Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

Many of us have either personally experienced mental health issues like addiction, or we know and love people who have. These struggles are a normal part of our humanity, and there is no shame in these experiences. We have access to God’s healing power in the Kingdom of the Heavens right now!Join us for this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill and Kristi unpack valuable tools and techniques for addressing and overcoming addictive behavior. Be encouraged with practical strategies that you can learn and integrate with your discipleship to Jesus. Resources for this Episode:The V.I.M. Plan StrategyThe Soul Shepherding NetworkThe Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding CoachesSoul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsYou can read the transcript here. 

Many people are held back in their lives by anxiety. Problems with anxiety are the most common mental-emotional disorder for American adults today. But here’s the good news: there is hope for people who are struggling with anxiety! Jesus heals anxious hearts.Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill shares vulnerably about his experiences with anxiety. You’ll be equipped and inspired with tangible spiritual formation tools to help care for your own anxiety and mental health, and that of those around you as a wounded healer.Resources for this Episode: Soul Shepherding CoachesSoul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding NetworkSoul Shepherding InstituteYou can read the transcript here. 

When we are leading conversations, preaching, or speaking to others, it can be tempting to rely solely on our own strength — on our own preparation, experiences, and knowledge. But the Lord has given us his Spirit that dwells in us and intercedes on our behalf in the Kingdom of the Heavens! As such, the greatest blessings and biggest impacts of our words come when we are guided by the Holy Spirit.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill and Kristi share their speaking experiences and continue teaching about how you can live a Spirit-led life. You’ll be equipped with practices and habits that engage your heart and turn your focus to Jesus, allowing your speaking to be reliant on the Spirit, and abounding in God’s will. Resources for this episode: Soul Shepherding InstituteJourney of the SoulSoul Shepherding EventsYou can read the transcript here. 

When we're serving God with our gifts, it can be easier than we think to become overly dependent on our own abilities and energy without realizing it. In his graciousness, the Lord then often uses periods of trials or waiting to draw us into deeper intimacy with him and to cultivate a longing for his Spirit. And when we allow our work to be Spirit-led, we can be refreshed in Christ — relying on the presence and power of Jesus, and not on our own!Tune into this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi unpack how you can lean into Spirit-led ministry. You’ll be encouraged and inspired to learn how you can experience a fresh awakening to God’s goodness and grace, leading you not only to doing your work for God, but with God.Resources for this Episode: Journey of the SoulSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Spiritual Direction Certificate ProgramSoul Shepherding CoachesYou can read the transcript here. 

As Christ followers, how can we find true joy that mingles with the sorrow, stress, and other negative emotions that we experience in our lives? We know that the Risen Lord was a man of great joy! And just like Jesus, we can learn how to care for all of our emotions and ultimately return to joy. Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill and Kristi unpack how you can absorb the joy of Jesus (hint: it’s not by trying harder or denying your emotions!). Be encouraged with tangible practices and disciplines for genuinely processing your struggles and training to experience the fruit of the spirit of joy!Resources for this episode: Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Spiritual Direction Training ProgramYou can read the transcript here. 

When we feel overly-responsible for our own emotions and needs, we often carry anxiety, shame, or self-condemnation. It can be difficult to treat ourselves with the gentleness and kindness of Christ as we work through our struggles. But the truth is that our Risen Lord offers us patience and compassion in his presence and through soul relationships.Tune into this episode of Soul Talks where Bill and Kristi unpack how we can both experience and offer healing soul care work through our relationships.You’ll be encouraged with tangible tools and practices that can help you feel seen and offer this empathy to others in an open and compassionate way.Resources for this episode: Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Spiritual Direction Training ProgramAbba's Child by Brennan ManningYou can read the transcript here.  

Being open and honest in sharing our thoughts and emotions takes courage, and can be intimidating. But Jesus is calling us out of our comfort zones and into this vulnerable space through safe relationships, because ultimately it leads us into greater intimacy with him! Join Bill and Kristi for this Soul Talk on vulnerable communication, where they unpack how vulnerable communication helps free us from our shame and opens the door for personal and spiritual growth. You’ll learn how you can create a safe space for others to speak vulnerably, and how, in that, you are an ambassador of God’s love and grace!Resources for this episode: Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding InstituteYou can read the transcript here. 

