Abiding Together

The Story of Two Sons and Their Father In this episode, we kick off our 6-part Lenten book study on The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen, beginning with the Prologue and Introduction. We chat about our identity as children of God, the mercy of the Father, and how God uses art and beauty to speak to us. We explore the idea of home and a homecoming, which speaks of our deep desire for heaven. We also talk about how often fear and self protection keeps us from experiencing the healing love of the Father.    Sister Miriam’s one thing - Dentists! The unsung heroes. Michelle’s one thing - The Instagram accounts @OodsofGlutes (from Allie at @Oodlesofdoodles) and @Oodsofflutes Heather’s one thing - Ruth Stricklin from New Jerusalem Studios   Announcements! The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study is The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. You can still join us - we're just getting started! Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.)   The Abiding Together shop has new items! We have a new journal and a new mug inspired by Henri Nouwen, created just for this Lenten book study! Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What does the idea of “home” mean to you? Have you ever had an experience where beauty led you to the divine? Share about it! How are you taking steps on the journey toward the embrace of the Father?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Luke 15:11-32. What does it speak to you personally?  Does the thought of vulnerability and the embrace of God make you feel at peace or uneasy?  Do you find yourself to be an observer in your own story? Where and how can you “dare to step into the center, kneel down, and let [yourself] be held by a forgiving God?”   Quote to Ponder -  “‘Coming home’ meant, for me, walking step by step toward the One who awaits me with open arms and wants to hold me in an eternal embrace.” - Henri Nouwen  Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Power of Holy Hour In this episode we have our dear friend Fr. Josh Johnson back on the podcast to discuss how to have a fruitful Holy Hour. Through his humor and reflections, Fr. Josh shares practical tools as well spiritual insights about how to pray in silence and grow in intimacy with Jesus.    Fr. Josh’s one thing - The Liturgy of the Hours Sister Miriam’s one thing - Calming Christian playlist on Spotify Michelle’s one thing - Priscilla at The Little Catholic shop Heather’s one thing - The movie The Peanut Butter Falcon   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The Little Catholic shop. The main objective of The Little Catholic shop is to evangelize through beauty. The medals are handmade in Southern California. Beauty has a powerful ability to draw people to the Church, whether it be the sound of prayers, the beautiful stained glass windows of a church, or the kindness of another person. The Little Catholic Shop wants to provide the kind of beauty that heals to each person who sees or wears their pieces. Use promo code Abide15 for 15% off the store.   Additional Resources The Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson. Listeners in Canada, shop here. Listeners in the UK, shop here. Announcements! The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study will be The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.) The Abiding Together shop is open! Take a peek at some of the fun new things we have for you, including the “Quit talking to the dang snake” mug! Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? Do you make adoration a regular practice? Why or why not? What has been your experience of adoration? What are some ways you’ve learned to avoid distraction in adoration? What are some ways you like to pray in adoration?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Jeremiah 19:12-14. What does it speak to you personally?  Take some time in adoration this week: What do you hear the Lord saying to you while you spend time with Him? What’s holding you back from spending time in adoration? How do you think the Lord wants to respond to that?   Quote to Ponder - "Spend one hour each day in adoration of your Lord. Never do anything you know is wrong. Follow this and you'll be fine." ― St. Teresa of Calcutta to Henri Nouwen Scripture for Lectio Divina - Jeremiah 19:12-14: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.

