Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

What does a truly soul restoring vacation look like? Of course, it would be fun, but often entertainment is not truly fulfilling and meaningful. Bill and Kristi invite Jesus into their time away and find renewal, not only in rest and play, but also in sharing their emotional struggles and seeking the Lord apart and together.

You need spontaneous fun in your life. You also need to verbalize and understand your emotional distress. Soul friends help us to do both. Bill and Kristi model this in their conversation about the pros and cons of an Abbey’s “rule of life” to not say anything bad about someone that you wouldn’t tell them directly.

We tend to separate sexuality and spirituality, but God put them together. God’s plan is for husbands and wives to enjoy sex in the context of emotional and spiritual intimacy. Bill and Kristi share personally about the challenges and opportunities of sex in marriage.

Many people are uncomfortable looking someone in eye and saying something they appreciate and admire about that person. Maybe it’s unfamiliar and awkward. Maybe it feels too vulnerable or emotional. Bill and Kristi share their experiences and ideas on giving and receiving affirmations so that it’s truly a blessing!

For many years Dallas Willard was a key mentor to Bill and Kristi and he offered himself as a friend. They share some of his best counter-cultural leadership lessons that have shaped their lives and their “Soul Shepherding” ministry to pastors and leaders.

We all experience disappointments and losses but how do we react? We may deny our sadness, get busy, or judge ourselves, but that diminishes our joy and our capacity to offer compassion to others. Asking for emotional comfort is different than complaining or wallowing in self-pity — it’s the path of regaining energy for life and ministry.

First thing in the morning Charlie meows for Kristi to cuddle him! He follows her around all day and purrs in her lap. But he’s scared of cleanings and needs a “severe mercy”! Bill and Kristi draw out lessons from their cat and the Bible on trusting God.

Do your emotions help or hinder your life and your relationships? Being vulnerable is different than dumping on people. Caring for people is different than rescuing them. Galatians 6:1-5 teaches these things.

Kristi talks with Bill about being a mother of three children, a daughter, and a therapist for people struggling in the mother relationship. She says, “Being a mother is the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve done.” On these matters we all have gratitudes and griefs to express to God, our perfectly loving mother (Isaiah 66:10-13).

The Apostle John writes to us as “My little children.” In this spirit Bill and Kristi help you connect with the vulnerable child in you and in others. They share examples from their lives and their ministry to help you more fully trust in Jesus and grow up in the Father’s love. Kristi uses Psalm 131 to show you how to pray for yourself and others: “Jesus is Enough.”

Most of us don't like to wait. But in a time of praying Psalm 27 Kristi discovers that waiting is "wrapping herself around her loving Lord!" This is not a burden -- it's a delight! In this 20-minute soul talk she and Bill help you experience greater intimacy with God in your prayers for yourself and others. "I will see the goodness of the Lord... Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:13-14)

Officiating a wedding together for a ministry couple has Bill and Kristi reminiscing on life lessons they’ve learned from their spiritual mentors. In a 20-minute conversation they share wisdom for marriage and all relationships. They inspire you to shine your light and pass on the blessing of spiritual mentoring.

A. W. Tozer said there’s a solitary road that you walk as a Christian leader or giver of mercy. We yearn for a deeper intimacy with Jesus and to share this with others -- so much so that we'll do whatever it takes. Our secular culture opposes us and even many in the Church don’t understand us. But if we band together as soul friends it helps us to abide in Christ and bear great fruit!

Most Christian leaders say they don’t have a close friend. There’s a certain aloneness and feeling of being unappreciated that goes with being a pastor, pastors’ spouse, counselor, boss, or parent. You carry others’ burdens but who carries yours? Bill and Kristi feel the struggle — do you? Join our conversation to discover with us that the risen Christ meets us in lonely places and he enables us to love one another (Luke 5:16; John 15:12).

We invite you to join our 20-minute conversation on living by Christ’s cross and resurrection. Kristi shares that her sensitive heart absorbs the pain of others, including that of Christ on the cross. We explore how to trust the risen Christ with us in pain and difficulty. As the Bible says, “For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

Bill shares that despite an abundance of positive feedback in response to the recent launch of this Podcast he’s battled with releasing “imperfect” episodes of Soul Talks. Kristi shares about her issues with perfectionism in the home and in her appearance. Wanting to be ideal and in control are manifestations of anxiety that many men and women in ministry struggle with. Ephesians 2:8-10 shows us that receiving God’s grace means relying on his work to propel us toward excellence without being perfectionistic.

Bill and Kristi have a spontaneous conversation about the fear of launching this Podcast and failing. It’s a risk to venture out on a dream with faith in the Lord! But even when we do fall down it can be a surprising opportunity to grow in grace of Christ and minister this to others (2 Peter 3:18). They also discuss the sacred wound and pastors as heroes.

Bill and Kristi say that the hospitality of Christ begins with a demeanor and actions that say, "I'm glad to see you!" It deepens as we offer empathy — “stepping into another’s skin to feel for them” — and prayer. (1 Peter 4:8-9) They invite you into their own spiritual friendship in marriage. They encourage your soul and empower your ministry.