As we get older, sometimes we wish those numbers would go in the other direction! We might even be feeling discouraged in a culture that idolizes youth. But when we lean in, we see that this is actually contradictory to what Scripture says about the eternal and the abundant life of God in us!Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill and Kristi explore how God’s Word guides us in our aging experiences. You’ll be so encouraged to learn about the hidden, eternal glory of God’s presence and growing in Christlikeness that transcends your physical limitations and pains as you age!Resources for this episode: Aging Faithfully by Alice FrylingJourney of the Soul Your Best Life in Jesus Easy YokeYou can read. the transcript here.

As we age, we can find ourselves grieving the loss of our younger selves, including physical capabilities and energy we might no longer have. But there is so much bright hope in knowing that our Sovereign Lord intended these very experiences of aging for us, and he desires to walk alongside us in them! In this episode of Soul Talks, Kristi sits down with Christian author and spiritual director, Alice Fryling. Together they unpack her newest book, Aging Faithfully. You’ll be emboldened and enlightened as they share their perspectives, revelations, and encouragement about what it looks like to live (and age) vulnerably and authentically with Christ.Resources for this episode:Aging Faithfully by Alice FrylingJourney of the SoulSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsYou can read the transcript, here.

Empathy and Intimacy with Jesus can be difficult experiences for those of us who are not bent toward emotion or are not naturally “feelers”. The Stations of the Cross is an enriching journey that the Lord has used for centuries in the lives of Christ followers to deepen our empathy and intimacy with him, and to remind us of magnitude of Jesus’ profound sacrifice.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks where, as an Enneagram One, Bill tells of his own experience with the Stations of the Cross and Biblical suffering. You’ll be encouraged and enlightened by Bill’s account of the Apostle Paul’s faith both in Jesus and of Jesus during trials, and how we can learn from and model this in our own lives.Resources for this episode: Journey of the Soul Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsUnforsakenYou can read the transcript, here.

It can be overwhelming and even painful to journey with Jesus as he takes up his cross and endures unimaginable suffering. Oftentimes, this can lead to feelings of guilt or shame and make it difficult for us to receive the gift of love that the Lord offers through this journey.Tune into this episode of Soul Talks, where Bill and Kristi unpack a different experience of the Stations of the Cross — one of empathy and intimacy with Christ. Be encouraged to learn that through Jesus, we can draw on the joy of the Lord even in suffering. In Christ there is no condemnation for us!Resources for this episode: UnforsakenSoul Shepherding InstituteYou can read the transcript, here.

It can be scary and intimidating to hope. In fact, we often shrink ourselves and our lives in fear of disappointment. If we hope and things don’t turn out well, we can feel lost, sad, or like our faith isn’t strong enough. But in the waiting, God is doing great things. When you go out on a limb in hope, the Lord meets you there. Even if your hopes don’t pan out like you thought, you can fall back into the loving arms of Jesus!In this Soul Talk, Bill and Kristi inspire your hope in Christ.. Listen in and be encouraged by the better life our Savior creates for you, your family, and the people you care for.Resources for this episode: Journey of the Soul Soul Shepherding Spiritual Directors 

Often we are afraid to hope and be disappointed. The emotional let down of disappointment is painful and lonely. So naturally, we’re prone to guard against the pain by letting down our hopes.But without hope we have nothing! All good things come from hope. The Bible says it’s the spring for faith and love (Colossians 1:5) and an anchor for your soul (Hebrews 6:19).So how can we hold onto hope through fears of disappointment and loss? That’s what Bill and Kristi are unpacking in this Soul Talk. Tune in to discover what it means to have a robust Biblical hope and be encouraged to take the risk of hoping in the Sovereign Lord who is bringing good things to us.Resources for this episode: Journey of the Soul Soul Shepherding Spiritual Directors 

