Abiding Together

How to Accompany Someone Through A Hard Season In this episode we talk about how to journey with each other through hardships and offer the powerful gift of presence. Walking through suffering with each other is sacred ground, so we need to learn how to become a compassionate presence and honor the vulnerability in others, while also being vulnerable ourselves. We talk about how to discern what we are able to offer to others and how we need to ask the Holy Spirit how to respond instead of falling into codependency or taking on the problems of others.   Sister Miriam’s one thing - Surrender Prayer  God, my Father, I thank you for all that you are, and all that you do for me through your son Jesus Christ. I praise you for my life, for your mercy and for your Eucharist.   In Jesus’ name, Father, I place myself entirely in your Heart. I surrender to you my whole self, my heart, my mind, my memory, my imagination, my will, my emotions, my passions, my desires, my body, my sexuality, my desire for human approval, my weaknesses, my sins.  I surrender every person in my life to you. I surrender every situation in my life to you. I surrender every relationship I am in to you. I surrender every concern I have to you. I surrender every fear I have to you. I surrender every doubt I have to you. I surrender all confusion I have to you. I surrender all sadness I am experiencing in my heart to you. I surrender all my wounds to you. I surrender all anxiety and worry I have to you. I surrender all that deceives me in my heart to you. I trust you to care for me and others in a perfectly loving way. As I have emptied myself, and surrendered everything to you, I ask you now, Father, to fill me with your Holy Spirit and all the gifts and fruits of your Spirit. Holy Spirit you are the source of love, hope, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, tenderness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. Purify my desires. Help me to open my heart to you. Help me to become perfectly receptive as a pure child. Help me to believe in your love for me. Help me to hope in your love. Help me to receive from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus all grace and virtues necessary for me to become the person you created me to be. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your son, God Almighty Father. O Most Holy Immaculate Virgin Mary. I entrust this prayer to your Heart, and ask you to press it to your sorrowful and immaculate heart and intercede for me to your Son Jesus. Please help me to be as you are, a loving disciple, an obedient servant, a true child of God. Amen. Michelle’s one thing - A new St. Therese shirt design “I Choose All” and story card from Michelle’s Meaningful Market store. It comes out on St. Therese’s feast day October 1. Enjoy 15% off with code - ABIDE15 Heather’s one thing - Hannah Van Noort, Heidi Bouwman, and Lisa Marquis for their work behind the scenes at our men’s retreat.   Extra Resources Evangelli Gaudium Section on Accompaniment #169-173   Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? What does it look like to make space for each other? What is the difference between loving someone well and becoming codependent? Why is the gift of presence so healing and powerful?   Journal Questions: Is there someone in your life that needs your heart and presence right now? What is a hard place in your own life that you need the presence of someone close to you? How can you ask them for that? Are there relationships where you are trying to be the savior instead of letting Jesus be Savior.   Quote to Ponder - “I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes.” - Jean Vanier Scripture for Lectio Divina -  2 Corinthians 9-10 “but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

I Choose You In this episode we talk about the beautiful words of Jesus in John 15:16 where he tells us that He has chosen us and that his desire is that we bear fruit that will last. It’s the deepest desires of every heart to be known, to be chosen, and to belong, but often we don’t believe the truth of our belovedness in the core of our being. We chat about the difference between fruit that lasts and success and how being rooted deeply in Jesus is essential for good fruit in our life. Sister Miriam’s one thing - The Song by NEEDTOBREATHE “A Place Only You Can Go”   Michelle’s one thing - The most wonderful time of the year...College Football is back!   Heather’s one thing - The first class relic of St. Therese the Little Flower, sent to me by Fr. Josh Johnson. You can also check out his podcast Ask Fr. Josh Also Jesse and Kathleen of A Guy and a Girl cover NEEDTOBREATHE   Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? How do you feel when you imagine God saying to you “ I choose you”. What is one wound that you need Jesus to speak into. To speak His words of healing that you belong? Discuss the difference between fruit that lasts and success? Where do you hope to see good fruit in your life?   Journal Questions: Do you know deep in your gut that you belong to God? Why or why not? Where are you striving to find your identity outside of God? Do you love to be loved or do you love because you’ve first received it?   Quote to Ponder - “Let's remind one another that what brings true and healing joy is not successfulness, but fruitfulness" - Henri Nouwen Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 15:16 “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last”

