This week, Matt and Rachel discuss Advent, the season of preparation and waiting leading up to Christmas Day, noting its increasing cultural popularity through various Advent calendars (like Lego or even whiskey) which are often separated from its original. They explain that Advent, derived from the Latin Adventus meaning "appearing" (not waiting as often thought), is a liturgical season intended to align believers with those who waited for Christ's first coming, prepare hearts for his birth, and remind them that Christians are still waiting for his promised Second Coming.

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This week, Rachel and Matt welcome Dr. Caroline Fleck and talk about validation, drawing from her book on the subject. They discuss how validation, which is about communicating mindfulness, understanding, and empathy to make someone feel seen and accepted, is often misunderstood as agreement or praise, but is actually a crucial therapeutic tool used to facilitate change in behavior. Dr. Fleck outlines the foundational skills of validation, like attending and copying, as a means to decrease physiological distress and open the door for psychological safety and deeper connection in relationships.

Check out Dr. Caroline Fleck at https://drcarolinefleck.com/.

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For more information on Make It Simple Ministries, head to https://makeitsimple.org/

To support Make It Simple, head here: Support the show

Buy your copy of Junk Drawer Jesus wherever books are sold.

This week, Matt and Rachel discuss the Holy Spirit, discussing that this crucial member of the Trinity is often either dangerously ignored out of caution or wrongly obsessed over through a focus on specific physical manifestations. They emphasize the Spirit's biblical role as the Helper / Encourager, whose indwelling is assured to all believers through baptism, empowering their faith, providing comfort, and constantly drawing them back to the finished work of Jesus Christ.

**Podcast correction: in the episode, they reference a Jennifer Knapp song, which is about the Holy Spirit, which is called "Trinity."**

Support the show

For more information on Make It Simple Ministries, head to https://makeitsimple.org/

To support Make It Simple, head here: Support the show

Buy your copy of Junk Drawer Jesus wherever books are sold.