Gathering People In this episode we discuss how to gather people and lead a fruitful discussion. We are meant to live in community and have depth and joy in our relationships, but sometimes we don’t know where to start or how to go deeper. We chat about how to have meaningful conversations and live in an open-hearted way with others. We also discuss lots of practicals and how to grow in the gift of hospitality. Sister Miriam’s one thing - The Bridegroom by Rivers and Robots Michelle’s one thing - my husband Chris Heather’s one thing - The Ungame Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The Little Catholic shop. The main objective of The Little Catholic shop is to evangelize through beauty.The medals are handmade in Southern California. Beauty has a powerful ability to draw people to the Church, whether it be the sound of prayers, the beautiful stained glass windows of a church, or the kindness of another person. The Little Catholic Shop wants to provide the kind of beauty that heals to each person who sees or wears their pieces.Use promo code Abide15 for 15% off the store.   Announcements! The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study will be The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.) The Abiding Together shop is open! Take a peek at some of the fun new things we have for you, including the “quit talking to the dang snake” mug! Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What are your hesitations in extending invitations or offering hospitality to others? What are the questions you need people to ask you about your journey? How can you be more intentional in creating space for the people in your life?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Hebrew 10:24-25. What does it speak to you personally?  Who have you been neglecting in your life, or what friendship can you invest in more fully? How well do you listen to the people around you? How attentive are you? How can you grow in that?   Quote to Ponder - “We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” ― Dorothy Day Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Hebrew 10:24-25 - and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Made For Mission - Recorded Live from FOCUS SLS Conference This week is a special episode of Abiding Together that we recorded in front of a live audience at the FOCUS SLS conference in Phoenix, Arizona. This episode is packed full of wisdom, inspiration, and a challenge to personal holiness. We chat about leadership, mission, making a whole hearted yes, regaining your voice, falling in love with Jesus, and living an unmasked life.   Sister Miriam’s one thing - all of our listeners live at SLS! Michelle’s one thing - SLS and Curtis Martin’s “Yes”, and all the great apostolates out there. Heather’s one thing - Like a Fire by Sean Feucht & Steffany Gretzinger and the movie Little Women   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by The Given Institute. Learn more about the 2020 GIVEN Catholic Young Women's Leadership Forum taking place June 10-14, 2020 in Washington, D.C. at the Catholic University of America! The GIVEN Forum provides leadership training, faith formation, and mentoring to young adult Catholic women, ages 21-30, with a heart for mission and an aptitude for leadership. It is designed to help them identify their particular gifts and find practical pathways to put them in the service of the Gospel through their profession or vocation.  Applications for young adults are now open! The early bird deadline is February 3, 2020 at midnight.  Extended deadline for Round 2 Review, as well as for Mentor applications for lay leaders and religious sisters, is March 1, 2020. Discover the gift that only you can give, because of the gift that you are! Announcements!The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study will be The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.) Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? Do you have trustworthy friends who you can be authentic with? Are you that friend for others? What would it look like for you to live an unmasked life? Where do you feel Satan has tried to steal your voice? Where are you feeling lost or afraid, and how can you “put yourself in a position to be found” by God?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture. Jeremiah 1: 4-9 - What does it speak to you personally?  What false layers do you need to take off?  Where are you wrestling with something that’s too big for you (but not for God)? Where is the Lord asking you to be brave this year?   Quote to Ponder - “We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world.”- G.K. Chesterton Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Jeremiah 1:4-9    The word of the Lord came to me, saying,“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born I set you apart;I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

The Barrenness of Winter In this episode we talk about the barrenness of winter and how the seasons are often reflected in our spiritual and emotional lives. We explore how to have hope and perspective in times when things are hidden and dormant and how to allow our roots to go deeper into our relationship with Christ.    Sister Miriam’s one thing - Trader Joe’s Michelle’s one thing - If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens Endow - Edith Stein (St. Teresa of Benedicta): Seeker of Truth Book Study  Heather’s one thing - You Make Me Brave (Acoustic Version) by Josie BuchananNothing Else by Cody Carnes   Announcements! The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study will be The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.)   The Abiding Together shop is open! Take a peek at some of the fun new things we have for you, including the all new “quit talking to the dang snake” mug! Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What parallels do you see between the natural seasons and the seasons of the spiritual life? How do you take a “holy pause”? What are the places you’re afraid are too barren for God to make fruitful?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Proverbs 31:25. What does it speak to you personally?  Has there been a time when you tried to cling to something that had run its course? What are the barren places in your life that you can pour out before the Lord like Hannah?   Quote to Ponder - “For just as the body is clothed in its garments, and the flesh in its skin, and the bones in their flesh, and the heart in its body, so too are we, soul and body, clothed from head to foot in the goodness of God.” —Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Proverbs 31:25 - She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

