4:13 Podcast: Jennifer and KC Do Christmas [Episode 382]

Jennifer Rothschild: Can you sing it again, John Robert, you & Pops?

Grandson John Robert: Okay.

Pops and John Robert: (Singing) Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Hey.

Grandson John Robert: You want to do another one?

Pops: Yeah.

Children's Toy: Merry Christmas. (Santa Claus' Voice) Ho, ho, ho.

Grandson John Robert: Ready for a long song?

Pops: Yeah.

Pops and John Robert: (Singing) Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh. Hey.

Jennifer Rothschild: Welcome to a very merry episode of the 4:13 Podcast. I'm Jennifer, and I'm here to help you be and do more than you feel capable of, because you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

KC Wright: And I'm KC, festive, caffeinated, and currently wearing a Christmas sweater that has its own ZIP code. Okay? I look like a Christmas tree that exploded. Or maybe Santa himself threw up on me. Okay?

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, I gotta say, he's not lying, our people. KC, you definitely look festive. You sound festive with the bells on.

KC Wright: Right.

Jennifer Rothschild: You're like Buddy the Elf had a brother who lives in Branson. Okay? I'm just going to say.

KC Wright: Exactly. You can't out-jingle me. Okay?

But anyway, this episode is all about the wonder of Christmas and the glory of Christmas, and, let's be honest, the mess of Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah.

KC Wright: Because it's not all Hallmark movies and matching pajamas.

Jennifer Rothschild: No, it's not. You're right. There is so much joy, of course, this time of year, but also there can be a lot of real life. You know, you've experienced it already, our friends, long lines. You might even be in the middle of it, family tension, travel delays. Or if you're me, burnt cookies.

KC Wright: Yeah. And glitter in places glitter should never be. Okay?

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay, KC, we're not going to go there. Anyway --

KC Wright: No.

Jennifer Rothschild: But today, as we're celebrating Christmas with you, we are definitely going to laugh a little, and we're going to share a few stories, and most importantly, we're going to remind you of something very powerful, that Jesus showed up right in the middle of the mess of Christmas.

KC Wright: Thank you, Lord.

Okay. So let's start with the wonder, the glory, and the majesty of Christmas. Okay? Jennifer, do you care to share, right out of the gate here, what's your favorite Christmas --

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, my gosh.

KC Wright: -- memory growing up?

Jennifer Rothschild: This is hard for me. Growing up? Okay, growing up.

KC Wright: Growing up, yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay. I know this is a weird one, but there was one Christmas -- I was probably eight years old. We had been in Costa Rica, and we had just gotten back to the States. And so it was that Christmas, and I got a sleeping bag for Christmas.

And I remember laying in the sleeping bag on Christmas morning after I opened it, and I was playing with Barbies, and I had all my little Barbie dolls and Dawn dolls, because I got those also, and they were all, like, in this tunnel of my sleeping bag, and I just thought it was the funnest thing ever.

And then my mom had said, you know, "Don't eat everything in your Christmas stocking," because there was a lot of candy. Well, I put all my candy for my Christmas stocking in my sleeping bag with Dawn and Barbie doll, and I would eat them. And I ate so much. And my last one that I ate was a Three Musketeers bar. And I ate so much candy that I literally got sick and threw up in my sleeping bag on Christmas morning.

Anyway -- so there you go. That was my -- I don't know why that was just a -- it's a funny memory. But, see, I know it's silly, but there was wonder there when you're eight years old. It was just the biggest deal of my life to have this cool new sleeping bag, and all my dolls were in it with me, plus I was sneaking all the candy.

Okay, KC, though, do you have one?

KC Wright: Oh, my goodness.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yours is going to be sweeter, I know, because you're just more sentimental than me.

KC Wright: I mean, there's just so many. I just -- I remember -- I remember being a little boy and I needed money, Christmas money, to buy my mom something for Christmas. And I prayed and a rich uncle mailed me money. It supernaturally came. I remember that Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, KC, I knew yours would be better. I'm vomiting in a sleeping bag and you're praying for money that Jesus sends you in the mail. This is awesome. Keep going.

KC Wright: But I remember Elly's first Christmas, you know.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh. Now, that is the sweetest, when we have our own babies.

KC Wright: When we have our own babies.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, you're right.

KC Wright: So many sweet -- sweet, sweet memories. But I will look for it every year. And I can't explain it, but you know what I'm talking about. There will be something that will happen every Christmas that when I see it, it's the magic of Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah. It is magical, isn't it?

KC Wright: It is. I used to emcee a Christmas play, a production, at Bass Pro -- I did it for ten years -- and my job was the job of the storyteller, the narrator of the story, and seeing Christmas in the eyes of a child --

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, yeah.

KC Wright: -- when the Gospel is preached and given. And you're like, there it is. There's Christmas, right?

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, yeah.

