Donna VanLiere & Katie J. Trent: Finding Purpose & Fun at Christmastime | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron

December 15, 2025 | S25 E160 | 51:6

Kirk Cameron is joined by authors Donna VanLiere and Katie J. Trent talking about what Jesus’ birth means for us today and how to enjoy family fun celebrations during the holidays.

#Christmas #Author #Culture #Family #Purpose #Nativity #Savior #Bible #VirginBirth #BibleHistory #Salvation #LoveofGod #KirkCameron

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Takeaways with Kirk Cameron | Donna VanLiere & Katie J. Trent: Finding Purpose & Fun at Christmastime | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron | December 15, 2025

Kirk: there's a quote you may hear during the christmas season
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That says, "wise men still seek him today."
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This is a reference, of course, to the biblical account of the
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Magis' journey to seek the newborn jesus mentioned
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In matthew chapter 2.
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This phrase is used today to connect their
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Story to a continuing spiritual quest for jesus.
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We're gonna talk with my guests, donna vanliere
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And katie j. trent, about what it means
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To really look for jesus in our daily lives and find him.
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Donna vanliere: i mean, the light of jesus is everywhere.
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If we would just look and pay attention and follow it.
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We can come to jesus.
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Katie trent: it wasn't just once in the day we were reading a
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Devotion and checking it off, but how could we go about our
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Daily lives remembering to look to jesus and to be more like him
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Throughout the holiday season?
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Kirk: right now on "takeaways."
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[music]
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Kirk: donna vanliere is a "new york times" and "usa today"
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Bestselling author with six of her novels turned into
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Made-for-tv movies, including "the christmas shoes" and "the
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Christmas blessing."
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Her latest book is looking for "christmas: a search for the joy
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And hope of the nativity."
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Donna, thanks so much for coming on "takeaways."
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Donna: well, thanks for having me, kirk.
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Kirk: you've written so many novels.
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What makes this book different?
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Donna: well, i dig into the nativity accounts, the people
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Involved, the places, the situation, the time, because the
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Bible says at the right time god sent his son to be born of
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A woman.
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So, i even look at the time and everything surrounding that,
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So it's a lot different, but again, it's stories, it's this
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Beautiful love story that god gave to us, and i love to write
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Stories, so whether it's a novel or non-fiction, i just love to
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Write about it.
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And i just wanted to take people deeper into this account,
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Because we can kind of check off i've gone to church at
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Christmas, you know?
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And do that, but i really wanted to take people into the story
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And have them get to the last page where it talks about the
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Salvation message, which is why jesus came.
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He came to seek and save those who are lost.
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So i wanted to keep it short enough.
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You even commented that you liked the length of the book,
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And i wanted to keep it short enough so that people could get
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Through it in a day or two.
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Kirk: it's one of the most important stories that have ever
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Been written by the greatest author that has ever written a
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Book, and this is god telling us about the birth of his son
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At christmastime.
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I'm so glad that you wrote this, but the story is so old, over
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2,000 years old.
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Why is it still relevant for people today?
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Donna: because we're all still lost.
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You know, he came to seek and save those who are lost, and
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There is a lost humanity out there.
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And jesus is still reaching those.
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That's what we're supposed to do, because, you know, it says
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That in isaiah that god would send his son to the virgin, the
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Virgin would conceive him.
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They would call him emmanuel.
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Emmanuel means god with us, and what a beautiful story for the
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Believer who calls on jesus to be their savior.
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To be their savior and lord, that god is with us, which, when
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You think about it, that should make everywhere we go a much
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Better place.
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When we walk into a classroom, god is with us.
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When we walk into our workplace, god is with us.
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When we walk into the grocery store, the gym, the bank, god is
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With us.
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What a beautiful story that god has created, that we can call on
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Jesus, he can live inside of us, and god is with us to the very
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End of the age.
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My mother died last week, and jesus was with her all the way
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To the end.
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Jesus was with each one of us as we stood around her bed.
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God was with us.
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It's such a beautiful story, kirk, and we just don't--
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Many times we don't reflect on that enough.
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It said that mary pondered all these things in her heart, and
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We need to do more pondering, especially at this season to
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Realize that god sent his son, and god is with us.
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Kirk: so many people feel alone.
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I think it's one of the worst tortures a person
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Could experience.
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After all, solitary confinement is only reserved for very
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Extreme situations, because people can't live in isolation.
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God with us is what we need more than anything.
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How have we lost that message of christmas in our culture?
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Donna: well, we live in a noisy world.
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It's very noisy.
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It's noisy from the time that we get up, because we have our
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Phones, we have tvs, we have our tablets, we have whatever.
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It's just a lot of noise, and that's one of satan's devices.
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He loves to use noise to keep us from our savior, to keep us from
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Being in those times of quiet and reflection and, again,
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That pondering.
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So it's the noise that keeps us from really the reflection of
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Christmas and what it is.
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And i love the feast of christmas.
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Who doesn't?
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Who doesn't love getting in the kitchen and preparing all that
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And planning it?
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And the gifts, i mean that's enjoyable, it's fun.
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It can be a distraction if that's the only thing that
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You're thinking about.
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So, again, that can add to the noise, but when it's part of the
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Whole reflection of christmas, it's such a beautiful thing,
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It's wonderful.
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Kirk: you talk about the people in the nativity story and the
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Places in the nativity story.
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What can the humble beginnings of jesus's birth teach us about
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The character of god?
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Donna: jesus wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
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Celebrities weren't invited to come to his birth.
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They didn't get the invitation.
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Who got the invitation?
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Shepherds who were out in the field watching the flocks of
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The jews.
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And i love the shepherds, kirk, because they were on the lowest
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Rung of society.
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They weren't invited to parties.
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They couldn't even witness in court.
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No one would believe their testimony.
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But god in his awesome sovereignty, he thought those
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Are the ones, the shepherds who were guarding my
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People's flocks.
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They're guarding these pristine lambs, you know, that would be
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Used in the temple sacrifice.
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They're the ones that i'm going--that i'm gonna tell.
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And there had been 400 years of silence, and that silence was
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Broken when the angel broke through first to zechariah and
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Said, "hey, you and elizabeth, i've heard your--god has heard
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Your prayer.
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You're gonna have a baby."
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The 400 years of silence was broken, but not only was the
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Silence broken, god's glory returned.
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They hadn't even seen god's glory, and these shepherds got
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To see god's glory.
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It'd been 400 years, and he did it for these lowly shepherds,
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And to think that they wouldn't be believed in court, but you
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Know, for the rest of their lives, as soon as they left that
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Manger, they were telling everyone what they had seen, who
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They had seen, who they had met, the savior of the world.
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They were telling everybody, it's awesome.
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Kirk: i love thinking about that story in my mind and what it
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Must have been like when all of those hosts of angels were
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Singing those songs, and you'd think that kings would have been
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Invited and celebrities would be in the front row, but really
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They were singing for a bunch of sheep and for some shepherds,
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And all the who's who list missed it.
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And that's the way god often works.
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He takes nobodies from nowhere with nothing to offer the
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Elites, and he gives them the privileges of advancing the
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Kingdom in very special ways.
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Speaking of nobodies from nowhere, you dive into mary and
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Joseph, and you say look at mary, look at joseph.
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What can we learn by looking at these parents of christ?
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Donna: again, they were so simple.
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Who were they?
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They didn't have names attached to them at all.
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I mean, he was a carpenter, he was just doing what god had
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Given him the skills to do.
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So, they were nobodies living in this little backwater town
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Of nazareth.
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Nobody wanted to live in nazareth.
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Nobody was buying a second home in nazareth, that's for sure.
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So, every single person involved in the nativity, they were
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Simple, ordinary people, and that's exactly who god
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Uses today.
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He used the simple and the ordinary to be part of his
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Extraordinary story.
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Kirk: and i love thinking about the manger, what that must have
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Been like, and i did a little research one christmas.
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I just wondered what a manger was.
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Sometimes you think of it as this little barn with the goats
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And the cows and the things that we--the nativity set that
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We put.
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Others say they would have probably been in a cave, but
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It's interesting that that word manger, i believe we have that
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French word "manger," which means "to manger," to
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Eat, right?
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And i think the feed trough is what's being pictured there, and
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It's so interesting to me when you think of the symbolism of
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Jesus, that he was the bread of life and that man cannot live on
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Bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
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Of god.
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And there's so much symbolism packed into the nativity story.
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Donna: right, and bethlehem means bread.
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Kirk: and bethlehem means bread.
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This is absolutely fantastic.
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What else do you point out in your book here, donna, "looking
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For christmas," that helps people to find joy and hope
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During the holiday season?
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Donna: simple fact that our joy was born on that day, our hope
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Was born, our blessed hope, which is what the bible says of
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Jesus in titus, our blessed hope, our peace.
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It says that he is our prince of peace, and at a time when we
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Live in a world that is in upheaval, everywhere we look,
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Every time we turn on the news, there's upheaval, there's
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Turmoil somewhere else, and jesus is still the prince of
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Peace, and we can call on him as the prince of peace to bring
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That peace into our lives.
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And christmas is hard for a lot of people, it's difficult.
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I mean, this will be the first christmas that i'm gonna have
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That i don't call my mom, and there are--and she's not gonna
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Be making a christmas meal.
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There's a lot of people who are going through the same thing,
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But jesus is still the prince of peace.
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He's still the savior that the angels announced to those
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Shepherds, and we can call on him to be our lord and savior at
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Any time.
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The bible says today is the day of salvation, today.
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Anyone can do that today if they don't know jesus, they can call
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On him, and they can be saved.
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Kirk: and i love that you include the gospel message
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Itself in your book, which everyone's gonna get to, because
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It's so short, it's so readable and digestible that they're
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Going to get there and be able to experience
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That joy and that peace.
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Donna: i pray that's true.
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Kirk: i can't wait to talk more about this after the break.