Good Soil In this episode we break open the parable of the sower and the seeds. We chat about how we can cultivate good soil in our hearts where seeds can grow and bear good fruit. We also talk about the practicals of what makes up rocky ground that chokes out goodness and what makes up the fertile soil, where God can bring forth life and abundance.   Sister Miriam’s one thing - Undone: Freeing Your Feminine Heart from the Knots of Fear and Shame by Carrie Schuchts Daunt  Michelle’s one thing - Higher Love - Kygo, Whitney Houston  Heather’s one thing - The team building my house from Tundra Developments Announcements! The Abiding Together Lenten Book Study will be The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen. Purchase the book via US Amazon Link, a Canada Amazon link, and a UK Amazon link. (As an Amazon Associate, Abiding Together earns from qualifying Amazon purchases.) The Abiding Together shop is open! Take a peek at some of the fun new things we have for you, including the all new “quit talking to the dang snake” mug! Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Pilgrimage to Beauty. Their mission is to create a transformative experience of true rest and retreat, for couples or individuals wired for adventure. Pilgrimage to Beauty believes that traversing the world, cultures and even our own street can teach us so much. Gaining knowledge of other peoples and lands gives us a genuine curiosity to learn and experience even more of what the world has to offer.  Their aim is to give you a unique once in a lifetime experience that transforms and renews your spirit, no matter your vocation or state in life. Their next trip is to Guatemala in March 2020, so check it out quickly! Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What is the terrain of your heart? What does the soil in your life look like right now? Where do you need to dig in the dirt and let God bring in His light and cultivate the soil? What do I need to steward well in my life and what do I need to prune back? What are the weeds that need to be pulled out in my heart?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Matthew 13. What does it speak to you personally?  What are the thorns that choke the good seed in your life? Where do you need to seek the true face of Jesus? What is the fruit being born in your life? What do you think God is trying to show you about your soil?   Quote to Ponder - “Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a sceptre but a hoe.” ― St. Bernard of Clairvaux Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see;  though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;   you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused;  they hardly hear with their ears,   and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,     hear with their ears,  understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Repost: Striving vs. Abiding We chose to repost this episode from Season 1 because it is a message at the heart of the Abiding Together Podcast. Many of us live a life of striving and struggle, rather than accepting the invitation of abiding and trust. We take time to reflect on the scripture John 15:4-5, where Jesus invites us to abide in His love. We also chat about how we can recognize the pitfalls of striving and how to learn to trust that God is a good Father.   Sister Miriam’s one thing - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown Michelle’s one thing - the movie Hidden Figures Heather’s one thing - signs from The House of Belonging Additional Resources: Shepherd by Bethel Undivided by Stu Garrard (feat. Amanda Cook) Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Pilgrimage to Beauty. Their mission is to create a transformative experience of true rest and retreat, for couples or individuals wired for adventure. Pilgrimage to Beauty believes that traversing the world, cultures and even our own street can teach us so much. Gaining knowledge of other peoples and lands gives us a genuine curiosity to learn and experience even more of what the world has to offer.  Their aim is to give you a unique once in a lifetime experience that transforms and renews your spirit, no matter your vocation or state in life. Their next trip is to Guatemala in March 2020, so check it out quickly!   Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What do the terms abiding and striving mean to you? What seed do you hear God calling you to cultivate slowly right now? What motivates you to strive and grasp instead of abiding and trusting in God? What is one thing you can do this week to abide more deeply in God?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: John 15:4-5. What does it speak to you personally?  Where are you striving and where are you abiding? Where do you struggle with self-reliance?   Quote to Ponder - This self-reliance was what destroyed me. - St. Teresa of Avila Scripture for Lectio Divina -  John 15:4-5: Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

Word of the Year In this episode we reveal and discuss our word of the year. A few years ago, we each began the practice of praying and listening for the Lord to give us one word to focus on for the new year. It’s an opportunity to dive in to what God is speaking in our individual lives and respond in intentional ways.    Sister Miriam’s one thing - Love Come To Life - Melissa Helser & Molly Skaggs Michelle’s one thing - Divine Romance - Phil Wickman, Jill Simons at Pink Salt Riot Heather’s one thing - Every Sacred Sunday   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Pink Salt Riot. Check out their jewelry, print pieces, gifts, and more! Order your own custom Word of the Year pieces to keep a personal reminder close to you every day.  Definitely also check out the quarterly subscription box, The Joy Box, which is designed for sharing. Abiding Together listeners get 10% off the whole shop (including quarterly subscriptions, excluding yearly subscriptions) with code: abidewithme   Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? Did you have a Word of the Year this past year? How did it shape you and your relationship with God? What is your Word of the Year for the upcoming year? If you don’t have one yet, how can you make time to talk to God about it this week? How do you ask God to reveal your Word of the Year to you? Which saints are choosing you this year?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Isaiah 43:19. What does it speak to you personally?  What “new thing” do you hear God calling you into this year? What spiritual journey has been the Lord been taking you on through your past Words of the Year?   Quote to Ponder - “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.― Saint Mother Teresa Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Isaiah 43:19: Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

