Abiding Together

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather recap their conference on restoring the beauty with special guest Fr. Josh Johnson. We talk about the four themes of our weekend and how this applies to all of us at every stage in our spiritual journey. We also discuss what it looks like to have restored hearts, femininity, hope, relationships. One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Book by Dr. Conrad Bars I Will Give Them a New Heart Michelle’s one thing - Being together Heather’s one thing - Her husband Jake (also the incredible Hannah Van Noort) Fr. Josh’s one thing - Fr. Lucio Choi & Heather’s family Discussion Questions Fr. Josh said that when we allow Jesus into our painful places that he will not hurt us, he will only love us. What does this stir in you? Sometimes we can brood and focus on our pain or lies more than the truth. What does this do to your heart when you do this? How can you change this pattern? The word restore means to stand again. What is a part of your life that you would like the Lord to raise you up, to stand again? Where in the garden of our souls is Christ present, but we don’t recognize him? What is one area from your childhood that God wants to restore in you? What does it mean to restore the beauty in the Church? Journal Questions God asks us, “would you let me love you in your deepest shame and vulnerability?” Journal your own prayer response to this question. If we are in relationship with Jesus and know his voice, we can better perceive where he is in challenging moments in our life. Pause and reflect on where Jesus is right now in the difficulties of your life. How is God asking you to restore the beauty in yourself and the Church? Quote to Ponder “How many times in our life is Christ present in our garden, in our soul, but we think he is the gardener?” - Sister Miriam Scripture for Lectio Divina - Lamentations 5:21 “Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about the gift and calling of motherhood. Whether it be biological or spiritual motherhood, every woman is called to offer her maternity. Motherhood stretches our hearts to love more deeply and give new life to others. We talk about adoption and spiritual motherhood, which allows others to be born in our hearts as we image the gift of adoption that God has given to us. Visit ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - the beauty of Bowling Green, Kentucky Michelle’s one thing - weekend getaways with her spouse Heather’s one thing - two songs from the new Hillsong United album, “People”: Clean and Highlands (Song of Ascent) Discussion Questions Where do you experience the joy of maternity and femininity? What would you like Jesus to heal in your maternity and femininity? How is God inviting you to expand your heart to love others? What does it mean to be a life giver? Journal Questions Is there someone that God is placing on your heart to offer your gift of maternity to? How does God need to expand your view of motherhood? Reflect on your relationship with Our Blessed Mother. How can you grow in this? Quote to Ponder “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other” - Mother Teresa Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about Pope Francis' Easter message and how we can truly live in the Resurrection. We discuss the power of God that can roll away even the hardest stones in our heart and what the common blocks are to hope in Jesus. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Seminarians at Mundelein Seminary Michelle’s one thing - Writings of Fr. Padro Arrupe, SJ Heather’s one thing - The Song “Healer” by Upperroom worship and in case you missed it, here’s Heather’s Easter Playlist - Hallelujah Is Our Song Discussion Questions What is the stone that I need to remove, what is the name of this stone? Am I expecting to find the Risen Jesus in the most painful parts of my heart and story? Where am I giving into discouragement and where have I lost hope? What struck you from Pope Francis' message or the podcast and why? Journal Questions What practical things do I need to do to live in the new life God has brought to me instead of the old way? Where am I looking? At graveyards or looking for the Living One? What place in my heart do I need to invite the resurrected Jesus? Spend some time remembering the good things God has done in your life. Quote to Ponder “Human history does not end before a tombstone, because today it encounters the “living stone”, the risen Jesus. We, as Church, are built on him, and, even when we grow disheartened and tempted to judge everything in the light of our failures, He comes to make all things new” - Pope Francis Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’ Do you believe this?”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about the gift of God's mercy. In light of the diary of St. Faustina, they discuss how often we don't turn to God in our weakness and sin because of shame or a belief that we are not worthy. The truth is that God's mercy is a free, inexhaustible gift that our loving Father wants to give to us in abundance. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Springtime and flowers Michelle’s one thing - Her trip to Dallas Heather’s one things - Free 50 day Easter Devotional “Arise” The new Hillsong Young & Free acoustic album Easter Playlist - Hallelujah Is Our Song Discussion Questions: What struck you from the podcast this week? What has been a stumbling block for you in receiving God’s mercy? Often we think of God as a harsh Father, but in fact he shows us His vulnerability as He pours out His heart to us naked on the cross. Share you thoughts on this. What is one main area that you need to trust God? Journal Questions: What is your heart response to God’s gift of complete vulnerability, naked on the cross, giving His heart to you? What do you really want to ask God for, confident that He knows best and He is good? Why is it hard for you to trust God? Quote to Ponder: “Jesus I trust in You!” - St. Faustina Scripture for Lectio Divina - Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather have another heart to heart conversation with our good friend Dr. Bob Schuchts. Dr. Bob is a family and marriage counsellor for 40 years and founder of JPII Healing Center. Dr. Bob shares about the 7 universal wounds in the human person that affect how we relate to others, ourselves, and God. He teaches about how those present themselves in our lives and how we can begin the healing journey that leads to freedom. You can find more about Dr. Bob’s ministry at https://jpiihealingcenter.org/ Dr. Bob’s book “Be Healed” - https://jpiihealingcenter.org/product/be-healed-dr-bob-schuchts-copy/ All his other books - https://jpiihealingcenter.org/shop/ Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Song “Come out of Hiding” Steffany Gretzinger Michelle’s one thing - Song “You Don’t Miss a Thing” by Amanda Cook Heather’s one thing - Shredded Buffalo Chicken Recipe (see recipe below) For the instant pot: Add to pot - 3 lbs frozen chicken, 1 packet of powdered ranch dressing, ½ - ¾ of a 17.5 fl oz bottle of Franks buffalo wing sauce (must be buffalo flavor) Manual cook for 20 min. When it’s done, do a natural steam release for 10 min, then manual steam release the rest. Drain excess liquid if you don’t want it. Add 3 tablespoons of butter Shred chicken with 2 forks Serve on buns or tortilla wraps with all the extras you enjoy. If using a slow cooker, add the chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch package, cook on low for 6-7 hours, shred, then add butter and cook for one more hour. Discussion Questions What struck you from the podcast this week? How can we cooperate with the healing that God wants to bring into our lives? Who is a safe person around you who can speak truth to you, encourage you, and lift your gaze to the Father? Which of the 7 wounds do you resonate the most with in this season of your life? Journal Questions What is something you often overreact about that may be revealing a deeper area of woundedness? What mindsets or negative beliefs do you think you have brought from your childhood into your adulthood? Write down the 7 wounds that Dr. Bob mentioned. What is your first memory of when each of those wounds entered your life? Ask Jesus what He wants to speak to you about that. Quote to Ponder “Life comes through the heart” - Dr. Bob Schuchts Scripture for Lectio Divina - Isaiah 53:5 “By His wounds we are healed."

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle, and Heather finish up their Lenten series on Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. They talk about how God wants to build a house where he dwells within us and how we are invited to be receptive and open instead of self protective. They dig into what causes us to lose peace and ask how are we letting the Prince of Peace take care of our difficult situations in life. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing - Bishop Barron Presents with Leah Libresco (Facebook link) Michelle’s one thing - Think Like a Tree - Live Oaks Heather’s one thing - Story behind the song “As You Find Me” by Hillsong United Discussion Questions: What makes me lose my peace? What are the things that are keeping God from creating the house that he wants to build in us? Is my interior house (in my heart) a place where other people can flourish in my presence? Where am I not receptive? Where is there a block in my heart and why? Journal Questions: Am I really allowing Christ to be the Prince of Peace over the difficult situations or busyness in my life or am I trying to manage it all? What are other people’s experience of being around me? Do they feel safe? Do they feel loved and at peace? (Ask a close friend who loves you and then journal and pray about it.) What are the ways that you self protect and why? Quote to Ponder: “Keep your soul at peace” - St. François-Marie-Jacob Libermann Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle, and Heather continue the conversation in week five of Lent on Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. We talk about how we often cover up our weakness and sin in attempts to make ourselves more presentable to God, but that God wants to draw near to us in our weakness and receive every part of us. We also talk about some rules of discernment and how to abandon our will to God in total trust. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing: The song “Build My Life” by Housefires Michelle’s one thing: Beautiful Easter plates designed by Erica Tighe at beaheart.com Michelle’s other one thing: This new Alleluia cake topper Heather’s one thing: The Abiding Together small groups that are meeting together! Discussion Questions: Do you ever feel like you need to “cover up” before approaching God? Do you feel an unhealthy sense of guilt that keeps you from coming to Jesus vulnerably? Why do you think it’s hard for you to look at your own weakness and sin? What struck you about Fr. Jacques rules of discernment? How can you apply this to your life? Journal Questions: How can I grow in self awareness? How can I remain faithful and trusting when I’m in the desert? Do I really want to live the full life that Jesus is offering with raw vulnerability instead of fear and hiding? Quote to Ponder: “Love is able to profit from everything, the good as well as the bad that It finds in me, and to transform it into Itself.” —St. John of the Cross Scripture for Lectio Divina - Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather continue the conversation in week 4 of Lent with Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. We talk about the frequent human experience of wishing that we had a different life or circumstance than the one we really have. We discuss how the enemy can block us from understanding where God is in our suffering and that the key is to allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and open our eyes to a new perspective. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing: The documentary “Free Solo” Michelle’s one thing: Prayer of Abandonment Michelle’s other one thing: Be Brave in the Sacred, Mary Lenaburg Heather’s one thing: The song “Confident” by Steffany Gretzinger and Bobby Strand Discussion Questions Where is the enemy trying to make you believe that real life is elsewhere? We are not called to do life on our own. Where do you need to invite the Holy Spirit into your life to be your comforter and guide? What is one situation where you need a new perspective, given by God, on your life circumstances? Journal Questions Do I pay attention to see how God is providing for me? How can I pay attention to my life in a deeper way and not just go through the motions? Take some time to delight in God and his movement in your life. Journal about what comes to mind. In the main circumstances in your life right now, what is your heart really longing for? Take time this week to invite God into that longing. Quote to Ponder “We often live with this illusion, but it’s often an error. It’s not the exterior circumstances that must change, it’s above all our hearts.” —Fr Jacques Philippe Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle, and Heather continue the conversation in week three of Lent on Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. We talk about how fear often causes us to self protect or hustle to escape suffering instead of trusting God. We discuss the power of making space for God and his providence in our lives and how we can trust him when we experience suffering. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam’s one thing: The song "Open Space” by Housefires Michelle’s one thing: The song “Awakening” by Amanda Cook Heather’s one thing: Peace playlist Discussion Questions What is the biggest thing you fear will be lacking or absent in your life? Where do you think you need to make space for God to show his abundance and his providence? St John of the Cross says that God gives in the measure that we expect. Discuss that quote and how you can grow in expectation of God’s goodness. Journal Questions What area have you been acting as though you and your own power are the answer to the problem? How can you begin to open your heart to God there? Where in your life do you need to experience how capable and powerful God is? Why don’t you have confidence in God? Quote to Ponder “The Lord can leave us wanting relative to certain things (sometimes judged indispensable in the eyes of the world), but he never leaves us deprived of what is essential: his presence, his peace and all that is necessary for the complete fulfillment of our lives, according to his plans for us.” —Fr. Jacques Philippe Scripture for Lectio Divina - Matthew 6:31-33 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather continue the conversation on Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. They discuss the importance of learning to fight the right battles and how often the enemy distracts us by enticing us to live small stories and fight the wrong battles, which we often lose or exhaust us. We also talk about being anchored in the identity as children of God, the power we gain from keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, and where our true home is. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: Sister Miriam’s one thing - Pope Francis’s Lenten letter Michelle’s one thing - Lauren Daigle - Love Like This Heather’s one thing - Documentary movie about Mr. Rogers “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” Discussion Questions: 1.) Do you notice in your life that you are putting energy into small stories (battles) rather than the bigger stories that are led by the Holy Spirit? 2.) What does true healing and forgiveness look like? 3.) Am I fighting my battles from a place of my identity being anchored in a beloved daughter/son of God or do I try to fight battles on my own? 4.) What are some practical ways you can you keep in the gaze of God in the busyness of life? Journal Questions: 1.) What are you doing in the area of growing in personal holiness? 2.) Where are you coping out of fear rather than surrendering to the Father? 3.) The psalm say, my home is by your altars. Where do you often make your home instead of by His altars? Quote to Ponder: “Spiritual combat consists precisely in this; defending one's peace of heart against the enemy who attempts to steal it from us” -Fr. Jacques Philippe Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that you will have peace in Me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage! I have conquered the world”