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When we come back, we're gonna take a closer look at the people
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Found in the nativity account and what jesus's birth means for
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You and me today.
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And then later in the program, katie trent will be with us to
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Share some christmas goodies and treats, so make sure you stay
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With us.
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Katie: all the recipes in the book are paired with little
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Nuggets of truth, little object lessons, so they, you know, we
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Call them wash them whiter than snow parfaits so that they
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Remember that jesus washes our sins whiter than snow.
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We are forgiven, and so what does that look like for them
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In their lives?
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[music]
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[music]
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[music]
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Kirk: we're back with speaker, teacher, and bestselling author,
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Donna vanliere, talking about how to have a more meaningful
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Connection with what christmas is truly about.
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Donna, you talk about how god's perfect timing in the birth of
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Christ is outlined in galatians chapter 4 verse 4.
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What is that perfect plan of god,
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And how does it relate to us today?
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Donna: yeah, it says at the right time god sent his son to
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Be born of a woman.
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And when you think about it, it'd been 400 years of silence,
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And so the jews are thinking nothing's happening.
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Where's our messiah?
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Has god forgotten us?
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Because there was no longer a prophet.
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They just weren't hearing from the lord anymore.
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There was no glory of the lord anymore, but god was paving the
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Way, literally paving the way.
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He was making roads, inroads, so to speak.
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I mean, the romans built, i mean, i don't know how many
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Miles of roads they had built.
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I actually wrote about that.
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But they had built so many roads to get the word out.
00:13:56.586 --> 00:14:00.657
There was a common language now.
00:14:00.657 --> 00:14:03.293
There was even a postal system in order to get word from one
00:14:03.293 --> 00:14:07.897
Place to the next.
00:14:07.897 --> 00:14:09.365
All of this was taking place during that 400 years of silence
00:14:09.365 --> 00:14:13.136
When the jews thought, well, nothing's happening, you know,
00:14:13.136 --> 00:14:15.638
Where's our messiah at?
00:14:15.638 --> 00:14:17.340
But god was making a way, and it's--i love it.
00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:20.543
He says at the right time he sent his son, and that's such an
00:14:20.543 --> 00:14:24.280
Encouragement to you and i and to everyone, because we keep
00:14:24.280 --> 00:14:28.351
Praying, we keep crying out to the lord for different things.
00:14:28.351 --> 00:14:31.421
At the right time, at the right time that's going to happen.
00:14:31.421 --> 00:14:35.558
Even in the account of zechariah and elizabeth, the angel said
00:14:35.558 --> 00:14:39.729
God has heard your prayer.
00:14:39.729 --> 00:14:41.931
So god hears our prayer.
00:14:41.931 --> 00:14:43.299
Many times we think he's not even hearing my prayer.
00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:45.935
I've been crying out to him for years and nothing is happening,
00:14:45.935 --> 00:14:49.672
But the angel reassured him, god has heard your prayer.
00:14:49.672 --> 00:14:52.575
All those prayers that zechariah and elizabeth lifted up to the
00:14:52.575 --> 00:14:56.212
Lord for a child, countless prayers, it came up to the lord
00:14:56.212 --> 00:15:01.117
As one prayer.
00:15:01.117 --> 00:15:02.485
He's heard your prayer, so it's so encouraging to think, god
00:15:02.485 --> 00:15:06.122
Hears our prayer, and at the right time he will act.
00:15:06.122 --> 00:15:10.093
At the right time there will be movement according to his great
00:15:10.093 --> 00:15:14.497
Plan for us.
00:15:14.497 --> 00:15:15.898
Kirk: donna, you're reminding me that what seems to us like a
00:15:15.898 --> 00:15:20.169
Setback, god's not saying anything, we've been waiting so
00:15:20.169 --> 00:15:24.574
Long, is often a setup for a comeback.
00:15:24.574 --> 00:15:29.412
And as you said, the family of faith had been waiting, and what
00:15:29.412 --> 00:15:32.682
Seemed like the absence of god was really him building the
00:15:32.682 --> 00:15:36.219
Infrastructure and a setup for the comeback to elizabeth and to
00:15:36.219 --> 00:15:42.025
Mary and to joseph and then for jesus, and then the world was
00:15:42.025 --> 00:15:46.162
Never the same.
00:15:46.162 --> 00:15:47.530
What was elizabeth and zechariah waiting for?
00:15:47.530 --> 00:15:51.167
What was it that we can learn from them specifically?
00:15:51.167 --> 00:15:56.005
Donna: well, i love them, because they're older people.
00:15:56.005 --> 00:15:59.275
They were elderly, and they still didn't have a child.
00:15:59.275 --> 00:16:02.478
And at that time, they would have been looking at them like,
00:16:02.478 --> 00:16:05.048
Oh, well, you know, what sort of sin do you have in your life
00:16:05.048 --> 00:16:07.717
Without being able to conceive?
00:16:07.717 --> 00:16:10.453
But they were so faithful.
00:16:10.453 --> 00:16:12.288
You know, there's that phrase a long obedience in the same
00:16:12.288 --> 00:16:15.291
Direction, and they were so faithful in their work just
00:16:15.291 --> 00:16:18.961
Serving the lord obediently.
00:16:18.961 --> 00:16:21.597
They didn't live in the rich part of town, you know?
00:16:21.597 --> 00:16:24.534
They were just very simple, again, in how they lived.
00:16:24.534 --> 00:16:28.905
And for the lord to hear their prayer and to give them the
00:16:28.905 --> 00:16:33.409
Desires of their heart, which was a child.
00:16:33.409 --> 00:16:35.778
But i love that story, because even though they'd been praying
00:16:35.778 --> 00:16:39.115
For years in faith, because you know they knew the the story of
00:16:39.115 --> 00:16:42.852
Abraham and sarah, who were also elderly and had a child, and so
00:16:42.852 --> 00:16:47.356
You can imagine how many times they say, oh, lord, please do it
00:16:47.356 --> 00:16:50.193
Again, please do it again for us.
00:16:50.193 --> 00:16:52.428
But then when they get pregnant, zechariah doesn't--he doesn't
00:16:52.428 --> 00:16:55.231
Believe the angel, and then the angel took his voice.
00:16:55.231 --> 00:16:59.802
And i love that, because that's us.
00:16:59.802 --> 00:17:03.873
You know, we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and then it comes,
00:17:03.873 --> 00:17:07.076
And you go, well, i don't believe that.
00:17:07.076 --> 00:17:09.045
I don't know if that's really from the lord, you know?
00:17:09.045 --> 00:17:11.547
I just love it, because they were so typical.
00:17:11.547 --> 00:17:14.150
They were just us.
00:17:14.150 --> 00:17:17.386
Kirk: and connect the dots for us, zechariah and elizabeth,
00:17:17.386 --> 00:17:20.189
Their child that was born was who?
00:17:20.189 --> 00:17:22.959
Donna: john the baptist.
00:17:22.959 --> 00:17:24.293
Kirk: john the baptist, the cousin of jesus.
00:17:24.293 --> 00:17:26.162
Donna: yeah, and i love that story.
00:17:26.162 --> 00:17:28.231
Kirk: we don't often think of them in the christmas story,
00:17:28.231 --> 00:17:30.266
Because we think of the child that was born as jesus, and of
00:17:30.266 --> 00:17:32.702
Course he was.
00:17:32.702 --> 00:17:34.036
But his cousin, john the baptist, is a big part of
00:17:34.036 --> 00:17:35.738
Jesus's ministry, and he was born at this sort of miraculous
00:17:35.738 --> 00:17:40.409
Time as well.
00:17:40.409 --> 00:17:41.744
Donna: yeah, and it says that mary went to visit zechariah and
00:17:41.744 --> 00:17:45.214
Elizabeth, and elizabeth was six months pregnant at that time.
00:17:45.214 --> 00:17:49.051
And when mary came in and greeted them, that the baby
00:17:49.051 --> 00:17:53.256
Leapt inside of elizabeth's womb.
00:17:53.256 --> 00:17:57.093
And the bible says that john the baptist was filled with the holy
00:17:57.093 --> 00:18:00.596
Spirit in the womb, and when he leapt inside his mother's womb,
00:18:00.596 --> 00:18:06.135
She became filled with the holy spirit.
00:18:06.135 --> 00:18:08.704
Now, that's the first time that's ever ha--first and only
00:18:08.704 --> 00:18:11.340
Time that has ever happened in history.
00:18:11.340 --> 00:18:14.210
But he recognized, as a baby, john the baptist recognized
00:18:14.210 --> 00:18:18.915
Jesus when he walked in the door.
00:18:18.915 --> 00:18:21.117
Kirk: wow, wow.
00:18:21.117 --> 00:18:23.319
I think of that phrase in scripture, christ in me,
00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:25.988
The hope of glory.
00:18:25.988 --> 00:18:27.323
Mary was the first one to be able to say that.
00:18:27.323 --> 00:18:29.458
Christ was literally in her, the hope of glory.
00:18:29.458 --> 00:18:33.829
I think of the tremendous privilege mary had, to say
00:18:33.829 --> 00:18:38.067
The least.
00:18:38.067 --> 00:18:39.435
But these stories are so old.
00:18:39.435 --> 00:18:41.170
I mean, none of us can really relate to the magi, to the wise
00:18:41.170 --> 00:18:45.174
Men, and the angels out in a field in the dead of winter with
00:18:45.174 --> 00:18:50.246
Sheep and following a star and all of this.
00:18:50.246 --> 00:18:54.417
How can we somehow feel connected to these stories that
00:18:54.417 --> 00:18:58.054
Are so, so old?
00:18:58.054 --> 00:18:59.789
Donna: well, i love that you brought up the magi, because
00:18:59.789 --> 00:19:02.892
They were following the light.
00:19:02.892 --> 00:19:05.161
And jesus is the light of the world, and the light of the
00:19:05.161 --> 00:19:08.764
World lives within us.