The Good News In this episode, the fourth part of our Advent series, we interview our friend Sarah Kaczmarek. Sarah is the Assistant Director of Alpha Catholic USA, as well as the Pastoral Director of Encounter School of Ministry. We chat about the call we have as Catholics to share the Good News of the Gospel and the stumbling blocks we often run into. We also discuss how essential it is to be an authentic witness and how to grow in having the Father's heart for the lost.   Sarah’s one thing - Whole Heart - Hillsong United Sister Miriam’s one thing - Winter Snow by Audrey AssadThe Shadow Can’t Have Me by Arthur Alligood Michelle’s one thing - The song Into the Unknown from Frozen 2 Heather’s one thing - The song Noel by Lauren Daigle    Additional Notes: Abiding Together will be at Focus SLS2020! Abiding Together Podcast will be recording live at SLS on December 31st at 12:30pm. Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What are some of the stumbling blocks that you experience in sharing what God has done in your life? Are there areas of your life where you’re afraid to share yourself authentically? What is one way you can bring good news to the lost? Where can you set aside time this week to pray for the grace to love with the Father’s heart?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture:  Isaiah 61:1. What does it speak to you personally?  We can’t selectively numb the bad without numbing the good. Where are you numbing your life and not living fully awake? Where do I need to say “Yes” to the Lord, so he can bring restoration and good news?   Quote to Ponder - “This is our mission: to give pure and fresh air to those immersed in the pollution of our world; to bring to earth that peace which fills us with joy whenever we meet Jesus on the mountain in prayer; to show by our lives, and perhaps even by our words, that God loves everyone and never tires of anyone” Pope Francis Scripture for Lectio Divina - Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,    because the Lord has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,    to proclaim freedom for the captives    and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

He’s in the Waiting In this episode, the third part of our Advent series, we interview our friend Beth Davis from Blessed is She. We talk about the theme of having hope in seasons of waiting, trusting God when we can't see what He's up to, and being transformed by the renewal of our minds. Beth’s one thing - Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph: An Integrated Look At the Holy Family by Dr. Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle Sister Miriam’s one thing - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (trailer) Michelle’s one thing - The Auburn vs. Alabama game. The Simplicity of Christmas Heather’s one thing - The song Shepherd by Bethel.Our dear friends Mary and Simon Kyne     Additional Resources: You can find more information about Beth Davis and Blessed is She at https://blessedisshe.net Abiding Together will be at Focus SLS2020! Abiding Together Podcast will be recording live on December 31st at 12:30pm The Abiding Together shop will be closed from Dec 13th-Jan 1.   Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Pink Salt Riot. Check out their jewelry, print pieces, gifts, and more! Definitely also check out the quarterly subscription box, The Joy Box, which is designed for sharing. Keep an eye out for custom Word of the Year pieces starting Dec 28th. Abiding Together listeners get 10% off the whole shop (including quarterly subscriptions, excluding ) with code: abidewithme   Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What was a time when you felt a verse from Scripture was given to you for that particular moment in your life? What was the Scripture? How do you stay hopeful in moments of your life when you’ve been waiting for the Savior to arrive? What’s one way you can practice reminding yourself who God is - “preach to yourself”? Who are the patron saints - the “cloud of witnesses” - you turn to for intercession? Why?   Journal Questions: Reflect and journal about this scripture: Psalm 27:14. What does it speak to you personally?  What season do you feel the Lord has you in right now? How do you resist the enemy’s suggestions in seasons of waiting that are sometimes very long?   Quote to Ponder - “People are made for happiness. Rightly, then, you thirst for happiness. Christ has the answer to this desire of yours. But he asks you to trust him.” Pope Saint John Paul II    Scripture for Lectio Divina - Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”