KC Wright: It's not about what's under the tree, it's about who's next to you under the tree, right? Family.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes.

KC Wright: Christmas is found in the eyes of children really.

Jennifer Rothschild: It really is. You're right. That is the magic. There is such wonder. And we should celebrate the wonder. But, I mean, let's be honest. You might be right now, you know, in the middle of festivities, or cooking or cleaning or unwrapping or wrapping, whatever it is you're doing today, because we know we're right here in the midst of the holiday. But we've got to get honest. Because sometimes, you know, Christmas just isn't easy. There is a mess, and, you know, I think that's okay. We've got to roll with it.

Like, I remember one time, KC, there was thunder snow when we were trying to leave for Florida, and we were stuck here with no electricity. And, yes, it was our family, and I was still grateful, but I missed seeing my grandmother and, you know, just things that would have been so precious, because she did not live to the next Christmas.

So there are times too -- and you might be in the middle of it -- when all the family tension shows up around the Christmas table. So let's just be honest that it's okay that sometimes there is a mess. But here's the thing. Life is like that. Like, sometimes it's just the wonder, like KC was describing, and then the next minute it's chaos. Okay? But the beautiful news is this, that God's presence is not limited to perfect moments, right? Instead, he meets us in the messy ones too.

KC Wright: Yes. And maybe this Christmas isn't what you expected. Maybe this year it is quieter. Maybe you're missing someone. Or maybe it's just plain hard. That's why -- Emmanuel means God with us, and that means he's with you right now. J.R. and I have both lost our dads. Well, we say lost. We know exactly where they're at.

Jennifer Rothschild: Well, they just relocated.

KC Wright: And my dad's been gone for decades now. But every time I pull out that box of airplane Christmas ornaments -- because my dad loved to fly, and he and his brother, Jerry, the Wright brothers -- true story --

Jennifer Rothschild: That is true.

KC Wright: -- were building a plane before he passed. They were building a little kit Fox two-seater RV-6. Okay, I won't go down that road. Anyway, so I would get my dad an airplane ornament every year for Christmas. And when I hang those -- when I come to that box with those ornaments and you're hanging them, it's just wow. But then you remind yourself, no, Dad's spending Christmas with Jesus this year --

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, gosh.

KC Wright: -- and that's, wow, way better than anything. He's more alive than we are on this planet.

Jennifer Rothschild: You know, KC, I'm glad you said that, because that reminds us of the reality when we're feeling the ache of loneliness, when we're stuck in the middle of the mess, it's a reminder that there really is in Christ no loss.

KC Wright: Yes.

Jennifer Rothschild: He redeems everything. In fact, we're going to end this little audio conversation with Christmas with a song by a beautiful woman named Layne Victoria. And I'm just saying, she is going to sing the beauty and the hope of Christmas over you.

But, you know, also, I was reading Luke 2, which we've all read this season a lot. You know, it's the story we've all heard so many times. But this year, I'm just going to say, KC, there was one line that I heard slightly differently this year about Mary. You know, when the Scripture says that she gave birth to her firstborn son and laid him in a manger -- and here's the part -- because there was no room for them in the inn.

Okay, we've heard that a million times. But that small, simple line that there was no room for him in the inn, it carries so much power. No room. You know why it's so powerful to me? Because it just shows that God still made a way. And the reality is that's what he will do for us too.

KC Wright: Amen. He always does. And that's what Christmas reminds us. No matter how messy, God still shows up. Come on, somebody.

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay. So whether your house is peaceful or noisy, full of lonely, or whether it's clean or covered with wrapping paper, oh, just remember that the miracle is not in the perfection, it is in his presence.

KC Wright: I love that. You can have the magic of Christmas without missing the miracle. And listen, even if your lights don't match or your cookies are burnt -- oh, man, have I got stories about that -- remember, Jesus still came for you. Emmanuel, God with us. God with you right now.

Jennifer Rothschild: He sure did.

KC Wright: Right now.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, he sure did. And so from our hearts to yours, we wish you Merry Christmas.

Layne Victoria: (Singing) King of all Kings, lying in a manger, sustainer of all things, matchless in power. This babe wrapped in glory is the radiance of God, born among the lowly, creation stands in awe. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel. His kingdom shall not end, and all will bow before him, the Savior of all men, let every heart adore him. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel.

Long lay the earth in sin and error pining, till the incarnate Word into the dark comes shining. O, fall on your knees and hear the angel voices, for the mighty Prince of Peace, all the world rejoices. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel. His kingdom shall not end, and all will bow before him, the Savior of all men, let every heart adore him. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel.

We have a hope, his name, Christ the Son of Man, the King on his throne, oh, praise the eternal Great I Am. We have a hope, his name, Christ the Son of Man, the triumphant song of saints, Hallelujah to the Lamb. Hail the Lamb of God, hail the Lamb of God, hail the Lamb of God, hail the Lamb of God.

Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel. His kingdom shall not end and all will bow before him. The Savior of all men, let every heart adore him. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel. Behold Emmanuel, the Lord Emmanuel.

4:13 Podcast: Audio Christmas Card With Jennifer and KC's Christmas Memories [Episode 329]

Jennifer Rothschild: Heaven. Who goes there? Where is it? And what will we do when we get there? Questions like these come up when we think about an eternal future beyond this physical life. How can we know the truth about what comes next?

Well, in my latest Bible study, "Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight," you will get seven sessions that are video based that will explore the subject of heaven from a biblical perspective. I will separate what's true about heaven from what's based on legend and media and hopeful guesses. As you walk through this Heaven Bible study with me, you will not only get a deeper understanding of what God has prepared for you, his child, but also you will learn how to live today with confidence as you look forward to the glorious unending that awaits.

Oh, don't just wonder about heaven; embrace it with a faith that turns anticipation into excitement and peace. Go to 413podcast.com/Heaven to get your copy and a free sample of the first chapter and first video teaching. Plus, you're going to get lots of free things there for the 4:13 family.

All right, now here's the podcast.

Group of Women: Merry Christmas, 4:13ers.

Jennifer Rothschild: Merry Christmas.

KC Wright: Merry Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: We are so glad you are with us for this audio Christmas card. We are a 4:13 family and so we wanted to spend Christmas together. I don't know who's sitting next to me, whether it's KC or Buddy the Elf.

KC Wright: Listen, I'm not a hoarder --

Jennifer Rothschild: No.

KC Wright: -- except when it comes to Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes.

KC Wright: I was laughing because, you know, my birthday was back in September, and the people that know me well -- I received several Christmas decor birthday gifts. Listen, I pitch everything. I like things clean and organized. But when it comes to Christmas, we got issues. I mean, one year at my house, we had nine Christmas trees up.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, that's --

KC Wright: It's too much.

Jennifer Rothschild: That's --

KC Wright: It's too much.

Jennifer Rothschild: It's too much.

KC Wright: But I just love -- I love Christmas. And it's rubbed off on Ellianna.

Jennifer Rothschild: Well, that's good. It's a good thing. I won't tell Marie Kondo. I will not tell her. But way to go, you.

And, yes, he loves Buddy the Elf. And it's funny, because I was at a Cracker Barrel one time and I saw a Buddy the Elf something, I was like, oh, my gosh, I should get this for KC. And then I thought, no, he does not need one more thing like this.

KC Wright: No, I don't.

Jennifer Rothschild: This is nonsense.

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: But we just thought we would jump in to whatever you're doing. You might be wrapping gifts, you might be in the car driving hours to see family. So thanks for letting us pop in. We just thought we'd talk a little Christmas. Because if you were sitting right here with me and KC, next to a roaring fire, with the fragrance of coffee and cinnamon candles, this is what we'd be talking about.

So I got to tell you and KC one of my funnest Christmas memories. Okay, KC?

KC Wright: I love this so much.

Jennifer Rothschild: So I was eight years old, and I loved Barbie. I loved Barbie so much. And by the way, may I just say, those of you who don't know this, I happen to blind. And did you know that Barbie has come out with a blind Barbie?

KC Wright: I did not.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes. And she is very hot, just like me. Anyway...

Anyway, we've got a blind Barbie now. But she doesn't have really short hair with red streaks in it. She's got long flowy hair. And I think her shirt's a little tight. I want to get her an oversize sweatshirt and then I'll be more pleased. But anyway.

So I loved Barbies as a kid. Well, my little brother, Lawson, he loved G.I. Joe. Remember the old G.I. Joe's, KC --

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: -- with the fuzzy hair, and he had this scar down his cheek?

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay. Well, Aunt Patty was at our house for Christmas. And so it was just me and Lawson; my baby brother had not been born yet. And on Christmas Eve we had the tradition, we were allowed to open one gift. And so Lawson was the youngest, he got to go first. Well, his gift that he chose was from Aunt Patty, and it was this long rectangular box. Well, mine happened to be the same shape. So Lawson opens his gift, and wouldn't you know, it was a G.I. Joe.

KC Wright: Ooh.

Jennifer Rothschild: Well, he was so pumped up.

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: I was excited. Because those of you who played with Barbies will understand this. G.I. Joe was the perfect bad guy for Ken to fight. Right? Poor Ken, he never won. But anyway. Like, that was the perfect bad guy when you played Barbies.

So I get my gift out from under the tree, and it's a rectangular box also. And I'm like, you go, Aunt Patty. Because, you know, G.I. Joe, Barbie, same aisle in Kmart, whatever. I just knew I had a Barbie. I was so excited. So I, unlike Lawson -- I do not rip my paper off. I pull it back very carefully. And when I did, it exposed a box that was not a Barbie box. It was just a plain white box. And I was surprised, but I thought, oh, Aunt Patty is being sneaky, you know. She bought me -- she just put it in a different box.

