Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

Suicide is an issue that isn’t often discussed in church. Yet it is the 12th leading cause of death in the US and the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-19. As soul shepherds, we have an opportunity to compassionately love those struggling with mental health challenges, and most tenderly, anyone who is suicidal.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss suicide and God’s mercy for the hurting. You will learn some warning signs of suicide, ways to check in with someone who is struggling, and steps to get them help. As we care for those in a vulnerable state, we want to minister God’s kindness, empathy, and love to them.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Institute

When you picture Jesus looking at you, do you see a smile? Many of us find we project a frown or a distant look on the face of God. But Jesus’ shining face is looking at you with a smile of love, and you can learn to see it! Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss the shelter of Jesus’ smiling face against the attacks of the enemy. Reflecting on an older translation of Psalm 31:20, they share the importance of agreeing with God’s grace and the challenges we face with that based on our stage of faith and our personality. You’ll learn ways of training to overcome unhealthy aspects of your personality that limit you from seeing his smile for you.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram

Areas of stress are opportunities for the enemy to drive us down. The father of lies takes something that is true and twists it into a half-truth with a lie embedded in it, hitting us right in the most vulnerable parts of our personality. Yet, with God as our shield, we can refute the lies of the enemy!Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share personally about recent attacks from the enemy. Understanding our emotions is the key to understanding our personality, particularly the four core emotions of anger, shame, anxiety and sadness. By working through those emotions we grow in self-awareness, intimacy with Jesus, and the ability to wake up and reject the lies of the enemy.Resources for this Episode:Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramBreath Prayer Guides

Each day we experience the accusations and lies of the enemy that target our specific areas of weakness and bury us in fear, anxiety, resentment, shame, and isolation. Yet scripture tells us we are safe when we submit to God Almighty, our Creator and Redeemer, and resist the devil.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack the accusations of the enemy and how we can learn to agree with God’s grace instead. As you understand the ways the enemy attacks you personally, you can resist his lies and seek the help of brothers and sisters to receive God’s grace.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstitutePre-order Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith:Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the Enneagram

You don’t have to be perfect. God often does his best work of grace telling the story of Jesus through our brokenness. As he meets us right where we are, we can learn to move from the cycle of works to the cycle of grace. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss Spirit-led Ministry from the CHRIST stages. While there isn’t less stress during this stage, there is less striving. In Spirit-led ministry you can learn to depend on the presence of the Risen Christ at work to empower you with his strength, giftings, abilities, and power like a sailboat is activated by the wind. Resources for this Episode:Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthJourney of the Soul: Leader GuideJourney of the Soul: Soul Talk CardsSpiritual Growth Path AssessmentSoul Shepherding InstituteEarn a Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Have you ever wondered if your current experience of spiritual life is all there is? Seasons of feeling distant and dry can be reframed as opportunities for a journey of deeper intimacy with God as you come to understand the stages of spiritual growth.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore the pathway for a life-changing spiritual journey. Understanding this roadmap gives you language for your own experience and opens doors for greater emotional honesty, freedom from shame, and deeper connection with the grace and power of God in your life.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteJourney of the SoulSpiritual Direction Training ProgramSpiritual Growth Path Assessment

As Jesus’ apprentices, we have an invitation to live a life that is immersed in God’s presence. But sometimes we default to serving him out of our own strength or trying to earn his love without realizing it. When we focus on our enthrallment with Jesus, we return to live with him as our ultimate mentor!Tune in to this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore this immersive life expressed in the great commission. By reminding yourself of past times in God’s presence and discovering new ways to awaken to his presence all around you, you’ll cultivate habits of thinking and feeling that deepen your apprenticeship to Jesus.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

We tend to focus our attention and effort on our skills in ministry and the needs of those around us. Yet there is another way to encourage others to draw close to the Lord — through cultivating our own devotion to Jesus.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss a meditation on Song of Solomon 1:3. “Draw me and we will run after the fragrance of your love,” from The Story of a Soul by St. Teresa of Lisieux.  You will be encouraged that your own devotion to Jesus can overflow and inspire others in their intimacy with Jesus, creating a community where we spur one another on to love and good deeds. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteSoul Care Groups — Soul Shepherding Network

Shame has many colors, variations, and related emotions. We see in Jesus' cross journey that he is unforsaken by God and we are unforsaken by God in our sin and shame. He invites us to bring all of our needs to him because he is our shame-taker. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi walk us through the journey of the cross. As you look at the fifteen stations of Jesus' cross from the gospel stories, you’ll see Jesus drawing close to show you his empathy for your sin and shame and mediating God’s grace to you.Resources for this Episode:Unforsaken: Journey with Jesus on the Stations of the Cross

When we think about Jesus on the cross, we may only feel pain and shame for our sin and inadequacies. Yet Jesus chose to draw close to us in his humanity to reveal his great love for us! Tune into this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack the power and beauty of the cross for our daily lives. As you recognize you are unforsaken through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and incarnate life, he replaces your shame with grace and you can have love, joy, and peace in any situation in the kingdom of God.Resources for this Episode:Unforsaken: Journey With Jesus on the Stations of the CrossSoul Shepherding Institute