Words Have Power In this episode we talk about how words have incredible power to either bless or curse, to build up or tear down. We talk about how social media can be a place of connection, but also a place where we quickly forget to treat people with dignity. The truth that our words have power to restore, heal, be prophetic is something that can challenge us to be more discerning about how we speak and take the lead by being people who bless others. Sister Miriam’s one thing - A gift of a handmade journal made by Magdelena. Thank you so much!   Michelle’s one thing - The Steubenville Encounter Conference in Dallas   Heather’s one thing - The podcast “Every Knee Shall Bow” on the Ascension website    Discussion questions:     What struck you from the podcast? When have you witnessed the desire to be right as more important than caring for and respecting another person? Is this something you have struggled with? What would it look like if we all started intentionally offering life giving words to those around us instead of criticism, negative humor, and harshness? How might God be calling you to speak goodness and blessing to someone in your life?   Journal Questions: What type of patterns have you gotten into with not using your words to bring life? Is the Holy Spirit asking you to go back and ask forgiveness from someone who you have hurt with your words? Take time to reflect on how you speak to others, your tone and your words. How do you think other people feel when you speak to them?   Quote to Ponder: “Do not accept anything as truth that lacks love and do not accept anything as love that lacks truth.  One without the other is a destructive lie” - St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross   Scripture for Lectio Divina - Proverbs 16:24 “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Welcome to Season 6! To kick off our new season, we dive in deep and talk about how we are all called to live a life of holiness. We discuss that in the midst of difficulty all around us, we are called to pursue a disciplined spiritual life and live radical holiness. We also talk about the tension between accepting our weakness, but not justifying our sin. The truth is that we have to be willing to go down to the depths, so that God can truly raise us from the dead to new life. Sister Miriam’s one thing - Fr. Jacques Phillipe’s book/guided retreat “The Way of Trust and Love”  Michelle’s one thing - Maverick City Music “Real Thing” Heather’s one thing - Bishop Robert Barron’s book “Letter to a Suffering Church”  Discussion questions:     What decisions do you need to make in this season to grow in holiness? How does our Catholic theology move from understanding to becoming an everyday reality for you and your family? What is one area that you need to grow in discipline and self control that will lead to a good fruit in your life? What is holding you back from going “all the way down” to the depths of your own heart, where we need to experience the power of the Holy Spirit and His freedom? What would be your theme song right now in this season of life? Journal Questions: Try to journal out a spiritual plan for this year. What are the main areas that you want to focus on? What places of laziness, hardness of heart, discipline, do you want to grow in? What is one relationship you are struggling with that you need to ask yourself, “how can I respond in love to this person”? What is one sin that you try to justify in your life? How can you surrender this to God and the power of His grace today? What are some survival techniques that have helped you to get through previous seasons, but are not going to work for you in this new season?   Quote to Ponder: “instead of viewing your poverty as a handicap, and obstacle, accept it and welcome it as a grace” - Jesus to St. Thérèse (from The Way of Trust and Love) Scripture for Lectio Divina - 2 Corinthians 12:9 “but he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

This is our final episode of season 5! We revisit some of our favorite episodes and talk about the beautiful moments we have experienced with our community of listeners and Facebook discussion group. We also talk more about what restored femininity and masculinity looks like and our desire to see women fully live out their calling in the Church. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Our awesome listeners! Michelle’s one thing - All of the young adult missionaries! Heather’s one thing - The “Shine” retreat with Blessed is She Discussion Questions What stuck out to you from Season 5? How has that impacted your spiritual walk with God? What are you most grateful for this year? What do you think is necessary to have good and hard conversations where differences of opinion are present? Journal Questions How has your word of the year born fruit so far this year? Write out the graces you have received during this first half of the year. How have you seen God move? Where do you still need God to act in your life? Quote to Ponder “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is the happiness doubled by wonder” - G.K. Chesterton Scripture for Lectio Divina - 2 Corinthians 4:15 “Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”

In this episode of the Abiding Together Podcast, we discuss the power of living a forgiving life, especially when it comes to parenting children, and how unforgiveness in our life can keep us in bondage, and stems from a wound that needs healing. We talk about how sometimes forgiveness feels like we are letting people off the hook, instead of it being a willingness to release our grasp and open ourselves up to God's grace. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Seeking Healing Through Forgiveness SEEK Talk with Fr. John Burns Michelle’s one thing - Endow - Discovering the Doctors Michelle’s other one thing - Story of forgiveness Heather’s one thing - Blessed is She daily devotional for children ages 8-12 called Rise Up Discussion Questions What is one area where you are finding it hard to offer forgiveness? Sister Miriam quotes this “resentment is like drinking a little bit of poison every day and hoping the other person dies.” Discuss this truth in your own life. How can you model a life of forgiveness? If you have children, how can you teach your children about forgiveness? How have you experienced the mercy of God in your life? Journal Questions Who in your life do you need to offer forgiveness to? What is holding you back from this? Journal about how you have felt God’s mercy in your own life How have I hurt people in my life and need to ask for forgiveness? In what ways can I restore the relationship? Quote to Ponder “Forgiveness is the restoration of freedom to oneself, it is the key held in our own hand to our prison cell” - Saint Pope John Paul II Scripture for Lectio Divina - Matthew 6:12 “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us”