So I open the lid and there's tissue paper. So I pull back the tissue paper, because I'm ready to pull out my Barbie, and, no lie, there were seven pairs of neatly rolled-up daily underwear.

KC Wright: No.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes. Yes.

KC Wright: No.

Jennifer Rothschild: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Fri- -- listen, I was eight years old, I didn't even care if I wore underwear, much less wanted underwear for Christmas.

Well, here's the funny part of the story. So evidently, I made it very clear that I disapproved --

KC Wright: Wow.

Jennifer Rothschild: -- of this gift. My face, you know. So my mother -- within seconds, I hear her sing-songy voice from the couch where she's sitting next to Aunt Patty, who is observing all of this. My mom says, "Jennifer, what do you say to Aunt Patty?" And I said, "Thank you." Because I knew my mother would not be happy if I did not say thank you.

But also, here's the thing I've learned. Bottom line. We say thank you because of the giver, not because of the gift, right? Gratefulness is not based on the gift; it's based on honoring the one who gives.

KC Wright: Yes.

Jennifer Rothschild: And so my mother was teaching me, you honor the giver. Well, dude, what a great life lesson for just how we treat the Lord and the things. Because we got some stuff in our lives that's like, ooh, this is not the gift I wanted.

KC Wright: We did not want underwear.

Jennifer Rothschild: Huh-uh. But what God allows, we are grateful for.

KC Wright: Yes.

Jennifer Rothschild: So, yeah, that was a funny Christmas memory with a good takeaway.

All right. So what about you? Give me a fun or a good Christmas memory.

KC Wright: You know, when I think of Christmas, I'm ushered into this one memory into my mind that -- I grew up very poor, and we lived in a broken-down little trailer. It gets even worse. I remember my mom and dad -- when I was first born, we lived in a garage.

Jennifer Rothschild: Wow.

KC Wright: Yeah, with a mattress on the floor. I mean --

Jennifer Rothschild: Wow.

KC Wright: When I say poverty, I'm saying poverty.

Jennifer Rothschild: Right, right.

KC Wright: That's why I love so much -- our little church, we have a food pantry where we hand out free groceries every Saturday from 10:00 to noon, free groceries. And the only qualification is you have a beating heart and you're in our parking lot.

Jennifer Rothschild: I love it.

KC Wright: But if I close my eyes, I can remember my mom and I being in a line to receive food.

But anyway, I remember as a little boy in this broken-down trailer wanting to buy my mama a Christmas gift. And I had -- I got no job.

Jennifer Rothschild: You're a little boy.

KC Wright: Right, right. I have no money. And I remember getting on my knees -- and we had green carpet with orange drapes. Yes. I tell you the truth. And I remember calling on to God going, "Father, send me -- I need money. I need money to buy Mama a Christmas gift." Because right next door to our little broken-down trailer was Blue Door Antique Shop. And I knew if I had some money, I could go to that antique shop when I got off the school bus and buy Mom a gift. And I prayed that prayer, and maybe the next day or the day after, a very rich relative from St. Louis mailed me a Christmas card with a crisp $50 bill inside that.

Jennifer Rothschild: No.

KC Wright: Yes. It was the first time in my life where I used my faith. That I believed and received by faith and that money came. It was such a spiritual lesson, and I got to buy my mom something for Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah. Well, see, isn't that sweet --

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: -- how -- I mean, God -- every opportunity we have, he redeems it. And that becomes a gift that keeps on giving, because then your faith was ignited and continued to grow.

KC Wright: Oh, yeah. But I just remember being in this old blue coat, walking in this deep snow to the antique store. And I remember walking up in the deep snow to the trailer, and the lights were coming through the living room window, and I had that gift wrapped. I don't remember what it was. But I was able to wrap it and put it underneath the tree so Mama could have a gift.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, my gosh. KC, this is the stuff of Hallmark movies. I mean, that's amazing.

KC Wright: Yeah, yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: That's precious.

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, that's the kind of stuff of a Hallmark movie. I'm going to call Candace Bure and let her know -- Candace Cameron Bure -- she needs to do that. That needs to be her next Christmas movie.

KC Wright: But then I have kind of a morbid Christmas memory.

Jennifer Rothschild: Ooh. Okay, let's go for it.

KC Wright: But I want to hear another one from you.

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay. I want you to do morbid and then I'll do mine.

KC Wright: Okay.

Jennifer Rothschild: Because morbid -- I'm too excited to know. Yeah, what?

KC Wright: It's Christmas morning --

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay.

KC Wright: -- I'm a little boy.

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay.

KC Wright: Picture me, I'm in -- remember the pajamas. It was a one suit. Okay. These pj's had feet. Okay?

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes, got you, got you.

KC Wright: And we are opening up gifts. And I remember that year, my dad had done something and got him a Sears card, and so we actually had legit presents.