Shame can leave us feeling worthless and isolated, disconnected from God’s loving presence and the support of friends. We may feel unable to access God’s best gifts and the abilities and capacities he has given us through his grace. Yet the cross of Jesus has the answers for our sin and shame!Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore shame and its effects. You’ll be encouraged to see you are unforsaken and Jesus’ love and empathy are ready to free you from shame and reorient you back to the truth of God’s embrace. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding InstituteUnforsaken: Journey With Jesus on the Stations of the CrossSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual Directors

Intimacy, communication, and understanding are so important to healthy relationships. We work out the practicalities of our discipleship with God in the context of our human relationships, and we all need at least one soul friendship where we can share vulnerably and be understood.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss how to cultivate understanding, safety, and trust in your closest relationships. Two Soul Shepherding assessments — Relationship Satisfaction Assessment, and Marriage Needs Test — will help you identify and communicate your own needs and the needs of your loved one, and address the key challenges in your relationship.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding NetworkSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

Assessments for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health can give us language to describe our particular experience unique to our personality, stage in life, and situation. A problem well defined is half solved, and assessments are a powerful tool to help us identify problem areas.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi explore the power of assessments in two areas—adrenaline addiction and image of God. You’ll see the impact these areas can have on your life and learn how to train in order to experience freedom and peace. Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding NetworkSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

What is discipleship? Often our understanding of discipleship separates our spiritual health from the other aspects of our life which can leave us disintegrated and soul sick. Our first call is to be a disciple of Jesus — ahead of the specific work of our ministry — so we learn to live in full dependence on him.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack whole life discipleship to Jesus. You’ll learn how to integrate your mental, emotional, relational, spiritual, and physical health within discipleship to live out of the overflow of your attachment to Jesus. Resources for this Episode:Breath Prayer GuidesIgnatian Meditation GuidesLectio Divina GuidesYour Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke: Rhythms of Grace to De-Stress and Live EmpoweredJourney of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. CoachesSoul Shepherding Network—Soul Care GroupsContact UsSoul Shepherding on Instagram

Solitude and silence are essential for deeper submission, trust, and intimacy with the Lord. While our experience of these disciplines may change through different stages of our faith, they remain foundational for us to flourish in life.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share the power of practicing rhythms of solitude and spiritual direction. Together these practices transform and awaken your soul to perceive the beauty, goodness, and love of God, and the many ways he is caring for you right now.Resources for this Episode:Dallas Willard, Renewing the Christian Mind: Essays, Interviews, and TalksSoul Shepherding Institute

How can we know we are hearing God’s voice? We may hear a call from the Lord, but often there will be decades between receiving a word or promise and its fulfillment. How do we hold on to faith so we don’t lose heart and give in to doubt among the enemy’s attempts to steal it away?Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack the ways God speaks to us through different stages of our faith. You’ll see how the Lord often leads us through experiences and circumstances to become the kind of person who is living a “with God” life in the school of discipleship to Jesus, and that it’s never too late to learn to discern God’s presence, voice, touch, and encouragement more clearly.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Spiritual Direction TrainingSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

We may feel called by God to use our gifts, yet experience confusion during seasons of deep discouragement or setback. David, Joseph, and Moses also walked through years of waiting and mystery, wondering about their dreams and calling.Tune in to this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi and Bill discuss the seasons of waiting and discouragement that often accompany God’s calling. You will be encouraged to hear how God uses these seasons of perseverance to deepen your first call to love him faithfully and shape your character into the image of Christ.Resources for this Episode:Soul Shepherding Spiritual Direction TrainingSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

Many of us have an incredibly strong work ethic, but we don’t have an equally robust rest ethic. The biblical vision of rest as sabbath is the very fabric of creation. Resting is a gift from God just as surely work is a gift from God, so how can we learn to welcome every gift that God has given us?Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill interviews Alan Fadling, author of A Year of Slowing Down: Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest. You’ll be inspired by this conversation about pace of life, unique spiritual disciplines to slow down as an act of prayer, perfectionism, and learning to live unhurried in God’s presence.Resources for this Episode:A Year of Slowing Down: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and RestUnhurriedliving.orgSoul Shepherding Network   

It is a challenge to be present to someone’s emotions with empathy while balancing our own emotions and needs. Patterns of codependency often result when we are unaware of our own unmet needs, unresolved disappointments, or stresses.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi continue their conversation about codependency, empathy, and disentangling from codependent relationships.You’ll learn to cultivate awareness of your own emotions and boundaries through intentional conversations with soul friends, freeing you to bear the burdens of loved ones while maintaining objectivity, hope, and peace.Resources for this Episode:Donate to Support Soul ShepherdingSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSpiritual Direction Training ProgramSoul Shepherding InstituteSoul Shepherding Sr. Coaches

What is the difference between empathy and codependency? Sometimes our empathy for loved ones can cross over into codependency, rescuing, and trying to protect them from consequences of their choices that are necessary for their growth and maturity.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi unpack empathy and codependency. You will learn from the Scriptural example of carrying someone’s burden versus his load, and how to draw close to people with empathy while also being able to step back with appropriate boundaries.Resources for this Episode:Spiritual Direction Training ProgramSoul Shepherding Sr. Spiritual DirectorsSoul Shepherding InstituteDonate to Soul Shepherding