It’s time for my annual Christmas Collection! This year, instead of sharing gift ideas, Kariss and I reminisced over our favorite Christmas memories (and our not-so-favorite gifts). And let me tell you, a good time was had. I love that we get together to intentionally connect in this way. I also love that we get to invite you into our conversation. I love that we get together to spend time together in this way. There’s no better time to reflect on what made the holidays special and to discover ways to bring that joy with you now. Highlights from Today’s Episode Reliving Christmas at Nonny’s  Navigating hard during the holidays Doing more of what brings you joy Establishing new Christmas traditions Related Resources Check out last year’s edition of Chrystal’s Christmas Collection Try your hand at Nonny’s Famous Pumpkin Bread  Keep track of all of your holiday plans in the Full Circle Planner Shop for yourself and your loved ones in my online store CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #512 – 2024 Christmas Collection first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

How do you navigate the holidays when grief is a close companion? If you’ve experienced a significant loss, then you know what it’s like for the holiday season to feel more like a sorrowful time of year than a wonderful one.   This episode of The Sister Circle Podcast is a special one. I share my grief journey and how I’ve navigated the holiday season without my mother, my very own Mrs. Claus.  My friend, if you’re coping with a loss this holiday season, know that you will smile again. Just hold on. Highlights from Today’s Episode How to deal with grief Honoring the forms of grief and loss Taking care of yourself as you cope Related Resources Check out this special podcast I did with my mom a few years back, Podcast #198 – Thriving During the Holidays Listen to my collection of podcast episodes on grief and loss: Podcast #089 – Coping with Grief Podcast #180 – Staying Awake When Life Hurts Podcast #284 – Rebuilding After Loss Podcast #308 – Coming Up for Air Podcast #403 – Building Resilience with Michele Cushatt Podcast #409 – You Can Grieve Well with Tiffany Coleman Find the Joy How to Deal with Grief and Loneliness Make Room for Joy Ten Ways to Self-Soothe Thoughts on Loss, Grief, and Hope CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #511 – The Gift of Grief first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Do you remember when you first fell in love with God? What if you returned to the place where your heart was on fire, and you did everything you could to draw close to Him? In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I discuss the importance of staying connected to the Father through mindfulness and gratitude.  Here’s to cultivating the spiritual discipline necessary to abide in God. Highlights from Today’s Episode Slowing down this holiday season Paying attention to your life Learning to abide in God Starting a gratitude journal Related Resources Learn more about thankfulness. Listen to Podcast #389 – Growing in Gratitude Get inspired to release your thoughts with my Write It Down video CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #510 – Taking Care of Your Soul first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Connecting with God through Scripture is how intimacy is formed. Much like learning about a loved one through intentional time and attention, you learn more about the character of God through time spent in His word. The thing is, even in knowing this, studying Scripture can still feel like an impossible task. Tara-Leigh Cobble joins me on this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast. She is a speaker and teacher who has helped millions access and understand the Bible through The Bible Recap Podcast.  I know this conversation will encourage you to engage with Scripture, even when life dares to get in the way. Highlights from Today’s Episode Reading the Bible to build intimacy with God Finding reading resources that work for you Connecting with other believers through community Seeing the gift in singleness Related Resources Connect with Tara-Leigh Cobble on Instagram or Facebook. Grab a copy of Tara-Leigh’s book, The Bible Recap Check out Tara-Leigh’s latest books: Knowing Jesus as Savior and The Bible Recap for Kids Learn more about Tara-Leigh and her ministry on her website Listen to The Bible Recap Podcast CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #509 – Tara-Leigh Cobble – Engaging with God Daily first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Have you ever felt like you were spinning out of control? Sometimes, anxiety can make you feel as though you can’t slow down no matter how hard you try. In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I’ll share some of the ways I’ve learned to get to the root of my anxious thoughts and begin to trust in God again.  Anxiety can rob you of your life, but I want more for you. More importantly, God has more in store for you. And my friend, you deserve to live and live well. Highlights from Today’s Episode Gleaning wisdom from Inside Out 2 Allowing anxiety to provide information Giving everything to God in prayer Making the constant decision to trust God Related Resources Grab my book, 28 Days of Prayer  Pick up I Surrender All by Priscilla Shirer Listen to Podcast #460 – Asheritah Ciuciu – Rest for the Weary Find strategies for fear and anxiety in Podcast #502 – Let Go of Worry CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #508 – You Can’t Carry it All first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Are you tired of putting on your superwoman cape for everyone and everything? As a woman, I can certainly identify with feeling overrun and overworked. And specifically, as a Black woman, the pressure to constantly be strong can feel downright debilitating. My friend Dr. Sarita Lyons recently joined me for a real sister-to-sister conversation about her new book, Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women, and the intersection of race and faith.  Whether you’re a Black woman searching for her identity in Christian spaces or someone far removed from the Black experience, this conversation will encourage you to not only show up better but to serve and love your sisters in faith better too Highlights from Today’s Episode Overcoming rejection and discouragement Knowing when to press and when to pivot Shining a light on Black women and the superwoman complex Giving God glory in the midst of grief Related Resources Connect with Dr. Sarita on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube Grab a copy of Dr. Sarita’s book: Church Girl: A Gospel Vision to Encourage and Challenge Black Christian Women Learn more about Dr. Sarita through her website Watch my previous conversation with Dr. Sarita on The Fundamentals of Faith (Podcast #319) To hear more on the intersection of race and faith, listen to Podcast #395: Faitth Brooks – The Journey to You Listen to Podcast #369: Dorena Williamson – Embracing God’s Design CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #507 – Dr. Sarita Lyons – Take Off Your Cape first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