Jennifer Rothschild: Wow. That's so funny.

KC Wright: Like, you know, I remember I got a keyboard and a boom box and all that.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, my gosh.

KC Wright: So it was the best Christmas ever. We broke through the poverty line and dad got a credit card. But here's the deal. While we're unwrapping gifts, I hear something from my hamster's cage in the living room. I had a hamster as a pet. And my mama hamster is popping out baby hamsters like a machine gun.

Jennifer Rothschild: On Christmas.

KC Wright: And so as a little boy, I start screaming, "Baby Jesus hamsters. Baby Jesus hamsters."

Jennifer Rothschild: Because they were born on Christmas.

KC Wright: And so we were so happy. And those shrieks of joy turned to shrieks of terror.

Jennifer Rothschild: Why?

KC Wright: Because we didn't know that when a mama hamster starts kicking out babies, you need to separate her from her hamsters or she will devour them.

Jennifer Rothschild: No, she did not eat Baby Jesus.

KC Wright: She grabbed Baby Jesus and snapped his head off in her mouth. Snatched that little baby and just -- I can see it right now.

Jennifer Rothschild: That's terrible.

KC Wright: And I screamed, and Mom tried to get in the cage and she's separating the hamsters. And there was a little dead Baby Jesus headless hamster.

Anyway, I didn't eat that candy out of the stocking that afternoon.

Jennifer Rothschild: No. That is kind of troubling.

KC Wright: So anyway, that's...

Jennifer Rothschild: Okay. Well, you know what --

KC Wright: That's not so --

Jennifer Rothschild: But that's hilarious.

KC Wright: Not the best memory.

Jennifer Rothschild: No. But looking back, looking back it's hilarious. At the time, terrorizing. Oh, my gosh.

I remember it was a Christmas and -- I guess I learned my lesson well from Aunt Patty, you know, saying, "Thank you." So, like, I was trying to use all my gifts at once. Like, I got a sleeping bag that year, so I was laying in the sleeping bag on the living room floor. And I had my stocking in front of me, I was eating all the stuff from my stocking. I think I had gotten some kind of little hat for my Girl Scout uniform. I was wearing that. Like, I had everything on at once.

KC Wright: Right.

Jennifer Rothschild: Why I thought I had to do this, but I got a full Three Musketeer bar in my stocking. I was probably nine years old. I ate, probably at 8 a.m., that entire Three Musketeers, and I proceeded to throw up in my sleeping bag on Christmas. It was not good. It was not good at all. And you know what? I've never had a Three Musketeers since, because I am so disturbed by that memory. It was awful. I clearly just over-sugared and -- anyway. There you go.

Okay, I'll give you one more story, and then I want you to end us with something sweet. Okay?

KC Wright: Okay.

Jennifer Rothschild: All right. So this is just funny --

KC Wright: I love this.

Jennifer Rothschild: -- and a little bit poignant. All right. So I used to -- I haven't done it in the last couple of years just because I have been so anti-clutter. And not that the nativity scene is clutter, but I've just tried to simplify some things.

But back in the day, I had the entire nativity scene. We had the wiseman, we had the camels, we had the shepherds. Even though they all weren't there at the same time in the Bible, they were all there at the same time in the mantle. And what I did is I would keep the manger empty and then put Baby Jesus in it on Christmas Day, like, to show the kids, look, it's empty, you know, he's born.

Well, in front of the nativity scene, I had these brass candle -- not candle -- stocking holders, and they spelled the word Noel, N-O-E-L, and at the bottom of each letter hung a stocking. Okay. So I would set up Christmas at the beginning of December. Well, this particular Christmas, it was probably, you know, three weeks -- they had been sitting there for three weeks, and I was just kind of going to make sure everything was dusted and clean because it was about to be the big holiday and we were having family come. And so I go to just kind of check everything, and I'm dusting it, and when I realize -- I touched the first stocking holder and I realized, wait a minute, that's not an N. And then I touched the second one, I'm like, that's not an O. And I realized somebody had messed with my candle holder -- I mean -- why am I calling them candle? My stocking holders.

And so then when I feel it, KC, it's L-E-O-N, Leon. I had Leon sitting on my mantle for probably two to three weeks. And I don't know how many people came in my house and saw "Leon" on the mantle, instead of "Noel," and wondered, why do they have Leon on the mantle? So I just think that is so funny. I think it was one of my boys. I have never figured out which one. But, yeah, we had Leon on the mantle.

But here's the point of that, too, seriously. If I had been paying more attention to the mantle, to where the focus of my Christmas should have been, that picture of the nativity where Jesus was coming, then I would have noticed Leon a lot sooner. But clearly, I hadn't had my eye on the mantle. And I think spiritually we do that. Like, we get so busy with all the things that we don't notice that something's just not right, things are out of order. You know what I mean?

KC Wright: Yeah.