00:19:08.764 --> 00:19:11.000
And so people should be able to look at us, they should be able
00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.770
To look at believers and see the light that is within us.
00:19:14.770 --> 00:19:19.342
And another interesting part about the magi is that they were
00:19:19.342 --> 00:19:22.979
The only ones who looked up and followed that light.
00:19:22.979 --> 00:19:26.682
So, there was that light that was in the sky for years, and--
00:19:26.682 --> 00:19:31.887
Because jesus was a child by the time they got there--and they
00:19:31.887 --> 00:19:35.725
Were the only ones who looked up and followed it, which is an
00:19:35.725 --> 00:19:39.662
Amazing part of that story, and that they get to jerusalem, and
00:19:39.662 --> 00:19:43.199
We know there had to be several of them in order for them to
00:19:43.199 --> 00:19:46.302
Cause a stir, because two or three wouldn't have really, you
00:19:46.302 --> 00:19:49.972
Know, stirred up much trouble by saying, "hey, where's the king
00:19:49.972 --> 00:19:52.775
Of the jews?"
00:19:52.775 --> 00:19:54.110
But, if there's a big group of them, and they're asking all
00:19:54.110 --> 00:19:56.679
These questions, that kind of gets herod's attention, and then
00:19:56.679 --> 00:20:00.349
Herod starts asking, "oh, what does that scripture say about
00:20:00.349 --> 00:20:03.886
The birth of jesus?
00:20:03.886 --> 00:20:05.221
What does that say again?"
00:20:05.221 --> 00:20:06.589
And his magicians, his wise people, they find that
00:20:06.589 --> 00:20:10.459
Scripture, and they tell him, "well, it says he's gonna be
00:20:10.459 --> 00:20:13.663
Born here at at such and such time."
00:20:13.663 --> 00:20:16.465
They knew the scripture, and they didn't go out and seek him
00:20:16.465 --> 00:20:20.036
And find him.
00:20:20.036 --> 00:20:21.370
And here are the magi, they don't know him at all.
00:20:21.370 --> 00:20:24.940
They just know that scripture about the light, about the
00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:29.679
Scepter, and they follow that light for what is it?
00:20:29.679 --> 00:20:33.716
Two years, probably, eighteen months, whatever it is, but they
00:20:33.716 --> 00:20:37.219
Follow the light, and that's a great message to us is that
00:20:37.219 --> 00:20:41.691
There--the light of jesus is still in the world today.
00:20:41.691 --> 00:20:45.528
It's not only in us, but it's reflected everywhere.
00:20:45.528 --> 00:20:48.698
It's in nature, it's in a baby's smile.
00:20:48.698 --> 00:20:52.034
I mean, the light of jesus is everywhere if we would just look
00:20:52.034 --> 00:20:55.771
And pay attention and follow it.
00:20:55.771 --> 00:20:58.407
We can come to jesus.
00:20:58.407 --> 00:21:01.510
Kirk: wise men still seek him, they say, and christmas is such
00:21:01.510 --> 00:21:05.614
A great time to share the gospel with people.
00:21:05.614 --> 00:21:08.050
What would you say to people who consider the jesus story just a
00:21:08.050 --> 00:21:11.854
Story, and they've got no room in their hearts for him?
00:21:11.854 --> 00:21:14.490
What advice would you give?
00:21:14.490 --> 00:21:16.859
Donna: to be like mary and to ponder these things.
00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:20.196
At least read the accounts, read the accounts from scripture.
00:21:20.196 --> 00:21:25.801
Dig into matthew 1 and 2, dig into luke and read through them
00:21:25.801 --> 00:21:33.275
So that you can come to understand who jesus was, that
00:21:33.275 --> 00:21:37.413
He left the magnificence, the glory of heaven to come down
00:21:37.413 --> 00:21:41.350
Here to make a way so that we could live with the
00:21:41.350 --> 00:21:44.253
Father forever.
00:21:44.253 --> 00:21:45.621
You know, jesus himself said, "i am the way and the truth and
00:21:45.621 --> 00:21:49.959
The life.
00:21:49.959 --> 00:21:51.293
No one comes to the father except through me."
00:21:51.293 --> 00:21:53.929
At the right time god sent him.
00:21:53.929 --> 00:21:56.532
And you know, kirk, at the right time god is going to send
00:21:56.532 --> 00:21:59.668
Jesus again.
00:21:59.668 --> 00:22:01.237
He's gonna say go get your bride.
00:22:01.237 --> 00:22:03.939
He's coming back, and that is the hope of glory as well.
00:22:03.939 --> 00:22:08.077
That is our blessed hope.
00:22:08.077 --> 00:22:09.879
So there's two comings for jesus, this first coming in this
00:22:09.879 --> 00:22:13.849
Nativity, and his second coming when he comes back for
00:22:13.849 --> 00:22:17.019
His bride.
00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:18.354
And it's, you know, you mentioned it earlier, it is just
00:22:18.354 --> 00:22:21.290
The most beautiful story that has ever been written.
00:22:21.290 --> 00:22:25.227
Kirk: donna, you say in the last chapter, "jesus didn't come here
00:22:25.227 --> 00:22:28.197
From the cradle to the cross so that we could simply go to
00:22:28.197 --> 00:22:30.966
Church once a week."
00:22:30.966 --> 00:22:32.301
What would you say to those people who are just drifting
00:22:32.301 --> 00:22:34.470
Along and become complacent in their walk with god?
00:22:34.470 --> 00:22:37.907
Donna: well, the bible says that jesus came to give us abundant
00:22:37.907 --> 00:22:41.343
Life, came to give us life in abundance, and they're
00:22:41.343 --> 00:22:45.448
Missing it.
00:22:45.448 --> 00:22:46.782
They're missing that abundant life that jesus came to give,
00:22:46.782 --> 00:22:50.252
Because you're just--you're coasting along with just what
00:22:50.252 --> 00:22:52.988
You can do.
00:22:52.988 --> 00:22:54.323
You can do so much more with the lord inside of you, with the--
00:22:54.323 --> 00:22:56.992
Empowered by the holy spirit.
00:22:56.992 --> 00:22:59.128
He has so much more for us to give than just ticking it off,
00:22:59.128 --> 00:23:03.699
Like, oh, i went to church today, or i went to church on
00:23:03.699 --> 00:23:07.069
Christmas or easter.
00:23:07.069 --> 00:23:08.637
There's an abundant life, and as scripture says, today is the day
00:23:08.637 --> 00:23:13.242
Of salvation.
00:23:13.242 --> 00:23:14.577
Kirk: i love the cover of your book.
00:23:14.577 --> 00:23:15.945
I love the content of the book.
00:23:15.945 --> 00:23:17.446
What is it that you hope will be the major takeaway when people
00:23:17.446 --> 00:23:20.716
Read your book?
00:23:20.716 --> 00:23:22.051
Donna: that jesus loved us so much that he left heaven and
00:23:22.051 --> 00:23:25.221
Came down here for us.
00:23:25.221 --> 00:23:26.922
He took on human flesh so that he could experience everything
00:23:26.922 --> 00:23:31.026
That we would experience.
00:23:31.026 --> 00:23:32.361
He did it all for us.
00:23:32.361 --> 00:23:33.729
He went to the cross, he took on every sin that we could ever
00:23:33.729 --> 00:23:37.733
Possibly commit, and we threw all those sins on him on
00:23:37.733 --> 00:23:42.004
The cross.
00:23:42.004 --> 00:23:43.372
He bore it all for us, and he died, he rose from that tomb in
00:23:43.372 --> 00:23:47.309
Three days, and right now he's sitting at the right hand of the
00:23:47.309 --> 00:23:50.479
Father, and he is praying for you and me today.
00:23:50.479 --> 00:23:54.984
Kirk: well, i wish you a very merry christmas, and i know
00:23:54.984 --> 00:23:57.686
People's christmases will be even better if they read this
00:23:57.686 --> 00:24:01.257
Great book.
00:24:01.257 --> 00:24:02.625
Donna: thank you, kirk.
00:24:02.625 --> 00:24:03.959
Kirk: thank you.
00:24:03.959 --> 00:24:05.327
After the break, author katie trent will share her insights
00:24:05.327 --> 00:24:06.896
And recipes for family, food, and fun at christmastime, so
00:24:06.896 --> 00:24:10.466
Don't go away.
00:24:10.466 --> 00:24:11.800
Katie: it's so easy to get so lost in the busyness and trying
00:24:11.800 --> 00:24:14.503
To do all the things and please all the people that we lose
00:24:14.503 --> 00:24:17.540
Connection with god, and we lose connection with our family, and
00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:20.776
So when we take the time to do something like this where we're
00:24:20.776 --> 00:24:23.546
Being intentional and saying we're gonna focus on jesus, and
00:24:23.546 --> 00:24:26.382
We're gonna focus on each other, and we're going to focus on
00:24:26.382 --> 00:24:29.618
Sharing the good news of the gospel in very simple, easy
00:24:29.618 --> 00:24:32.321
Ways, that makes all the difference for families.
00:24:32.321 --> 00:24:35.591
[music]
00:24:35.591 --> 00:24:40.997
[music]
00:24:40.997 --> 00:24:41.567
[music]
00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:44.937
Kirk: my next guest, katie j. trent, is the founder
00:24:48.707 --> 00:24:51.577
Of family faith building academy, a comprehensive
00:24:51.577 --> 00:24:54.379
Discipleship course for christian parents.
00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:56.548
She's also the bestselling author of three interactive
00:24:56.548 --> 00:24:59.351
Devotionals, "dishing up devotions," "recipes for a sweet
00:24:59.351 --> 00:25:02.854
Child," and this one, "a merry and bright adventure."
00:25:02.854 --> 00:25:07.259
Thanks so much for coming on "takeaways."
00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:08.994
Katie: thanks so much for having me.