What is keeping you from walking in your full authority? No matter what may be holding you back, with God and with time, you can find your stride again. In this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast, I share a few ways that I’ve learned to keep my identity intact, even as seasons change. When you’re intentional about tethering yourself to God through every season, you will remain on solid ground. Always know that no matter what, you are the daughter of a King. Highlights from Today’s Episode Build your identity on solid foundation Believe that you are royalty Behave like a queen Related Resources To learn how to leave a royal legacy, listen to Podcast #374 – Royal and Real For more insight on authority, listen to Podcast #402 – Standing in Authenticity and Authority CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #506 – You are a Queen. Wear Your Crown. first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Let’s be real. Life can be rough. Along the way, many of us balance our daily responsibilities along with our battles with insecurity, doubt, and the weight of the world’s expectations. Sometimes the challenges we face combined with our perceived shortcomings can make us feel less than worthy. That’s exactly when we need a spiritual joy bomb like Oneka McClellan to remind us that, regardless of our circumstances, we are daughters of THE King.  We are chosen, we are loved, and we are appointed for greatness!  Oneka McClellan is a writer, author, speaker, wife, and mother who also pastors Shoreline City Church alongside her husband, Earl.  In this episode, Oneka joins me on the couch to share insights from her book, Born Royal: Overcoming Insecurity to Become the Woman God Says You Are. Oneka’s message is timeless, and her energy is infectious. She brings a clear word for the women of God: It’s time to walk boldly in the identity God has given you. Highlights from Today’s Episode Cultivating an atmosphere of expectancy and joy Experiencing joy in the midst of struggles Practicing gratitude in every season Increasing your level of expectation Stewarding what God has given you Related Resources Connect with Oneka McClellan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or on her website. Grab a copy of Oneka’s book: “Born Royal: Overcoming Insecurity to Become the Woman God Says You Are.” Check out Oneka’s podcast, “The Girls Podcast.” CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #505 – Oneka McClellan – Becoming a Woman of Royalty first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

When was the last time you had a dream for your life? Sometimes, it takes the wisdom of someone who has gone before you to remind you to dream again. If you’ve found yourself longing for the chance to dream again, this episode of The Sister Circle Podcast is the one for you. Allow me to share a few things that will help you determine what you want for your life. I’m so excited about the possibilities that await you on the other side of your dreams. Highlights from Today’s Episode The importance of dreaming again The secret for activating your dreams The power of dreaming with God Related Resources Listen to my previous conversation with Aunt Jo, Podcast #172 – The Single Woman & Spiritual Motherhood Grab my book, She’s Still There, and use the questions at the end as a guide for uncovering your dreams. Watch my Write It Down video for more inspiration to take notice of your life. Plan out your goals and dreams with The Full Circle Planner CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #504 – It’s Time to Dream Again first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

In a world where we’re bombarded with endless productivity hacks and the pressure to achieve greatness, finding balance can feel like an uphill battle. We’re told that success is about checking off endless to-do lists and constantly hustling toward our goals. But this relentless pursuit of “doing more” can leave us feeling drained, anxious, and disconnected from what truly matters. What if we could redefine productivity to align with our season of life? In this episode, I reconnected with Kendra Adachi, the brilliant mind behind the Lazy Genius approach. Kendra and I dive into her new book, The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius. Kendra invites us to rethink our relationship with planning and productivity. She teaches us that true productivity is not merely about the tools we use or the systems we implement; it’s about cultivating a mindset that aligns with our values and dreams. If you’re ready to break free from the hustle and find peace in the present moment, then you definitely want to tune into this episode! Highlights from Today’s Episode Living in your season  Making better to-do lists Being kind to yourself Redefining your dreams Developing a solid plan Related Resources Connect with Kendra Adachi on Instagram, Facebook or her website. Grab a copy of Kendra’s new book: The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius. Check out her other books, The Lazy Genius Way or The Lazy Genius Kitchen. Check out The Lazy Genius Podcast. Get the Voxer App Order the book – Getting Things Done by David Allen Check out the Bullet Journal Moleskine Journals CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #503 – Kendra Adachi – A New Approach to Productivity first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.