Jennifer Rothschild: But if we keep our eye on the main thing, on the Christ child, on that advent that Jesus came, then we notice when things are out of order. So that has always been a very poignant reminder to me.

KC Wright: That is so good, JR.

Jennifer Rothschild: I know. Well, there you go. The Lord gives me lots of teaching moments.

KC Wright: Oh, my goodness. Okay, are you still with us? Are you having your hot chocolate?

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah.

KC Wright: Are you maybe drinking some wassail?

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, I hope so. I wish I was there drinking it with you.

KC Wright: I know. I wish we could give each one of our 4:13 listeners a gift. But just feel the Christmas podcast hug.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah.

KC Wright: So my last story --

Jennifer Rothschild: All right, give us one more story.

KC Wright: Yeah, my last story. So we know this, that there's so many Scriptures in the Bible that talk about how we are the victorious ones. We were born to reign in this life.

Jennifer Rothschild: Amen.

KC Wright: Greater is he that's in us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, right?

Jennifer Rothschild: Yep, yep.

KC Wright: However, Jesus I also said in this world you will have --

Jennifer Rothschild: Trouble.

KC Wright: -- trouble and tribulation. So anyway, back in 2016 I went through one of the worst storms in my life. And I'm not going to go there. But I'm just telling you, it was --

Jennifer Rothschild: It was bad.

KC Wright: -- it was a bad deal. Okay? And we've done a podcast on that. But anyway...

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes, we have.

KC Wright: I remember specifically driving through my hometown, and I was calling on God and I needed miracles. Miracles. Several miracles. And I'm not going to list them here. But we needed miracles, more than one. And I'll never forget driving past this Catholic church. And every year tradition holds that they put out this beautiful, massive manger scene. We're talking a life-size Mary and a life-size Joseph. It's beautiful. It's gorgeous. And it sits underneath a golden cross. And it's just one of my favorite places to go and see the Nativity every year in my hometown. And I'll never forget crying out to God driving, and I drove past that manger scene and out of my heart the Holy Spirit spoke. And I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Miracles still come from the manger."

Now, here's how I know that was the Holy Spirit: because KC doesn't think of something that cool. It just fluttered out. And it was that -- you know, one word from God can change your life forever.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah, it can.

KC Wright: And that one word from the Holy Spirit gave me hope that day. And I pressed in even more and I found more Scriptures that I could stand on to believe God for the miracle in my life.

That same afternoon, I went to my P.O. box, and my dear friends -- who now live in Missouri, but at the time lived in Washington -- they mailed me a Christmas card. And they said, "Hey, every year we pray about who we should bless. Several weeks ago, the Lord laid you on my heart." And I had just heard, "Miracles still come from the manger," and I opened the Christmas card and there was a check meeting my every need. Meeting my every need.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, KC, I love that.

KC Wright: But then something happened on that Christmas morning where I learned that it's not about what's under the tree, it's who's next to you. And I'll never forget in that morning looking at the manger scene that I had under our tree and hearing that same whisper of the Holy Spirit again say, "Miracles still come from the manger."

So be encouraged. Miracles still come from the manger. Amen? And I pray also that you see Christmas in the eyes of a child. Because as a parent now, Christmas is always found in Elly's eyes. When Elly received her first violin, that was like the best morning ever.

And then -- I don't know if you know this about me -- but for ten years, over a decade, Bass Pro Shops hired me to be a storyteller --

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, that's right.

KC Wright: -- for a Christmas presentation where we actually gave the Gospel. But anyway, every show that we would do, I would see Christmas in the eyes of a child. And you got to lean in and look for it. It's almost like Christmas magic. Christians don't like the word "magic," and I understand that.

Jennifer Rothschild: There's a wonder.

KC Wright: There is a -- it's a spark, man.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah.

KC Wright: You're like, Oh, there's Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes.

KC Wright: So that's my prayer for you today, that you find that Christmas miracle. That -- listen, it is in front of you. You just have to see it, maybe not with your physical eye, but with the eyes of the Spirit.

Jennifer Rothschild: Oh, that is our prayer for you, our 4:13 family. We do hope this is just a blessed and beautiful holiday for you. Set aside where you can really see that miracles come from the manger.

You know our friend Michael O'Brien, he has sung on our Christmas cards before, and he's going to sing us out and give you a greeting from all of us. We do hope that you have a blessed little Christmas. Love you.

Michael O'Brien: (Singing) Have yourself a blessed little Christmas, Christ the King is born. Let your voices ring upon this happy morning.

Have yourself a blessed little Christmas, serenade the earth. Tell the world we celebrate the Savior's birth.

Let us gather to sing to him and to bring to him our praise. Christ the Lord is a Gift for all, to the end of all our days.

Sing hosanas, hymns, and hallelujahs, as to him we bow. Make the music mighty as the heavn's allow. And have yourself a blessed little Christmas now.