Are you, a close friend, or a family member experiencing feelings of doubt? The truth is, we all have emotional experiences in life that can seem contrary to our faith. What do we do with those when they happen?Simply trying not to doubt isn’t enough. Thinking the right thoughts and doing the right spiritual disciplines can only get us so far. We also need to pay attention to our emotions and share vulnerably about our experience of doubt with safe friends and Jesus.In this Soul Talk, Kristi shares about a heavy season of doubt that she recently experienced and how she worked through it by being emotionally honest and receiving empathy. Her story will help you and the people in your life learn how to embrace and overcome times of doubt. Listen in and discover how the Lord lovingly enters into our brokenness, our doubting, and our shame to bring repair and resolution! Resources for this episode: Journey of the Soul The Soul Shepherding Network 

Many who deconstruct their faith do so because they feel it's not working for them, or it's not working for the people that they see; They’ve experienced a trial, been hurt, or had upheaval in their lives. Maybe you know someone going through this. Maybe, it’s you.To have doubts, questions, and to be wrestling with faith is natural. Similar to remodeling a house, our Sovereign God uses deconstruction to do or build a new thing in and through us. When we lean in, the risen Lord reveals the opportunity of deconstruction: reconstruction. Tune in to this Soul Talk where Bill & Kristi discuss why deconstruction happens, what you can do when you or someone you love is working through a faith crisis, and how to come out on the other side with a greater sense of intimacy with Jesus.Resources for this Episode: Journey of the SoulSoul Shepherding Spiritual Directors

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. continues to be an encouraging and inspiring example for us all. He was, first and foremost, a disciple of Jesus Christ and a preacher of the Gospel. He was a truth-teller dealing with injustice, but did so with great love and gentleness. He embodied the Lord’s peace while truly living out and guiding others in the character of Jesus. Tune into this Soul Talks episode, where Bill is joined by Pastor and Sr. Spiritual Director, Sheridan McDaniel. Together they unpack several practical lessons we can learn about our own Christlikeness from Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. The insight and encouragement shared in this conversation will inspire you to shine the light of Christ so that others can pick from the fruit of your life.Resources for this EpisodeJourney of the Soul Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsYou can read the transcript, here.

When we experience seasons of suffering, our faith is tested. We often experience doubt and we long to feel God’s presence. But the best news and unwavering truth is that the Lord Jesus hears us. He sees us. He is near to us. And he has known us long before we’ve known him!In this Soul Talks episode, Kristi sits down with author, speaker, and radio host Aubrey Sampson. Together they unpack Aubrey’s journey through The Wall and how God meets us in grief and sorrow to draw us into the love of Jesus.As Aubrey discusses her book, Known, you will be encouraged by the power and meaning behind the name of Jesus. Learn how living out the names that God has given us, transforms us into who we are called to be in Christ. Resources for this Episode:  Known by Aubrey SampsonSoul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorsThe Soul Shepherding Network

Prayer makes it possible for us to live like Christ. Through prayer, we can shine the light of the risen Jesus — a warmth that we and those around us so desperately need!In this episode of Soul Talks, Bill and Kristi unpack 3 of Dallas Willard’s paradigm-shifting insights on prayer. Listen in to learn how you can integrate prayer into every aspect of your life and experience the great things God does in and through you when you pray!Resources for this episodeThe Soul Shepherding NetworkYou can read the transcript, here.  

God wants to do good things in your life this New Year! Whatever it is that you're going through — be it anxiety, relational conflicts, a stressful situation at work, depression, etc. — there’s an invitation for you to walk through it with Jesus.When we enter our daily lives with submission to God, trust, worship, and prayerfulness, it gives God more room to work. And it helps us enter into life in the easy, peaceful, and loving yoke of Jesus.In this Soul Talk, Bill and Kristi share a special prayer to help guide your heart and mind in submission and surrender to God each day. Tune in to discover how you can pray the Apprentice Prayer to be refreshed and resouled in the Lord!You can read the transcript here.