder. 308 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 2: And it wasn't me, And I'm the only one who 309 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 2: ever puts up the decorations iner house. But the thought 310 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 2: struck me first it was I could get I could 311 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 2: go detectiving who did this. There was no point in that, 312 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,640 Speaker 2: it did not matter, So instead I started to notice, God, 313 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 2: what do you want to say to me in this? 314 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 2: And I thought, I wonder how many of those shepherds 315 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 2: had scars? The real shepherds had scars, and they too 316 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 2: had been waiting for a redeemer, and they were the 317 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 2: most common people, and that God would have chosen that 318 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 2: the first flashy announcement about the birth of Christ would 319 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:59,479 Speaker 2: come to these common people with twig scars and thorn 320 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: scars and maybe a dissocated shoulder from wrestling with sheep 321 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:09,159 Speaker 2: or wild animals or whatever. That they had very little 322 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 2: of human value, They had no status in the community whatsoever, 323 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,919 Speaker 2: but they were present, and they were the ones to 324 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,440 Speaker 2: whom the words were first spoken about the announcement. 325 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: He's born. 326 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 2: It's a boy. And so then I thought, all right, 327 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 2: how cool, Lord, if I'm noticing, If I'm noticing, I 328 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 2: will stop and see that little line of glue on 329 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 2: the shoulder of the shepherd, and it won't turn into 330 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 2: oh did this, But instead it's going to turn into 331 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 2: I wonder how many shepherds had a scar? Yeah, and 332 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 2: a scar that would be healed by Jesus's scars. 333 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, And then applying that once further, right, like, wow, God, 334 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: like I have scars. 335 00:21:57,680 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 2: Ah. 336 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: This redemption story, this coming to earth story that starts 337 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: here at the Nativity in the manger, right, it's not 338 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: about me, but it's for me. 339 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 2: Oh that's so good, right, And would you say that 340 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 2: again because that's really good. It's not about me, but 341 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 2: it is for me. 342 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. 343 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 2: So even whether it's speaking engagements, we're going to where 344 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 2: we're decorating for something, where we're trying to have outreach, 345 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 2: and then we realized, wait, I'm part of the outreach. 346 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 2: It's needed here because it's not about me, but it 347 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 2: was for me. So how can I bring that attitude 348 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 2: into the Christmas celebrations all of them, whether it's family 349 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 2: or office, an office party, or it's the deadlines we 350 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 2: have to hit before the office closed down, all of that. Wow. 351 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: Right, well, and I'm just thinking, Synthia, to go back 352 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: to something you said earlier, Right, I think as moms, 353 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: you've got mom and grandma. Now, one of my laments 354 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: that you touched on earlier is the distribution of labor. 355 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: Right when my husband is just as surprised by the 356 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 1: kids Christmas presence as the kids are. 357 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 2: Right at your house too. 358 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: Them, I mean. And I had a bit of a 359 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:27,760 Speaker 1: woe is Me day on Thanksgiving because I was like, 360 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: how many other people have to cook all the dishes? 361 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 1: Like we don't have a lot of family that live 362 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: close by. So I made every part of our Thanksgiving dinner, 363 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: and I kind of threw a little bit of a 364 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: fit later, like this isn't right most people, Martha rights people. 365 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: People have them. 366 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 3: They've got Aunt Margie bringing pie, and you know, like 367 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: I had to make everything. But and so I think 368 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 3: my underlying attitude could be like, none of this is 369 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 3: for me doing this for them? 370 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: I do this for him, I do this for her. 371 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: It's not for me. What if what if was something 372 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: bigger and better that's for me? I mean, it's for 373 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,640 Speaker 1: all of us, of course, But if I can keep 374 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: my focus on what's really for me in this, and 375 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:20,119 Speaker 1: it's not the unimportant things like my husband knowing what 376 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: the kids are getting for Christmas. It's the deeper, more beautiful, 377 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: long lasting things. 