4:13 Podcast: Audio Christmas Card Featuring Music by Michael O'Brien [Episode 277]

Michael O'Brien: (Singing) Joyful, Joyful, we adore you, God of Glory, Lord of Light; angels lifting praise before you, sing thro'out this Holy night, sing this Holy night. In a manger lies a baby, Child of Mary, Son of God. Voices joined in joyful chorus, praise you for your gift of love, praise your gift of love.

All your works declare your glory, our creation joins to sing. Praise resounds as earth rejoices in the birth of Christ the King, the birth of Christ the King. Shepherds kneel before the infant, trumpets sound and anthems raise. As with joy our hearts are lifted, joined in wonder, love, and praise, joined in love and praise.

Joyful, Joyful, we adore you, God of Glory, Lord of Light; hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. Joyful, joyful, we adore you.

Jennifer Rothschild: Merry Christmas!

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Rothschild: We are so happy you've joined us for our audio Christmas card. This is Jennifer and K.C. We're in the podcast closet, but it does smell like Christmas spice in here. So we are so happy you're here. We hope you're enjoying with your family. You heard Michael O'Brien opened this audio Christmas card with some of his Christmas music, and he is going to end this Christmas card with some more Christmas music.

So maybe you're decorating, maybe you're cooking, or maybe you're just sitting back with some hot chocolate. But our family -- because you are part of our 4:13 family, our families want to give you some Christmas greetings.

Elaina Wright: This is Eliana Wright, K.C.'s daughter. From our family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Connor Rothschild: Hey, podcast family, this is Connor, Jennifer's youngest son, and I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Judith Jolly: Hi, everybody. This is Jennifer's mom from Florida. Merry Christmas. God bless each of you.

Phil Rothschild: Jennifer's husband, Dr. Phil here, wishing everyone a Happy, Merry, Merry Christmas.

Clayton Rothschild: Hey, everybody. This is Clayton and Caroline, and I just wanted to wish you guys a Merry Christmas.

Caroline Rothschild: Merry Christmas!

Clayton Rothschild: Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Tripp Rothschild: Merry Christmas.

Lawson Rothschild: Merry Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: And what's your name?

Tripp Rothschild: Tripp.

Jennifer Rothschild: And what's your name?

Lawson Rothschild: Lawson.

Jennifer Rothschild: And you want to say Merry Christmas? Say it one more time really loud.

Tripp and Lawson: Merry Christmas!

Elaina Wright: Some Christmas reminders. May the Christmas season remind us in every way of Jesus Christ, our King. May the Christmas gifts remind us of God's greatest gift, His only Son. May the Christmas feast remind us of Him, who is the Bread of Life. May the Christmas trees remind us of another tree upon which he died.

Tripp Rothschild: (Singing) Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh miss fun, the hest you ride, the one morse ofen sleigh. Hey. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, oh miss fun, the hest you ride, the one morse ofen sleigh. Hey.

K.C. Wright: Oh, my goodness. I wish we could have mailed each one of you a Christmas card, because, let's be honest, how wonderful is it to receive a Christmas card in the mail these days?

Jennifer Rothschild: Mm-hmm.

K.C. Wright: In the world of social media and you get a Christmas card. But that was not in the 4:13 budget. So we are praying that you receive our audio Christmas card knowing that you're loved and that you're seen. And if it's okay, I would love -- I'd be honored to speak a blessing over you during this Christmas season.

Now, may the Lord bless you and keep you, protect you, sustain you, and guard you. May the Lord right now make his face shine upon you with supernatural favor, and be gracious to you, surrounding you with loving kindness. And may the Lord lift up his countenance, his face upon you, with divine approval and give you peace, because he is the Prince of Peace. May that peace this Christmas guard your heart and guard your mind. To God be the glory.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes.

K.C. Wright: Blessings be in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jennifer Rothschild: In Jesus' name. Merry Christmas!

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas! We love you.

Michael O'Brien: (Singing) Have yourself a blessed little Christmas, Christ the King is born. Let your voices ring upon this happy morn. Have yourself a blessed little Christmas, serenade the earth. Tell the world we celebrate the Savior's birth. Let us gather to sing to him and to bring to him our praise. Christ the Lord is a gift for all, to the end of all our days. Sing hosannas, hymns, and hallelujahs as to him we bow. Make the music mighty as the heavn's allow. And have yourself a blessed little Christmas now.

K.C. Wright: A little boy and girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church on Christmas Eve. The boy concluded Silent Night with the words (singing) "Sleep in heavenly beans." No, his sister corrected! Not beans... peas!

4:13 Podcast: Audio Christmas Card Featuring Your Favorite 4:13ers [Episode 225]

Jennifer Rothschild: Hey, this is Jennifer. I want you to meet somebody. She's my precious girl that I sponsor through Compassion International. She's a little girl from Ecuador who has no dad, but she has a Heavenly Father who is meeting her every need.

