The gospel changes everything and that the redemptive story of Jesus Christ will actually impact our lives every day and actually in the most mundane of our lives.

So it was natural for us to prepare him room at Christmas, but ultimately to think about what his name means, Emmanuel.

Oh, come, oh come, Emmanuel.

Emmanuel means God with us.

And that we forget somehow that it's not that he's just with us for the 25 days of the month

of December leading up to Christmas, that the point is that we are celebrating in this time of year

so that we might be changed December 26.

You're listening to God Hears Her, a podcast for Women, where we explore the stunning

truth that God hears you, he sees you, and he loves you because you are his.

Find out how these realities free you today on God Hears Her.

Welcome to God Hears Her. I'm Alyssa Morgan.

And I'm Aaron Eddy. During the Christmas season, do you feel excited and joyful?

Or do you find yourself overwhelmed by making everything perfect and wanting to have the best holiday you possibly can?

Well, today we have an honest conversation with Ruth Joe Simons about how we can get caught up in perfecting Christmas and forget about the peace and the joy provided by the real reason

behind the season.

Ruth Joe Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several

books.

Through her online shop at gracelaced.com and her social media community, Ruth shares her

journey of God's grace intersecting daily life

with word and art. Ruth and her husband Troy are grateful parents to six boys.

Let's get to know Ruth in this conversation on God hears her.

Would you share a little bit about where are you from? Where did you grow up?

...