378 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: Right, even what if, even if it is now you 379 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: do know, I'm talking to myself here. What if it's 380 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 2: the pouring out that is the for me? For me, 381 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 2: pouring out is my place so he can fill me 382 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 2: up again. 383 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:43,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's good. 384 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 2: If I've been collecting some metism within within me and 385 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: instead I am serving but with a joyful heart. That 386 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 2: was Martha's problem is joyful about it? But then, but 387 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 2: then there are other things as well too that we 388 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 2: have to put in here because God knows we're human, 389 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 2: but he also gave us a brain, and he also 390 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 2: gave us ways that we need to in incredible ways. 391 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 2: We need to retool or reframe or rethink many things 392 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 2: in our household. I have the joyful privilege that all 393 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,439 Speaker 2: my kids live three or all three kids live about 394 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 2: twenty minutes away from me, and they're all great cooks 395 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 2: and they're givers. So our celebrations, our holiday celebrations are 396 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 2: I make the thanks Thanksgiving turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy 397 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 2: and oat cheese because as my husband's fave. And then 398 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,120 Speaker 2: everybody brings at least a dish to pass. And now 399 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 2: they're getting very creative and they might bring two, and 400 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 2: they'll bring fascinating desserts and we all fun, and making 401 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 2: of desserts would drive me nuts, So that's all beautiful 402 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 2: that they bring that. And then there there's one one 403 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 2: of the family members in particular, where the husband gets 404 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 2: up from the table at the end and he at 405 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 2: least takes the dishes out to the kitchen while we're 406 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 2: enjoying one another, and I think, what a beautiful servant heart. 407 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 2: This year, my son said maybe we should have Christmas 408 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 2: at my house? And I thought, are you thinking I'm 409 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:33,640 Speaker 2: getting too old to do this? Are you what's going 410 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,479 Speaker 2: on here? But no, that wasn't it at all. He 411 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 2: just he wanted to make sure that the load wasn't 412 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:42,399 Speaker 2: falling on me. Okay, I noticed it that at the time. 413 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 2: But today I get the chance to say, isn't it 414 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 2: a beautiful thing what my son offered? And we're not 415 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 2: doing it this year? I said, hang on to that thought, 416 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 2: because I left the table up from the two tables 417 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: in a row from Thanksgiving, so I'm half there ready, 418 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 2: they're already for Christmas. But we did talk about the 419 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,440 Speaker 2: idea of we have some young adults are almost young 420 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 2: adults now, who are old enough to load a dishwasher. 421 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,600 Speaker 2: So we may be shifting some of the load of 422 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 2: responsibility intentionally, not waiting for them to volunteer, but asking them. 423 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 2: And in some way I believe that part of that 424 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 2: is going to be honoring them because we're seeing them 425 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 2: as the adults that they are becoming. 426 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I will give you a word of word 427 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 1: of warning. Is so we have empowered our children for 428 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: many years to wash the dishes after holiday celebrations. And 429 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 1: I no longer have any goblets, which. 430 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 3: I oh, it was a massacre, a goblet massacre about 431 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 3: five years ago. 432 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: Just a word of warning. 433 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 2: And here's a great les and for us too, what 434 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: doesn't go right at Christmas? Are we still thinking about 435 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,160 Speaker 2: that in June? 436 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,400 Speaker 1: We're not. No, we're not thinking about that by January. 437 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 2: Bett And if we get all the way to June 438 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 2: and it still comes to mind, we're probably laughing about 439 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 2: it then, Like, right, what doesn't that help us too 440 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 2: as we're going through these holiday seasons to put into perspective. 