00:25:08.994 --> 00:25:10.829
I love all things christmas, so this makes me so happy.
00:25:10.829 --> 00:25:13.932
Kirk: isn't it great?
00:25:13.932 --> 00:25:15.300
I want a pipe in my teeth with some cherry tobacco and a
00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:19.438
Smoking jacket, and it's--i wanna do my best bing crosby,
00:25:19.438 --> 00:25:22.140
♪ it's beginning to look a lot like christmas. ♪
00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:26.511
I'm so excited, because we get to talk about food.
00:25:26.511 --> 00:25:29.548
What inspired you to write a devotional about faith, food,
00:25:29.548 --> 00:25:33.685
And fun for christmas?
00:25:33.685 --> 00:25:35.487
Katie: well, i love all things christmas.
00:25:35.487 --> 00:25:37.689
I always have, and when i came to know the lord in my college
00:25:37.689 --> 00:25:41.126
Years, i just loved it so much more, the meaning behind it.
00:25:41.126 --> 00:25:44.262
My husband, on the other hand, is a bit of a scrooge.
00:25:44.262 --> 00:25:47.199
He hated the commercialization and all of that sort of thing,
00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:50.802
And so, you know, there was always this tension.
00:25:50.802 --> 00:25:52.638
And we had kids, and i really wanted to find a way to help my
00:25:52.638 --> 00:25:57.009
Kids keep christ at the center of christmas.
00:25:57.009 --> 00:25:59.277
You know, we hear that a lot, but what does that really mean?
00:25:59.277 --> 00:26:02.381
And we're really big on building strong faith-filled families.
00:26:02.381 --> 00:26:05.517
Discipleship is like our number-one heart's desire, and
00:26:05.517 --> 00:26:08.020
It starts with our kids.
00:26:08.020 --> 00:26:09.388
And so i was saying what can i do to really help them?
00:26:09.388 --> 00:26:12.624
Because the world pulls at them, right?
00:26:12.624 --> 00:26:13.992
Like, even though we would do advent devotionals, you know,
00:26:13.992 --> 00:26:16.595
And we do our best to try and set aside time to focus on
00:26:16.595 --> 00:26:19.931
Jesus, i still felt like the world was pulling them in so
00:26:19.931 --> 00:26:22.701
Many different directions.
00:26:22.701 --> 00:26:24.403
And so with this, when we're looking at how do the sights and
00:26:24.403 --> 00:26:27.105
Sounds of the holidays actually teach us about jesus and lead us
00:26:27.105 --> 00:26:31.009
Into a deeper relationship with him?
00:26:31.009 --> 00:26:33.512
That really began to change things, and so teaching my kids
00:26:33.512 --> 00:26:36.448
That there's purpose in everything, and they can see god
00:26:36.448 --> 00:26:38.850
All around them, and they can learn more about jesus in
00:26:38.850 --> 00:26:42.454
Everything, that was really the heart.
00:26:42.454 --> 00:26:44.122
And then faith, food, and fun, like that is everything
00:26:44.122 --> 00:26:47.325
I love, right?
00:26:47.325 --> 00:26:48.694
And so--and family, and so that was really what inspired me to
00:26:48.694 --> 00:26:51.530
Kind of put those together and find a way that it wasn't just
00:26:51.530 --> 00:26:55.233
Once in the day we were reading a devotion and checking it off,
00:26:55.233 --> 00:26:57.703
But how could we go about our daily lives remembering to look
00:26:57.703 --> 00:27:01.306
To jesus and to be more like him throughout the holiday season?
00:27:01.306 --> 00:27:05.110
Kirk: anytime someone can download their theology and
00:27:05.110 --> 00:27:08.513
Their traditions into cookies and cakes and pies, i'm there.
00:27:08.513 --> 00:27:15.120
I so love it, and it's genius when you're talking about
00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:18.223
Children whose attention spans can be short, and in this book
00:27:18.223 --> 00:27:22.994
You're not just giving christ devotions, you're actually
00:27:22.994 --> 00:27:28.233
Blending it in with food and activities and
00:27:28.233 --> 00:27:31.303
Discussion questions.
00:27:31.303 --> 00:27:32.738
So, how exactly does this work to keep families connected
00:27:32.738 --> 00:27:37.809
During all of the busy season?
00:27:37.809 --> 00:27:39.478
Katie: yeah, so it's 25 devotions, and so all throughout
00:27:39.478 --> 00:27:42.047
The month of december leading up to christmas, it gives you
00:27:42.047 --> 00:27:44.382
A chance to connect with a simple devotion.
00:27:44.382 --> 00:27:45.984
So whether you've got, you know, squirrelly toddlers or, you
00:27:45.984 --> 00:27:48.487
Know, too-cool teenagers, you can come together as a family,
00:27:48.487 --> 00:27:51.656
You can learn a little bit of the history of how holiday
00:27:51.656 --> 00:27:53.925
Traditions got started and what we can learn about jesus
00:27:53.925 --> 00:27:56.928
From them.
00:27:56.928 --> 00:27:58.263
And then we've got discussion questions, because i find that
00:27:58.263 --> 00:28:00.699
Sometimes it's just asking the right question, and it's hard to
00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:04.069
Know what that question is sometimes.
00:28:04.069 --> 00:28:05.470
And so my background's counseling, you know, we learn
00:28:05.470 --> 00:28:07.439
This skill, and so how do we ask questions to cultivate
00:28:07.439 --> 00:28:10.475
That conversation?
00:28:10.475 --> 00:28:11.810
And fun family activities, because i don't know about your
00:28:11.810 --> 00:28:14.446
Family, but like the best traditions are all centered
00:28:14.446 --> 00:28:16.782
Around the fun family activities that we do throughout
00:28:16.782 --> 00:28:18.683
The holidays.
00:28:18.683 --> 00:28:20.051
So, how do we incorporate those into our faith and share our
00:28:20.051 --> 00:28:22.621
Faith through those activities?
00:28:22.621 --> 00:28:24.689
And then food, you know, i don't know about you, but when i'm
00:28:24.689 --> 00:28:27.826
Trying to talk to my kids about something important, if i sit
00:28:27.826 --> 00:28:29.995
Down like we're sitting, and i say, "we're gonna talk
00:28:29.995 --> 00:28:31.897
About jesus."
00:28:31.897 --> 00:28:33.498
Kirk: right, yeah, right, they close up.
00:28:33.498 --> 00:28:35.133
Katie: yeah, absolutely.
00:28:35.133 --> 00:28:36.501
We do the same thing.
00:28:36.501 --> 00:28:37.836
You gotta go talk to your boss.
00:28:37.836 --> 00:28:39.171
What did i do wrong?
00:28:39.171 --> 00:28:40.539
You know, you have that sense of foreboding of what's going on.
00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:43.175
And so when you're in the kitchen together, and you're
00:28:43.175 --> 00:28:45.710
Making delicious treats, and you're just talking and having a
00:28:45.710 --> 00:28:48.780
Conversation, the walls come down, the words come out,
00:28:48.780 --> 00:28:52.450
There's so much meaning and connection that happens in the
00:28:52.450 --> 00:28:55.187
Kitchen, and so it just becomes this beautiful time together.
00:28:55.187 --> 00:28:58.456
And then when they grow up and they look back on their life,
00:28:58.456 --> 00:29:01.259
The best parts of their life were all interwoven with their
00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:03.929
Faith and their family and, of course, food, and they just
00:29:03.929 --> 00:29:07.532
Begin to look differently at the world around them.
00:29:07.532 --> 00:29:10.368
Kirk: that's right, i think for so many people, we think of
00:29:10.368 --> 00:29:12.504
Faith as these ideas that we think about, that we pray about,
00:29:12.504 --> 00:29:15.507
That we talk about, but if we can weave that right into the
00:29:15.507 --> 00:29:19.578
Favorite things that we have, and we get to do together as a
00:29:19.578 --> 00:29:22.380
Family, that makes it so much more memorable.
00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:25.217
There's more chances that these traditions will get passed down
00:29:25.217 --> 00:29:27.352
To your family when you have kids, and so that's why i love
00:29:27.352 --> 00:29:31.289
To make chicken pot pies around christmas or my grandfather's
00:29:31.289 --> 00:29:34.459
Fudge, and when you can talk to your kids about their faith
00:29:34.459 --> 00:29:38.730
While they're cracking the eggs, while the flour's going all over
00:29:38.730 --> 00:29:41.933
The kitchen, this is great.
00:29:41.933 --> 00:29:44.369
With my kids as they get older, we go on hunting trips and have
00:29:44.369 --> 00:29:47.405
Our best talks about faith or a long road trip, and i think
00:29:47.405 --> 00:29:51.176
These activities, these challenges, these discussion
00:29:51.176 --> 00:29:55.013
Questions, these games, and this really fun food really makes the
00:29:55.013 --> 00:29:59.317
Faith part stick.
00:29:59.317 --> 00:30:01.219
Katie: absolutely, when you're trying to--you know, i think
00:30:01.219 --> 00:30:04.322
Oftentimes we look at behavior modification.
00:30:04.322 --> 00:30:07.125
Like, we're trying to teach our kids the bible, but we're trying
00:30:07.125 --> 00:30:09.261
To do it in a way where like these are the rules or, you
00:30:09.261 --> 00:30:12.130
Know, these are things that we have to do, and so it becomes
00:30:12.130 --> 00:30:14.766
About behavior modification.
00:30:14.766 --> 00:30:16.768
But when our kids see that god is the creator of all things,
00:30:16.768 --> 00:30:20.538
And we can learn more about him in everything, and he's
00:30:20.538 --> 00:30:23.041
Everywhere and that the bible is actually a manual for life, it's
00:30:23.041 --> 00:30:26.811
Not just something that we read to check a box, but really it
00:30:26.811 --> 00:30:29.781
Has all the answers that we're looking for, when we're
00:30:29.781 --> 00:30:31.850
Struggling, when we're sad, when we're upset, when we're going
00:30:31.850 --> 00:30:34.686
Through hard things, like the answers are all there.
