Episode 125 – Today is another Special Christmas Gospel Spice gift for you! Stephanie welcomes three dear friends, each with their own message right in time for Christmas. Join us for three short conversations to make this season unique among all. From a calling to leave everything to serve God overseas and even through death, to a special Christmas experience, to a passion to honor Jesus among the least of these—allow these conversations to inspire you, and take your Christmas experience to new levels with our guests.

Cindy DeBoer shares her family’s story away from the typical American dream and towards embracing radical obedience. Moving overseas (twice!) and dealing with uncurable illness has shaped Cindy’s faith and taught her to delight in God through the highs and lows of life. This is one story you do not want to miss—personal promise from Stephanie!

Marci Renee too has moved overseas several times, and lived cross-culturally most of her life. She now lives in Spain with her family, and has unexpectedly found herself in the trenches of the fight against human trafficking as she now works with a local halfway house, restoring women whose lives have been shattered beyond description. And yes, this is a Christmas story—about redemption for the least of these. We can relate. You will not be the same after you hear Marci—another promise from Stephanie.

Finally, Christine Trimpe joins us to tell us about her discovery of the deeper meaning of Christmas—joy! Embrace her quest to seek and find joy in the gospel of Luke, the perfect Advent gift this season. Stephanie loves Christine’s contagious joy and her desire to share her passion with all those she encounters.

Scroll below for all the ways to connect with these precious ambassadors of Jesus, this Christmas season and beyond!

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOU!! 

"A Gospel Spice Christmas" is a five-day devotional and reading plan available exclusively on YouVersion / the Bible App.

Do you long for fresh spices to flavor your spiritual experience of the Incarnation of Christ? Are you tired of stale clichés that taste like microwaved Christmas dinner leftovers? Are you hungry for an explosion of fresh flavors in your Christmas devotions? Experience a Gospel Spice Christmas alongside the shepherds, and discover how to make your life a daily nativity scene where Christ can be born in ever-deepening ways.

Click here or go to your YouVersion Bible App on your phone, and search "Gospel Spice." It is our gift to you! Enjoy!

CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS

Cindy DeBoer

Website: https://cindydeboer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.deboer.79

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindydeboerwrites/

Marci Renee

Website : https://culturalstoryweaver.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/culturalstoryweaver

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturalstoryweaver/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/culturalstory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-cultural-story-weaver/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/culturalstoryweaver/

Christine Trimpe

To order Christine’s book: Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke (https://christinetrimpe.com/joy)

Bonus Chapters of Seeking Joy––an early Christmas gift for you: Seeking Joy BONUS Chapters--an early Christmas gift! (https://christinetrimpe.com/seeking-joy-bonus-chapters)

Contact email: Christine@christinetrimpe.com  

Website: www.christinetrimpe.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineTrimpeLLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachchristinetrimpe/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KetoChristineMI

YouTube: @ChristineTrimpe https://youtube.com/christinetrimpe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/joyfulketolife/

PAY GOSPEL SPICE FORWARD THIS CHRISTMAS.

Did you know that this show is completely free because of listeners just like you who pay the show forward, so that it is free for you? We do not want to add paid advertisements because we believe that your time is precious. So, would you consider joining the Gospel Spice family by paying Gospel Spice forward? Because we are a registered non-profit organization, your donation is 100% tax-deductible (in the USA). Contact us for monthly payments, or donate by Credit Card or via PayPal.

We invite you to join us to reach even more than the 125 countries we currently serve, and the thousands upon thousands who enjoy the Gospel Spice podcast.

The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools brought to you by Gospel Spice Ministries. The Gospel Spice Ministries exist to inspire Christ-followers in our generation to delight in the glory of God by knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately. We provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.

Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. Donate by Credit Card, or donate via PayPal.

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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