441 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:31,199 Speaker 2: All right, what's really important here? What was important to me? 442 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 2: What those goblets were important to you? But and they 443 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 2: signified something, They signified beauty, and they might have each 444 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 2: had a story to tell too, they might have been 445 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 2: from your wedding set or something. But the point of 446 00:28:47,480 --> 00:28:50,920 Speaker 2: it is, eventually it doesn't sting as much as it does. Now, 447 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: what if we fast forwarded our emotions during Christmas to 448 00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 2: the moment when it wouldn't sting like this anymore? 449 00:28:59,600 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: That's good. 450 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 2: Let ourselves experience it that way. 451 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's good, that's really good. Well, Cynthia, this has 452 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: been super encouraging to me. I think I'm going to 453 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: do a more effective job. Oh that's not even a 454 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:16,040 Speaker 1: good way to put it. I'm going to try to 455 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: just like pause and. 456 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 2: Wonder even better? Right right? 457 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: What is Okay, that's a whole other episode. 458 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 2: Maybe this is it that we relax into wonder, we 459 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 2: relax into the pondering, we allow ourselves that that's good. 460 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 2: Let's think of it that way. 461 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: That's good. It's a gift. 462 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 2: It's a gift. 463 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: It's a gift to ourselves. Oh, Cynthia, Okay, so you've 464 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: got this devotional. It's twenty six days, so we need 465 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: to get it now, so we're ready. I guess November 466 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: thirtieth next year. Is that how it lands. 467 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 2: That's how it kind of goes. 468 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: Give us a little bit more about that devotion where 469 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: we can find it, and then where we can connect 470 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: with you. 471 00:30:02,920 --> 00:30:06,760 Speaker 2: Okay. One thought is that I know it's written as 472 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 2: a daily devotional, but there are people who are just 473 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 2: reading it cover to cover book okay, because it's short, because. 474 00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: We can grab it now, I don't have it tomorrow. 475 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 2: Others. Others people have actually said I'm reserving between the 476 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 2: twenty sixth and the new year, and I'm going to 477 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 2: go through it because I need to be better prepared 478 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 2: for whatever is happening in twenty twenty six or in 479 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 2: their new year. 480 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: So there's that, So grab it now now. Yeah, I love. 481 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:39,479 Speaker 2: It, Gift it now, whatever, And it might even just 482 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 2: be a study that reminds you sometime in a completely 483 00:30:43,160 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 2: non holiday way, that God has been moving and working 484 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 2: both in the scene and the unseen, for throughout the 485 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 2: whole story, the whole story of his book, of his book, 486 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 2: and it's wherever books can be found on Amazon or 487 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 2: wherever they can find me at him in Hope dot com, 488 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 2: which is a lot easier to spell than rook Dy. 489 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 2: Otherwise it's Cynthia Rookdy r Uchti dot com. There there's 490 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 2: a book page on that website where they can find it. 491 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 2: And I would love to leave people with the thought 492 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 2: that the spirit of the Living God has been hovering 493 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,800 Speaker 2: over every aspect of the Christmas story from the beginning 494 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 2: of time. He's there if we notice. 495 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:34,120 Speaker 1: I love it. I love it, Cynthia, thanks so much 496 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,239 Speaker 1: for being on the podcast today. It's my doing, and 497 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: I know I have a lot of readers that listen, 498 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 1: and so just go to Cynthia's page. You've written a 499 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:50,120 Speaker 1: number of books, some fiction, some nonfiction. How many fifty fifty? Okay, 500 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: just a couple then, But I know I know something. 501 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 1: I'll love fiction too, So go check it out. Cynthia's 502 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: got a bunch of books, especially the Spirit of Christmas book. 503 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: That's when I think you can put your cart today. 504 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 1: So Cynthia, thank you so much again for being on 505 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:05,520 Speaker 1: the show today and for your wisdom. 506 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 2: Oh it was my joy, such fun talking to you 507 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 2: and you you have really inspired me. So thank you. 508 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: Thank you for watching or listening today. I hope something 509 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: today has helped you stop comparing and started listening. Bye bye. 510 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 1: He Compared You podcast. It's proud to be part of 511 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:26,560 Speaker 1: the Life Audio Podcast Network. For more great Christian podcasts, 512 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: go to life Audio dot com.