In this episode of the Abiding Together Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Fr. Mike Schmitz! Fr. Mike is a wonderful speaker and evangelist, but more than that, he is a beautiful witness of what it looks like to be a spiritual father. We discuss spiritual fatherhood in the priesthood and some of the stumbling blocks in our relationship with God the Father. We also discuss what restored masculinity and the family looks like. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - The book The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You Michelle’s one thing - Summer hospitality and potlucks! Heather’s one thing - The music video for “Fall On Me” by Andrea and Matteo Bocelli Fr. Mike’s One things - Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax and The Heart of Perfection by Colleen Campbell Discussion Questions Do you feel like you can trust God? What makes you distrust his heart at times? What is your experience of fatherhood in your life? How has this impacted your relationship with God the Father positively or negatively? What does a rebirth or renaissance of the family look like in our world today? Journal Questions Sit with the words, as if said from God the Father, “I am proud of you”. What stirs in your heart? Who in your life has revealed the heart of God the Father to you? In what areas do you need to experience restoration in your relationship with your earthly father and with God the Father? Quote to Ponder “I know I can trust God the Father as my dad” - Fr. Mike Schmitz Scripture for Lectio Divina - 1 John 3:1 “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.”

As we approach Pentecost this week, we thought it would be awesome to re-release our conversation from last year about the Holy Spirit with our dear friend, Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR. Fr. Dave created the popular series on the Holy Spirit called “The Wild Goose” with 4PM Media and he was just named the new President of Franciscan University. We had the pleasure of hearing Fr. Dave’s story and chatted with him about how to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and practical ways to open up to a new Pentecost in our own hearts. We were moved and inspired by this conversation and hope that you will be too. You can check out the free Wild Goose Series here. One Thing We Love This Week Sr. Miriam’s One Thing – Meaningful Market’s Father’s Day print and postcards! find them here. 15% your entire order at Meaningful Market with discount code - Abide15 Michelle's One Thing - New study from Blessed Is She “Blessed Conversations study on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy called Misericordia” Heather's One Thing - This new Pentecost playlist I created. Discussion Questions Have you ever pondered the idea that the Holy Spirit never leaves us? Discuss how this truth could change the experience of how you go through daily life? Scripture says, “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom”. What area do you need the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to in your life right now? How are you going to prepare for a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit as we approach Pentecost this Sunday? Journal Questions How could you open your heart to the Holy Spirit in a deeper way this Pentecost? Fire illuminates what we cannot see. Take some time to pray for the Holy Spirit to come and illuminate those areas in your heart? Fr. Dave said that free people make the world nervous. How would your life look differently if you truly lived in freedom? Quote to Ponder “The Holy Spirit brings people into divine life as children of God where they can live, as true children, in a relationship of intimacy, freedom, and faith in the love and mercy of God.” – Pope Francis Scripture for Lectio Divina - 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather discuss how to have fruitful and authentic small group discussions that provide safety and opportunities for deep connection with others. We give insights into how to talk in a vulnerable way, how to sit at one another’s feet and listen, and what the ingredients are for meaningful conversations. We hope this offers some helpful insights for going deeper in your friendships and small faith groups with other women. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Heather’s Greek Salad (diced cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet onion and feta (you can get it without goat milk if you like) and the amazing Abbotsford Greek Islands restaurant dressing. Michelle’s one thing - Reading books aloud with her daughter. She is using this website to read The Secret Garden. Heather’s one thing - Making an awesome charcuterie board. Here’s a link with a video of how to make one. Also, you can pinterest this and find other cool ideas. I love including a raised bowl with some little chocolates in it as well. Dried apricots, mixed nuts, sliced pepper salami, Boursin, baby dills, cheese, brie, are some of my favorites. Discussion questions What blesses you the most in good conversation? What makes you feel safe in conversation and what makes you feel uncomfortable? What is bringing you joy right now in your life? What is a theme going on in your life this year? What does restored femininity (masculinity) look like? Journal Questions Do you spend more time sharing or listening in conversations? How can you grow in the area that you're not as strong in? Who is someone in your life that you need to make time to sit at their feet more often? What holds you back from sharing your heart? Quote to Ponder “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.” - Brene Brown Scripture for lectio divina - Sirach 14-16 “Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather discuss their own personal prayer lives and how it has changed through seasons and vocation. They also chat about how to develop a rhythm of prayer, cultivating spiritual disciplines, and how to pray with your spouse. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - The beautiful hike at Heather’s house Michelle’s one thing - Devotion to the Sacred Heart Heather’s one thing - Our friend of the podcast Michael Corcoro Discussion Questions What form of prayer do you find easiest? What is the most challenging for you? How can you experience the gift of prayer in this season of your life? What ushers you into the presence of God quickly? Discuss the idea of a daily conversation with God throughout your day. If you're married, how can you pray with your spouse this week? Journal Questions How is God inviting you to make time with Him? What is most on your heart right now to speak with God about? What devotions are you drawn to and why? What are the things that distract you in prayer? What spiritual disciplines do you need in your life right now? Quote to Ponder “Love to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself” - St Teresa of Calcutta Scripture for Lectio Divina - Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”