Hi, I'm Susie Larson. Thanks for listening to this podcast from Susie Larson Live.

I always so honored to get to spend this time with you.

In fact, I look forward to bringing you conversations every single day that hopefully inspire you in your faith walk, that deepen your understanding of God's Word, and that heightens

your awareness of his very real presence in your life. You know, when you think about it,

the holidays so often feel like the best of times and the worst of times. On one hand, we're so

filled with expectancy and preparation around family gatherings, times of celebration, and even

reflecting on what really

matters in life.

And on the other, especially if you're in a struggling season, you'll feel pain deeply during this

time.

And sometimes the contrast of our lives with those who seem not to suffer like we do, it feels

stark, and we wonder, will it always be this way?

So how do you find joy in this season? How do we make

space and prepare him room and keep the holidays really about what they're supposed to be about,

about the coming of Jesus, celebrating that he came and preparing for his soon coming? What are some

creative ways to make this a memorable season? And how do we

cultivate a deeper intimacy with God amidst the hustle and bustle of it all? Well, Lanier Ivister

joins me today to talk about her beautiful, amazing book, Glad and Golden Hours. And I'm going to

tell you, this is a thick book. It's gorgeous. It's got such great writing. As a writer myself, I just appreciate her

literary gift. The craft is beautiful, but the content is even richer, just talking about ways

to creatively prepare a way for the holiday season. But she also includes recipes, craft

ideas. The beautiful graphics are just gorgeous. This is a

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