00:30:34.686 --> 00:30:36.721
So when we can teach our kids that that's all interconnected,
00:30:36.721 --> 00:30:40.091
Then we're looking at life transformation instead of that
00:30:40.091 --> 00:30:43.662
Behavior modification.
00:30:43.662 --> 00:30:44.996
And they don't even know, you know, it doesn't feel like
00:30:44.996 --> 00:30:47.132
Something they have to do, it just becomes integrally who
00:30:47.132 --> 00:30:49.801
They are.
00:30:49.801 --> 00:30:51.169
Kirk: i'm just looking--i'm very distracted by all the pies
00:30:51.169 --> 00:30:54.105
And all of the cookies and all of the brownies and the caramel
00:30:54.105 --> 00:30:57.642
Cookie bars.
00:30:57.642 --> 00:30:59.010
And now we're gonna make some of these things in just
00:30:59.010 --> 00:31:01.379
A little while.
00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:02.714
These are wash me whiter than snow kiwi strawberry
00:31:02.714 --> 00:31:05.784
Yogurt parfaits.
00:31:05.784 --> 00:31:07.118
We're actually gonna do this.
00:31:07.118 --> 00:31:08.453
Katie: yes, we are.
00:31:08.453 --> 00:31:09.821
We're gonna have a lot of fun.
00:31:09.821 --> 00:31:11.156
Kirk: i'm just curious, with your family, your kids, what is
00:31:11.156 --> 00:31:12.624
One of your favorite traditions or devotions in this book that's
00:31:12.624 --> 00:31:15.527
Particularly meaningful to you guys?
00:31:15.527 --> 00:31:17.228
Katie: yeah, so i think the devotion that really means the
00:31:17.228 --> 00:31:20.165
Most to us is probably the cheerful chocolate chip cookies
00:31:20.165 --> 00:31:22.734
That we make in there.
00:31:22.734 --> 00:31:24.102
Kirk: of course, cheerful chocolate chip cookies.
00:31:24.102 --> 00:31:25.937
Who doesn't love that?
00:31:25.937 --> 00:31:27.305
Katie: i know, and i remember growing up, my mom always baking
00:31:27.305 --> 00:31:29.774
During the holidays, you know, i can still smell the smells of
00:31:29.774 --> 00:31:32.377
The molasses cookies and all of those things.
00:31:32.377 --> 00:31:34.379
And so that is something where we're talking about really being
00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:38.783
The hands and feet of jesus by sharing treats with others.
00:31:38.783 --> 00:31:41.286
And when we moved from arizona all the way across the country
00:31:41.286 --> 00:31:44.222
To south carolina about three years ago, we moved into a
00:31:44.222 --> 00:31:46.691
Brand-new neighborhood, and so new homes being built, and we
00:31:46.691 --> 00:31:49.761
Didn't know anyone.
00:31:49.761 --> 00:31:51.129
I mean, we moved-- we knew no one.
00:31:51.129 --> 00:31:52.497
And so we decided to bake treats and to share them with our
00:31:52.497 --> 00:31:55.900
Neighbors, get to know them, and just try and bless them and let
00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:58.003
Them know, like, jesus loves them.
00:31:58.003 --> 00:31:59.871
And so we did that, and there was probably about 100 homes.
00:31:59.871 --> 00:32:03.074
It's kind of spiraled, you know, we weren't intending to go--
00:32:03.074 --> 00:32:05.510
We're gonna do a little bit, but my kids went door to door, and
00:32:05.510 --> 00:32:08.613
We just shared these treats with people, and the testimonies that
00:32:08.613 --> 00:32:12.617
We heard of people who, you know, had moved and had no one,
00:32:12.617 --> 00:32:16.254
Who had lost someone, who felt so alone during the holidays,
00:32:16.254 --> 00:32:19.691
For just these sweet little kids to come up to their door and
00:32:19.691 --> 00:32:22.460
Give them some cookies, they were so impacted by that.
00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:26.297
And my kids loved it so much that that has become our
00:32:26.297 --> 00:32:29.367
Favorite holiday tradition.
00:32:29.367 --> 00:32:30.702
So, every year--and our neighborhood has grown since
00:32:30.702 --> 00:32:32.604
Then, so it's about 250 homes that we do this for, but it made
00:32:32.604 --> 00:32:37.409
A difference, and my kids, you know, want to do it.
00:32:37.409 --> 00:32:39.978
And so we bake for days, and we go hand deliver all the treats,
00:32:39.978 --> 00:32:43.581
And they just love sharing the love of jesus in that way.
00:32:43.581 --> 00:32:47.218
Kirk: i also love that you teach everyone how to make wise men
00:32:47.218 --> 00:32:50.955
White chocolate popcorn gifts and ornaments and garland for
00:32:50.955 --> 00:32:55.360
The tree and decorations for your house in this book, using
00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:58.963
Food, faith, family, fun.
00:32:58.963 --> 00:33:00.999
How did you structure this and design it in a way that it was
00:33:00.999 --> 00:33:04.502
Accessible for all different ages, kids all the way up
00:33:04.502 --> 00:33:07.839
Through to grandparents?
00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:09.207
Katie: well, first off, let me say i'm a pinterest dropout, so
00:33:09.207 --> 00:33:11.943
I am actually not the fun mom, i am not the person that like, you
00:33:11.943 --> 00:33:16.147
Know, even though i homeschool, you'd think i'm doing all these
00:33:16.147 --> 00:33:18.183
Things, and the book is deceiving, but that is truly
00:33:18.183 --> 00:33:20.919
From a prayer of somebody who is not a fun mom who, you know, is
00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:24.022
Very organized, i like black and white worksheets, who said,
00:33:24.022 --> 00:33:26.825
"god, i'm not connecting with my kids.
00:33:26.825 --> 00:33:28.660
Please help me to make this fun.
00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.728
Help me to bridge that gap of why kids are leaving church.
00:33:30.728 --> 00:33:34.165
How do i make it so it's tangible?
00:33:34.165 --> 00:33:35.800
And so, we--those are all-- just god has given me these
00:33:35.800 --> 00:33:39.304
Ideas to combine.
00:33:39.304 --> 00:33:40.638
And so whether your kids are toddlers or teens, you know,
00:33:40.638 --> 00:33:42.740
There's a simple, short devotion.
00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.109
I don't know if you've read devotions to your kids where
00:33:44.109 --> 00:33:46.711
Sometimes it's a very long devotion and your kids are like
00:33:46.711 --> 00:33:50.048
I'm not doing any of this.
00:33:50.048 --> 00:33:51.883
So they're short, interactive, engaging devotions, and they've
00:33:51.883 --> 00:33:55.053
Got a short little prayer and the discussion questions, and
00:33:55.053 --> 00:33:58.256
Then activities, and we made it easy.
00:33:58.256 --> 00:34:00.291
So there are grocery lists and supply lists.
00:34:00.291 --> 00:34:02.660
I mean, very simple.
00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:04.129
We have a homeschool guide, so if you're wanting to do the book
00:34:04.129 --> 00:34:06.698
For your homeschool throughout the month of december and put
00:34:06.698 --> 00:34:09.467
Away everything else, we tell you how to do that.
00:34:09.467 --> 00:34:12.270
And so we just make it very simple.
00:34:12.270 --> 00:34:14.105
And then you have the recipes.
00:34:14.105 --> 00:34:15.440
And we do have 31 recipes, so if you have dietary restrictions or
00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.877
You're more health conscious, you're trying to do things, you
00:34:18.877 --> 00:34:21.513
Have that.
00:34:21.513 --> 00:34:22.847
And we've got things like a breakfast or a lunch or snacks
00:34:22.847 --> 00:34:25.150
And desserts, you know, it's a blend, because i love to bake,
00:34:25.150 --> 00:34:28.153
And i don't wanna bake 25 days of christmas.
00:34:28.153 --> 00:34:31.422
And so we try to really make it simple for you, and it's open
00:34:31.422 --> 00:34:33.858
And go, so whether you miss five days, whether you pick it up at
00:34:33.858 --> 00:34:37.195
The end of december, you know, it doesn't matter where you
00:34:37.195 --> 00:34:39.964
Start, and you can do what works for your family.
00:34:39.964 --> 00:34:41.833
Read it at night, read it in the day, pick up the activity.
00:34:41.833 --> 00:34:44.636
This is our third year now that our family's going through it,
00:34:44.636 --> 00:34:47.472
And they have got their favorites now, but they love
00:34:47.472 --> 00:34:50.508
Doing the different things, because we never get to it all.
00:34:50.508 --> 00:34:54.112
Kirk: katie, what do you think is one of the biggest spiritual
00:34:54.112 --> 00:34:57.715
Need of families today, especially during the
00:34:57.715 --> 00:35:00.885
Christmas season?
00:35:00.885 --> 00:35:02.253
Katie: i believe it's connection.
00:35:02.253 --> 00:35:03.588
It is so easy to get so lost in the busyness and trying to do
00:35:03.588 --> 00:35:07.625
All the things and please all the people that we lose
00:35:07.625 --> 00:35:10.295
Connection with god, and we lose connection with our family, and
00:35:10.295 --> 00:35:13.565
So when we take the time to do something like this where we're
00:35:13.565 --> 00:35:16.334
Being intentional and saying we're gonna focus on jesus, and
00:35:16.334 --> 00:35:19.170
We're gonna focus on each other, and we're going to focus on
00:35:19.170 --> 00:35:22.407
Sharing the good news of the gospel in very simple, easy
00:35:22.407 --> 00:35:25.143
Ways, that makes all the difference for families.
00:35:25.143 --> 00:35:28.079
The peace is there, the stress is gone, the joy has returned,
00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:31.716
And you remember why we're celebrating in the first place.
00:35:31.716 --> 00:35:35.086
Kirk: well, i can't wait for us to come back from this break,
00:35:35.086 --> 00:35:38.489
Because we get to make some of these things.
00:35:38.489 --> 00:35:40.725
When we come back, katie j. will share some of her christmas
00:35:40.725 --> 00:35:44.095
Treats and show us how to make wash me whiter than snow kiwi
00:35:44.095 --> 00:35:47.966
Strawberry parfaits, don't go away.
00:35:47.966 --> 00:35:49.934
[music]
00:35:49.934 --> 00:35:55.005
[music]
00:35:55.005 --> 00:35:56.243
[music]
00:35:56.576 --> 00:35:59.613
Kirk: welcome back.
00:36:02.983 --> 00:36:04.351
As promised, we're talking with katie j. trent about her
00:36:04.351 --> 00:36:06.219
Christmas devotional of holiday activities and recipes
00:36:06.219 --> 00:36:09.389
For families.
00:36:09.389 --> 00:36:10.724
It's called "a merry and bright adventure," and we are making
00:36:10.724 --> 00:36:14.828
Devotion day 22 in the book, wash me whiter than snow kiwi
00:36:14.828 --> 00:36:19.065
Strawberry yogurt parfaits.
00:36:19.065 --> 00:36:20.667
I can't wait.
00:36:20.667 --> 00:36:22.002
Katie: yes, we are.
00:36:22.002 --> 00:36:23.370
They are delicious.
00:36:23.370 --> 00:36:24.704
We're talking about the colors of christmas and how they can
00:36:24.704 --> 00:36:26.239
Actually teach us more about jesus.
00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:27.707
So, wash me whiter than snow.
00:36:27.707 --> 00:36:29.609
What do you think of?
00:36:29.609 --> 00:36:30.944
Kirk: i think of whipped cream, i think of snowmen, i think of
00:36:30.944 --> 00:36:36.283
Cold snow.
00:36:36.283 --> 00:36:37.651
Katie: yeah, absolutely, and we're gonna use yogurt today, so
00:36:37.651 --> 00:36:39.719
Some people have some dietary preferences, some health things,
00:36:39.719 --> 00:36:42.822
So this is one of the healthier alternatives throughout the
00:36:42.822 --> 00:36:45.959
Book, but we're talking about how they can teach us more
00:36:45.959 --> 00:36:49.095
About jesus.
00:36:49.095 --> 00:36:50.430
So, jesus washes our sins like white as snow, right?
00:36:50.430 --> 00:36:52.999
We see the blood of jesus in red, and so we know that he shed
00:36:52.999 --> 00:36:55.802
His blood for us on the cross.
00:36:55.802 --> 00:36:57.304
And green tends to symbolize new life, and so we have new life
00:36:57.304 --> 00:37:01.007
When we accept jesus's forgiveness, and he washes our
00:37:01.007 --> 00:37:03.810
Sins away.
00:37:03.810 --> 00:37:05.145
And so we're teaching our kids this lesson as we're making
00:37:05.145 --> 00:37:07.714
These parfaits.
00:37:07.714 --> 00:37:09.049
I'm gonna put you to work.
00:37:09.049 --> 00:37:10.417
Kirk: that sounds great, i love this.
00:37:10.417 --> 00:37:11.751
We can feel good while we're eating dessert.
00:37:11.751 --> 00:37:13.520
Red, white, and--any red, white, and green dessert you can
00:37:13.520 --> 00:37:16.990
Come up with, this is gonna deepen your children's faith.
00:37:16.990 --> 00:37:20.660
Katie: exactly, and, you know, if you find things in the book
00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:22.495
You're like, i don't know about this, i guarantee you probably
00:37:22.495 --> 00:37:24.531
Have a recipe that you could make work with the lessons too.
00:37:24.531 --> 00:37:26.866
So if you have a fun family favorite that you're trying to
00:37:26.866 --> 00:37:29.269
Do instead, you know, you have that.
00:37:29.269 --> 00:37:30.737
So we're gonna have you go ahead and start dicing up the kiwis.
00:37:30.737 --> 00:37:33.840
So, yep, we'll peel the skin off and dice them.
00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:36.476
We're gonna put them all into a bowl, and we're gonna mix the
00:37:36.476 --> 00:37:40.613
Fruit together.
00:37:40.613 --> 00:37:41.981
So, my kids, i have one that loves kiwi, one that doesn't, so
00:37:41.981 --> 00:37:45.852
You know, if you don't like that, green apples is another
00:37:45.852 --> 00:37:48.188
Good alternative.
00:37:48.188 --> 00:37:49.556
I will start with our red apple, because i love the crisp apples
00:37:49.556 --> 00:37:54.160
In the middle of the dessert.
00:37:54.160 --> 00:37:57.030
I like lots of textures when i eat.
00:37:57.030 --> 00:37:58.898
I don't know about you.
00:37:58.898 --> 00:38:01.501
So we'll dice up some.
00:38:01.501 --> 00:38:02.969
They don't have to be perfect.
00:38:02.969 --> 00:38:04.738
They just have to be small enough that you can take a bite.
00:38:04.738 --> 00:38:10.543
Kirk: and how's this for kiwi size?
00:38:10.543 --> 00:38:13.680
Katie: that's beautiful, it might be a little big when
00:38:13.680 --> 00:38:15.782
You're taking a bite.
00:38:15.782 --> 00:38:17.117
Kirk: a little big, smaller, all right.
00:38:17.117 --> 00:38:18.618
Katie: so we have these beautiful little glasses, so we
00:38:18.618 --> 00:38:20.854
Don't want it to take up too much, but it would be perfect
00:38:20.854 --> 00:38:23.123
When we garnish on the top too.
00:38:23.123 --> 00:38:24.657
So if you want to keep a few of those that size.
00:38:24.657 --> 00:38:27.861
Kirk: you want me to put them in the bowl, or put them in here?
00:38:27.861 --> 00:38:29.863
Katie: let's put them in the bowl.
00:38:29.863 --> 00:38:31.798
This is gonna be for you to build your own parfait, because
00:38:31.798 --> 00:38:33.867
You could do it a big one, but i don't know about you, i have two
00:38:33.867 --> 00:38:36.503
Kids, and when we are making things, they want their own, and
00:38:36.503 --> 00:38:39.672
So they get to design their own and pick their fruits, and so
00:38:39.672 --> 00:38:44.944
That for them.
00:38:44.944 --> 00:38:46.513
Kirk: you know, that's how it always usually ends up when i'm
00:38:46.513 --> 00:38:48.782
Out to dinner with my wife is i order dessert and she doesn't,
00:38:48.782 --> 00:38:53.019
And i say, "are you sure you don't want one?"
00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:54.521
Because it looks really great.
00:38:54.521 --> 00:38:55.889
She says, "no, no, no," and then when mine comes, she wants to
00:38:55.889 --> 00:38:58.324
Take a bite and then a second bite, and i say, "would you like
00:38:58.324 --> 00:39:00.293
Your own?"
00:39:00.293 --> 00:39:01.661
"oh, fine, you don't wanna share."
00:39:01.661 --> 00:39:02.996
That's not what i was saying.
00:39:02.996 --> 00:39:04.764
I'm saying that we can both have one, you know?
00:39:04.764 --> 00:39:10.303
Everybody usually wants their own, you're right,
00:39:10.303 --> 00:39:12.172
Especially kids.
00:39:12.172 --> 00:39:13.540
Katie: exactly, and if you have younger kids, obviously you may
00:39:13.540 --> 00:39:15.275
Not want them playing with knives, so you can pre-dice up
00:39:15.275 --> 00:39:18.278
The fruit for them, or if you have older kids, i know my
00:39:18.278 --> 00:39:20.680
Daughter, she's 12, she loves to help out in the kitchen, and so
00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:24.150
She will do a lot of the prep work, and then we can come in
00:39:24.150 --> 00:39:26.786
And enjoy it together and build ours.
00:39:26.786 --> 00:39:29.522
So, it's really whatever works for your family.
00:39:29.522 --> 00:39:32.525
Kirk: okay.
00:39:32.525 --> 00:39:34.461
Katie: but we just want some nice red and green colors in
00:39:34.461 --> 00:39:37.030
There so that they can remember our object lesson, and that's
00:39:37.030 --> 00:39:42.335
All the recipes in the book are paired with little nuggets of
00:39:42.335 --> 00:39:46.105
Truth, little object lessons, so they, you know, we call them
00:39:46.105 --> 00:39:49.576
Wash them whiter than snow parfaits so that they remember
00:39:49.576 --> 00:39:52.812
That jesus washes our sins whiter than snow.
00:39:52.812 --> 00:39:55.048
We are forgiven, and so what does that look like for them in
00:39:55.048 --> 00:39:58.685
Their life?
00:39:58.685 --> 00:40:00.053
So, doing a good job with that kiwi.
00:40:00.053 --> 00:40:03.189
That's looking beautiful.
00:40:03.189 --> 00:40:05.024
Kirk: thank you.
00:40:05.024 --> 00:40:06.392
Katie: now, we're not feeding the whole crew on here, i don't
00:40:06.392 --> 00:40:07.994
Think, so we probably are good.
00:40:07.994 --> 00:40:09.329
Do you want some green apple in there?
00:40:09.329 --> 00:40:10.930
Kirk: oh yeah, i love these.
00:40:10.930 --> 00:40:12.298
These are like granny smith, tart apples, right?
00:40:12.298 --> 00:40:13.633
I love them.
00:40:13.633 --> 00:40:15.001
Katie: yeah, so really good balance of kind of that sweet
00:40:15.001 --> 00:40:16.803
And salty and sour.
00:40:16.803 --> 00:40:19.339
We also have some blueberries, which some people may not think
00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:22.141
Of blue for christmas, but for us, we love--we have a blue and
00:40:22.141 --> 00:40:25.211
Silver tree that we always use, and so, you know, blue can
00:40:25.211 --> 00:40:28.948
Symbolize the throne of god and just his royalty and so many
00:40:28.948 --> 00:40:33.453
Different things, and it adds a nice little pop of color too.
00:40:33.453 --> 00:40:36.189
So one of the questions when you're going through the
00:40:36.189 --> 00:40:38.791
Devotion, you can talk to your kids about how colors kind of
00:40:38.791 --> 00:40:42.428
Connect us to different holidays.
00:40:42.428 --> 00:40:43.763
Like, if i said valentine's day, what colors do you think of for
00:40:43.763 --> 00:40:47.700
Valentine's day?
00:40:47.700 --> 00:40:49.068
Kirk: pink and red.
00:40:49.068 --> 00:40:50.403
Katie: absolutely, how about thanksgiving?
00:40:50.403 --> 00:40:52.105
Kirk: i think of kind of an orange, gold, and brown.
00:40:52.105 --> 00:40:55.975
Katie: mm-hmm, and when you think of christmas.
00:40:55.975 --> 00:40:57.810
Kirk: i think of red and green and white, just like you
00:40:57.810 --> 00:41:00.680
Have here.
00:41:00.680 --> 00:41:02.015
Katie: absolutely, and so that's kind of fun for kids to see that
00:41:02.015 --> 00:41:05.051
There's connection to everything they're doing.
00:41:05.051 --> 00:41:07.820
So, we have some greek yogurt here that we're gonna build the
00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:10.356
Parfaits with, and we have some already made granola.
00:41:10.356 --> 00:41:13.593
You can also make your own granola at home.
00:41:13.593 --> 00:41:15.862
Sometimes we do that, usually not during the holiday season,
00:41:15.862 --> 00:41:18.197
Because we're so busy with other things, but you have that there.
00:41:18.197 --> 00:41:21.200
So i'm gonna give you some honey, and i'm gonna let you
00:41:21.200 --> 00:41:23.670
Just drizzle a teaspoon or two over the honey, and then we'll
00:41:23.670 --> 00:41:26.873
Kind of toss it with a spoon.
00:41:26.873 --> 00:41:28.441
Mmm, that looks so good.
00:41:28.441 --> 00:41:31.144
I love the honey and the fruit.
00:41:31.144 --> 00:41:33.379
Kirk: boy, winnie-the-pooh, he knows what he's talking about.
00:41:33.379 --> 00:41:38.318
Okay, how's that?
00:41:38.318 --> 00:41:39.652
Katie: see, that looks good.
00:41:39.652 --> 00:41:41.020
I'll give you--thank you-- that spoon.
00:41:41.020 --> 00:41:42.355
You can just kind of toss that so it's kind of coated, and then
00:41:42.355 --> 00:41:45.625
We're gonna get to the fun part.
00:41:45.625 --> 00:41:46.960
We're gonna build our parfaits.
00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:48.628
Kirk: okay, oh, it smells so good.
00:41:48.628 --> 00:41:50.997
Katie: that smells delicious, and it's so pretty with the red
00:41:50.997 --> 00:41:53.533
And green.
00:41:53.533 --> 00:41:54.901
I think i'm gonna cut up one more strawberry though.
00:41:54.901 --> 00:41:56.436
I think we need a little bit more red, green.
00:41:56.436 --> 00:42:00.006
Yeah, we got a little excited with our green fruit, so throw
00:42:00.006 --> 00:42:03.676
Some more in there, maybe one more.
00:42:03.676 --> 00:42:05.211
Kirk: okay, maybe one more, that's right.
00:42:05.211 --> 00:42:07.513
Katie: all right, these pieces will be a little bigger,
00:42:07.513 --> 00:42:10.450
But that's okay.
00:42:10.450 --> 00:42:11.784
Try not to stab you with the knife.
00:42:11.784 --> 00:42:13.119
Kirk: make sure everything's coated with honey.
00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:14.754
Katie: yes, that looks good.
00:42:14.754 --> 00:42:16.222
Kirk: okay.
00:42:16.222 --> 00:42:17.590
Katie: all right, now we're gonna build.
00:42:17.590 --> 00:42:19.092
So, we're gonna start--if you want to put some of this in the
00:42:19.092 --> 00:42:21.694
Bottom of your parfait dish.
00:42:21.694 --> 00:42:25.031
Kirk: now, this is granola?
00:42:25.031 --> 00:42:26.432
Katie: granola, yep, this is just a store-bought granola
00:42:26.432 --> 00:42:29.035
Already made, so you can get your favorite kind of
00:42:29.035 --> 00:42:30.770
That there.
00:42:30.770 --> 00:42:32.805
You mind spoon, you want spoon?
00:42:32.805 --> 00:42:35.341
And mine here.
00:42:35.341 --> 00:42:37.810
Okay, perfect.
00:42:37.810 --> 00:42:39.512
All right, and then we've got-- this is greek yogurt, but you
00:42:39.512 --> 00:42:42.382
Can do a non-dairy yogurt.
00:42:42.382 --> 00:42:43.816
You can do, like you said, whipped cream if you wanna just
00:42:43.816 --> 00:42:46.552
Like be really fun.
00:42:46.552 --> 00:42:48.488
We like these for snacks or breakfast, so put some here.
00:42:48.488 --> 00:42:52.558
I'll hold that, and you can decide how much yogurt
00:42:52.558 --> 00:42:55.261
You want in yours.
00:42:55.261 --> 00:42:57.330
Perfect, all right, and then we're gonna layer with fruits,
00:43:00.667 --> 00:43:03.503
So if you want to scoop yourself out some fruit.
00:43:03.503 --> 00:43:08.941
So pretty, right?
00:43:08.941 --> 00:43:11.711
Colors pop.
00:43:11.711 --> 00:43:13.746
And you don't have to feel bad for your holiday treat to be so
00:43:17.617 --> 00:43:22.755
Pretty and delicious, and then we're just gonna keep layering,
00:43:22.755 --> 00:43:25.058
So we've got more granola.
00:43:25.058 --> 00:43:26.959
Kirk: more granola, all right.
00:43:26.959 --> 00:43:29.162
You want some of this?
00:43:32.699 --> 00:43:34.033
Katie: yes, please.
00:43:34.033 --> 00:43:35.401
Thank you.
00:43:35.401 --> 00:43:36.736
I feel like the crunch of the granola is
00:43:36.736 --> 00:43:38.104
One of the best parts.
00:43:38.104 --> 00:43:40.573
One more layer of our whiter than snow here.
00:43:40.573 --> 00:43:45.545
Let you get how much you like.
00:43:45.545 --> 00:43:49.449
Kirk: okay, and fruit.
00:43:49.449 --> 00:43:51.584
Katie: and then fruit, so you can top it with fruit, and then,
00:43:51.584 --> 00:43:54.087
Too, if you wanted to put a little garnish on, you could put
00:43:54.087 --> 00:43:57.323
A whole strawberry on there if you wanted, just to kind of make
00:43:57.323 --> 00:44:02.228
It look fun.
00:44:02.228 --> 00:44:04.163
Pick a smaller one if you wanna just kind of set it there.
00:44:04.163 --> 00:44:07.333
Kirk: look at that, beautiful.
00:44:07.333 --> 00:44:09.168
And what about the blueberries?
00:44:09.168 --> 00:44:10.503
Is that for--
00:44:10.503 --> 00:44:11.871
Katie: and then the blueberries are just if you want them, so
00:44:11.871 --> 00:44:13.473
You could put a little pop of color on there.
00:44:13.473 --> 00:44:15.108
Kirk: definitely.
00:44:15.108 --> 00:44:16.476
Katie: add some more in there.
00:44:16.476 --> 00:44:20.012
Beautiful, you have made wash me whiter than snow kiwi strawberry
00:44:20.012 --> 00:44:24.450
Simple yogurt parfait.
00:44:24.450 --> 00:44:25.885
Kirk: i love it, and now for the best part.
00:44:25.885 --> 00:44:28.421
Katie: gotta eat it.
00:44:28.421 --> 00:44:29.756
Kirk: let's try it.
00:44:29.756 --> 00:44:31.124
Katie: that other spoon's probably a little too big
00:44:31.124 --> 00:44:32.458
For you.
00:44:32.458 --> 00:44:33.826
Kirk: thank you.
00:44:33.826 --> 00:44:35.161
Katie: i want some of the green apple for the crunch.
00:44:35.161 --> 00:44:38.431
Kirk: mmm, delicious.
00:44:38.431 --> 00:44:41.968
Katie: so delicious, not terrible for you for a
00:44:41.968 --> 00:44:44.303
Holiday treat.
00:44:44.303 --> 00:44:45.671
Kirk: that's right, not too sweet.
00:44:45.671 --> 00:44:47.473
It's not like it is like overly-sweet.
00:44:47.473 --> 00:44:50.543
It's just fresh and delicious.
00:44:50.543 --> 00:44:52.845
Katie: exactly, kids will love it, parents love it.
00:44:52.845 --> 00:44:56.649
Kirk: that's great, now, you have lots of other goodies on
00:44:56.649 --> 00:45:00.019
The table.
00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:01.354
You've got this, you've got gingerbread cookies, and you've
00:45:01.354 --> 00:45:03.823
Got--tell us what we have.
00:45:03.823 --> 00:45:05.324
Katie: absolutely, so these are some of the other recipes from
00:45:05.324 --> 00:45:07.727
The book.
00:45:07.727 --> 00:45:09.095
So, for the gingerbread cookies, we're talking about the power of
00:45:09.095 --> 00:45:12.031
Our words and also the power of the word, jesus, and so we're
00:45:12.031 --> 00:45:16.202
Talking about how we can use our words to bless people.
00:45:16.202 --> 00:45:19.071
We say things like merry christmas and happy holidays and
00:45:19.071 --> 00:45:21.440
Things like that.
00:45:21.440 --> 00:45:22.775
So, for this, you make gingerbread cookies, or i also
00:45:22.775 --> 00:45:25.144
Have a sugar cookie recipe if you prefer that in there, and
00:45:25.144 --> 00:45:28.381
Then you deliver them to people, and so you can just write a
00:45:28.381 --> 00:45:31.617
Little christmas blessing on there and share it with them.
00:45:31.617 --> 00:45:34.887
And so my daughter actually helped me decorate these before
00:45:34.887 --> 00:45:38.491
We got on a plane to come here.
00:45:38.491 --> 00:45:40.426
Kirk: that's right, and i can see that this right here is what
00:45:40.426 --> 00:45:42.428
You have on the front of the book, and all of these recipes
00:45:42.428 --> 00:45:44.797
Are in the book, right?
00:45:44.797 --> 00:45:46.132
What's this here?
00:45:46.132 --> 00:45:47.500
Katie: yeah, so this is our cranberry caroling loaf.
00:45:47.500 --> 00:45:49.435
So this is talking about how we can go caroling and spread the
00:45:49.435 --> 00:45:52.772
Gospel by singing the good news, and it's a cranberry carol cake,
00:45:52.772 --> 00:45:57.143
So it's a delicious pop of color to remember to share joy and
00:45:57.143 --> 00:46:00.279
Brightness with others.
00:46:00.279 --> 00:46:02.215
Kirk: i absolutely love this.
00:46:02.215 --> 00:46:03.549
What is this?
00:46:03.549 --> 00:46:04.917
This is--
00:46:04.917 --> 00:46:06.252
Katie: this is peppermint bark.
00:46:06.252 --> 00:46:07.620
So, yep, you can taste that, it's delicious.
00:46:07.620 --> 00:46:08.955
It's real food, fun, simple recipe, and you can give that
00:46:08.955 --> 00:46:12.658
And deliver.
00:46:12.658 --> 00:46:14.026
In the book we actually have a free printables that you can
00:46:14.026 --> 00:46:15.728
Download, so these are in there.
00:46:15.728 --> 00:46:17.830
So a little christmas blessing in there, you can just cut those
00:46:17.830 --> 00:46:20.833
Out, write a little note, and hand deliver them to people to
00:46:20.833 --> 00:46:23.669
Just share the love of jesus with others.
00:46:23.669 --> 00:46:26.405
Kirk: now, how can people use this book not just at the time
00:46:26.405 --> 00:46:30.076
Of advent and thanksgiving but all year long?
00:46:30.076 --> 00:46:32.912
Katie: one of the things that is so special is when you're
00:46:32.912 --> 00:46:34.714
Teaching your kids to share the gospel, i don't know about you,
00:46:34.714 --> 00:46:37.083
But you hear the word evangelism, and like most people
00:46:37.083 --> 00:46:39.752
Panic, right?
00:46:39.752 --> 00:46:41.120
Like, i can't evangelize, i can't do that.
00:46:41.120 --> 00:46:42.688
But what we're teaching you in the book is there's very simple
00:46:42.688 --> 00:46:44.790
Ways to share the gospel with people.
00:46:44.790 --> 00:46:46.692
There's very simple ways to share the truth of god.
00:46:46.692 --> 00:46:48.594
So when you're singing carols, you know, you can go to assisted
00:46:48.594 --> 00:46:51.831
Living homes and sing to people all year long.
00:46:51.831 --> 00:46:54.033
You can bake treats and deliver them any time of the year.
00:46:54.033 --> 00:46:56.969
We have cards that you write.
00:46:56.969 --> 00:46:58.771
You can write cards and bless people.
00:46:58.771 --> 00:47:00.439
We talk about in the book how when you receive a card to pray
00:47:00.439 --> 00:47:03.242
For the people, and, you know, when you give a card, to pray
00:47:03.242 --> 00:47:06.412
Over that card and just bless people.
00:47:06.412 --> 00:47:07.980
So you can use it all year long in teaching your kids that there
00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:11.150
Is purpose in everything we're doing, and we can see jesus
00:47:11.150 --> 00:47:13.619
Everywhere and hopefully be more like him.
00:47:13.619 --> 00:47:15.922
Kirk: katie, what's your hope and your prayer?
00:47:15.922 --> 00:47:17.390
What's the big takeaway you hope that people will get from
00:47:17.390 --> 00:47:20.293
Your book?
00:47:20.293 --> 00:47:21.661
My heart and prayer is that people will know jesus better
00:47:21.661 --> 00:47:24.397
And serve more like him.
00:47:24.397 --> 00:47:26.265
So, at the end of the advent season, if you know jesus
00:47:26.265 --> 00:47:28.567
Better, and you're sharing the love of christ with everyone,
00:47:28.567 --> 00:47:31.370
That's really the heart behind what we're doing.
00:47:31.370 --> 00:47:34.140
Kirk: i love it.
00:47:34.140 --> 00:47:35.508
Well, i'm gonna dig in and have some more.
00:47:35.508 --> 00:47:37.043
After the break, we'll review today's takeaways.
00:47:37.043 --> 00:47:39.845
[music]
00:47:39.845 --> 00:47:45.006
[music]
00:47:45.006 --> 00:47:46.321
[music]
00:47:46.654 --> 00:47:49.691
Kirk: the christmas season is often a battle between the
00:47:53.161 --> 00:47:55.930
Profound and the profane, the sacred and the secular.
00:47:55.930 --> 00:48:00.201
Our conversations with donna vanliere and katie j. trent gave
00:48:00.201 --> 00:48:03.371
Us clear, practical ways to cut through the noise of the season,
00:48:03.371 --> 00:48:07.241
Focus on what truly matters, the hope of the nativity and the joy
00:48:07.241 --> 00:48:10.845
Of our families, and share that with others.
00:48:10.845 --> 00:48:14.082
Here's a few of our takeaways.
00:48:14.082 --> 00:48:15.984
God chooses the humble.
00:48:15.984 --> 00:48:18.319
Donna reminded us of a powerful truth, god's economy is not
00:48:18.319 --> 00:48:22.590
Like ours.
00:48:22.590 --> 00:48:23.958
He didn't announce the birth of his son to the who's who.
00:48:23.958 --> 00:48:27.228
He chose shepherds who were so lowly, they weren't even allowed
00:48:27.228 --> 00:48:31.165
To testify in court.
00:48:31.165 --> 00:48:33.034
He chose a carpenter and a young girl from nazareth, a town
00:48:33.034 --> 00:48:36.504
Nobody wanted to live in.
00:48:36.504 --> 00:48:38.473
God still uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
00:48:38.473 --> 00:48:43.111
He always has, and he always will.
00:48:43.111 --> 00:48:46.280
A setback is a setup.
00:48:46.280 --> 00:48:48.916
The point about the 400 years of silence was so good, wasn't it?
00:48:48.916 --> 00:48:52.587
It looked like a setback for the people of god, like god was
00:48:52.587 --> 00:48:57.091
Absent, but like we said, it was actually a setup for a comeback.
00:48:57.091 --> 00:49:03.097
God was building the infrastructure for the gospel
00:49:03.097 --> 00:49:06.100
With roman roads, with a common language, even a postal system
00:49:06.100 --> 00:49:11.039
To send the gospel and paul's letters around the world.
00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:15.376
When it feels like god is silent in your life, remember, he's
00:49:15.376 --> 00:49:19.514
Still working to bring it all together at the right time.
00:49:19.514 --> 00:49:24.352
Connect in the kitchen.
00:49:24.352 --> 00:49:26.020
Katie j. trent gave us such a great practical tip for
00:49:26.020 --> 00:49:29.190
Connecting with our kids.
00:49:29.190 --> 00:49:30.558
She said that when we're in the kitchen together, making
00:49:30.558 --> 00:49:33.261
Delicious treats, we're just talking, having a conversation,
00:49:33.261 --> 00:49:36.631
And all of a sudden the walls come down, and the words
00:49:36.631 --> 00:49:39.667
Come out.
00:49:39.667 --> 00:49:41.002
It's a simple way to weave your faith into fun activities and
00:49:41.002 --> 00:49:44.472
Make those important conversations happen naturally.
00:49:44.472 --> 00:49:49.043
Share the gospel in the colors of christmas.
00:49:49.043 --> 00:49:52.380
Katie also showed us that the symbols of the culture are just
00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:55.883
Waiting to be redeemed and used for god's glory.
00:49:55.883 --> 00:49:59.587
Think about the colors of christmas and how they can be a
00:49:59.587 --> 00:50:03.024
Simple gospel presentation.
00:50:03.024 --> 00:50:05.793
The red for christ's blood, which he shed for our sin.
00:50:05.793 --> 00:50:09.931
The green, to symbolize the new and eternal life that he offers
00:50:09.931 --> 00:50:13.668
To us.
00:50:13.668 --> 00:50:15.002
And white, representing his power to wash our sins away.
00:50:15.002 --> 00:50:19.540
Just like isaiah said, though your sins are like scarlet, they
00:50:19.540 --> 00:50:23.511
Shall be white as snow.
00:50:23.511 --> 00:50:26.814
Well, that's all for this episode of "takeaways."
00:50:26.814 --> 00:50:28.883
Thank you for watching.
00:50:28.883 --> 00:50:30.251
And if you've enjoyed this show, don't forget to set your dvr so
00:50:30.251 --> 00:50:33.321
You never miss an episode.
00:50:33.321 --> 00:50:35.123
And of course, you can always catch up on past episodes by
00:50:35.123 --> 00:50:38.259
Searching for takeaways on tbn+ or by visiting the kirk cameron
00:50:38.259 --> 00:50:42.897
On tbn youtube channel.
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We'll see you here next time for more great conversations.
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[music]
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Donna VanLiere & Katie J. Trent: Finding Purpose & Fun at Christmastime | Takeaways with Kirk Cameron

December 15, 2025 | S25 E160 | 51:6

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