Episode 127 – This conversation is an invitation to cozy up by the fireplace, with a hot cup of your favorite spiced tea and intrumental music in the background. We hope you will enjoy it as 2021 gently comes to an end. Stephanie welcomes Christie Purifoy today. Christie describes herself as a gardener, writer and placemaker. She and Stephanie may only have met a few week ago, but it already feels like they have known each other much longer than that! That’s how God works when He brings His children together, isn’t it? And they invite you to join them for a whimsical conversation about all things spiritual—from a garden to an old red brick farmhouse, to all manner of human relationships under the canopy of heaven.

Stephanie has enjoyed stepping into Christie’s books, lingering there to taste and see the beauty of the Lord through creation and through relationships. Christie’s unique writing style and whimsical storytelling is deeply attractive, and truly satisfying. Adding her books to your must-reads in 2022 would be a wonderful way to care for your soul!

Christie Purifoy is a writer and gardener. Her favorite ordinary things include strawberry jam, homegrown flowers, and old books with someone else's notes in them. She lives with her husband and children at Maplehurst, a Victorian red brick farmhouse in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Christie earned a PhD in English Literature from the University of Chicago before trading the classroom for a picket-fenced garden and an old writing desk. Today, she grows zucchini her four kids refuse to eat. The zucchini-loving chickens are perfectly happy with this arrangement.

Christie believes that life, in all its pain and beauty and mystery, is a journey of love. Writing keeps her eyes wide-open to this astonishing reality. 

You can pre-order Christie’s latest book, Garden Maker, from any of these book sellers: https://www.christiepurifoy.com/garden-maker-book/

LIMITED TIME OFFER - Preorder and Receive Valuable Gardening Resources from Christie:  When you preorder Garden Maker, you’ll receive a free three-month subscription to Christie’s Black Barn Garden Club, a flower arranging guide, and a “plan your plot” printable to help you visualize your garden space. Redeeming your preorder is easy. Just order the book and return to this page to fill out the form: https://www.christiepurifoy.com/garden-maker-book/

Christie's first book, Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons, was published by Revell in 2016. Her newest book, Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace, released in spring 2019 from Zondervan and is available wherever books are sold.

See more of Maplehurst and meet Christie here.

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In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.

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You are invited to join us on the Gospel Spice Prayer Bible Study, titled "The heart behind prayer" starting September 20, 2025! Details and registration here: https://www.gospelspice.com/prayer 

There are a few things in our Christian life that we know we should do more, or at least better – and prayer just might top the list. Prayer is a mystery. Why would a conversation with a human have any influence on God’s eternal, sovereign plan? It defies logic, and beckons love. How can God, the Almighty Lord of Hosts, be this close, this personal? It defies understanding, and beckons involvement.

But, lack of time, inspiration, and discipline, combined with the ruthless tyranny of our busy lives, push prayer to the periphery, to the “one day I’ll get to it” pile. And yet, we can excel at what we endeavor to undertake. So, why isn’t prayer more of a spiritual priority? Could we develop a mindset around prayer that made it attractive, inspiring, even maybe delightful? What if we attuned our spiritual ears to listen to God, and our spiritual eyes to see His provision?

As an unassuming student, I’m going to humbly offer to share the little I have learned from others about the joy of prayer. I will give us theology, practical tips, and useful resources, sharing what works for me as we, together, learn to pray.

If you find prayer intimidating, or if your lack of prayer makes you feel guilty or “less than,” then this is the place for you! If you have been a student of prayer for many years, this is the place for you too! If you have breath in your lungs, then prayer can become one of the deepest joys of your day. Don’t miss out!

A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT PRAYER

To pray is to believe that God not only hears, but that He responds. It is to stand in the gap for a broken world, wielding the authority of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and trusting in the goodness of the Father. The question is not whether prayer works, but whether we are willing to pray the kinds of prayers that invite God’s Kingdom into the darkest places of the earth—and of our own hearts.

We may never fully understand the mechanics of prayer, or how it intersects with God's sovereignty, but we are not called to understand everything. We are called to be faithful. And faithfulness means showing up—in prayer, in persistence, in expectation.

So today, let us pray not only for the comfort of our hearts, but for the transformation of the world. Let us take our place as image-bearers, co-laborers, and co-heirs. Let us believe that God is still listening—and still acting. Because He is.

There’s only one way to find out what might happen when we truly pray like this.

Let’s begin.

THE MINDSET BEHIND THIS COURSE

Before we begin, let me tell you the obvious: I don’t really know how to pray. I’m a humble student and absolute beginner at the holy endeavor that is prayer. So, this course isn’t really about what I’ve learned, or any wisdom I might have gathered. But, I’ve sat at the feet of many prayer warriors over the decades, through books and teachings.

So, I’ll share what I learned from them. Humility is going to be our primary heart posture! With each lesson, I will offer a few thoughts, practices, and ideas – with much humility, and not taking myself too seriously. I will also share her favorite books and resources about prayer. FInally, I will introduce you to some of the most influential prayer warriors of our history as the Body of Christ.

Most importantly, I will invite YOU to pray! Learning to pray comes from praying. Our humble ambition is to inspire you to pray, and to give you a few tips on how to do that. Then, it’s up to you! Prayer is a lifelong endeavor. Let’s make it delightful together!

So, let’s get started.

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