If you're like me, you can feel overwhelmed with all the needs of the world. COVID-19 has affected all of us, but it has devastated those who already live in poverty. We can't do everything, but we can do one thing, and that's what Compassion International allows us to do. It's a one-on-one relationship with a child who needs you, and it releases children from poverty in Jesus' name. So go to 413podcast.com/Compassion to meet my precious girl from Ecuador. And while you're there, I invite you, I challenge you, and I encourage you to sponsor a child along with me. That's 413podcast.com/Compassion.

And now it's time for some practical encouragement and some biblical wisdom on the 413. Merry Christmas!

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Rothschild: We are so glad you're here. This is an audio Christmas card that is just to brighten your day and let you know how much we love you.

K.C. Wright: We've got a few friends who want to give you Christmas greetings also, and then Michael O'Brien will sing you his Christmas greetings.

Group of Women: Merry Christmas, 4:13ers!

Kathie Lee Gifford: Hi, everybody. I'm Kathie Lee Gifford, and I want to wish all of you God's great blessing at this beautiful season of the year, where we stop from all our busyness -- if we're wise, we stop from all our busyness -- and we remember that a baby was born. Whether it was in December or any other time, it doesn't matter. God sent his Son, his beloved, perfect Son, to be born for the express purpose to die that we might know life itself. God bless you all.

Laura Story: Hey, it's Laura Story. I'm a singer-songwriter, but most importantly I am Jennifer's friend, wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.

Kelly Minter: Hey, everyone, it's Kelly Minter. I am the author of a Bible study on the Book of Ruth and also the host of the Cultivate Podcast. But even more important, I am a friend of Jennifer Rothschild. And so I am here to wish all of you 4:13 friends a very, very merry Christmas.

Michael O'Brien: Hey, this is Michael O'Brien., And I am Jennifer Rothschild's brother in Christ, and she's one of my dear friends. I hope you have an amazing Christmas. Actually, have yourself a blessed little Christmas.

(Singing Have Yourself A Blessed Little Christmas)

K.C. Wright: We hope and pray that you are enjoying the peace and blessing of this season with the people you love. I learned a long time ago, it's not about what's under the tree, it's who's next to you under the tree. Amen?

Well, we also know that you may have lost someone you love, and it makes Christmas hard. And as we close, it is our prayer that this song, The Sweetest Gift by Craig Aven, brings you comfort and joy.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yeah. Merry Christmas.

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas.

Craig Aven: (Singing The Sweetest Gift)

4:13 Podcast: A 4:13 Family Audio Christmas Card Featuring Music from Michael O’Brien [Episode 173]

Jennifer Rothschild: Merry Christmas.

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: We are so glad you're here. We've got a little gift for you today.

K.C. Wright: Actually, it's a re-gift, because sometimes they are the best kind of gifts. We want you to just pause and let this audio Christmas card we put together last year bless you today.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes. And it's going to include our families wishing you a Merry Christmas, plus Michael O'Brien is going to sing some beautiful carols and Christmas songs over you.

K.C. Wright: We love you, our 4:13 family, and we wish you the merriest, most blessed Christmas ever.

Jennifer Rothschild: Yes, we do. Merry Christmas.

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas.

Michael O'Brien: (Singing Joyful We Adore You)

Jennifer Rothschild: Welcome and Merry Christmas. We are so glad you're here for this audio Christmas card. You are a part of this 4:13 family. So from our family to yours, Merry Christmas.

K.C. Wright: Merry Christmas.

Phil Rothschild: Hey, everybody, this is Jennifer's Dr. Phil here. Hey, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.

Connor Rothschild: Hey, everyone, it's Connor Rothschild, wishing you a Merry Christmas.

Clayton Rothschild: Hey, everyone, this is Clayton, Caroline, Tripp and Lawson, and wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Caroline Rothschild: Merry, Merry Christmas. Hey, Tripp, say Merry Christmas.

Tripp Rothschild: Merry Christmas.

Eliana Wright: Hi. This is Eliana. I'm K.C.'s daughter. Merry Christmas.

Jennifer Rothschild: Well, from our family to yours, Merry Christmas. Michael O'Brien opened this audio Christmas card and he is going to sing throughout it. So we hope you're celebrating with your family. But if not, we are your family, and this day is all about Jesus, who makes us family.

Michael O'Brien: (Singing Sweet Little Jesus Boy)

K.C. Wright: This is why He came. His cradle was in the shadow of the cross. Jesus was born to give you hope. He died to defeat your sin and He rose to remove death's sting.

Jennifer Rothschild: And this is why we celebrate. So we hope this is a Merry Christmas for you. You are not alone. He is Emmanuel and He is with you, and that is why we want to say to you, have yourself a Merry little Christmas. Or shall we say, have yourself a blessed little Christmas.

Michael O'Brien: (Singing Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas)