Abiding Together

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”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle, and Heather begin Lent with reflections on the book Searching For and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe. They chat about the truth that without God we can do nothing and that searching for peace isn’t about doing more, but opening to the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are challenged by our calling to be peacemakers and we can’t do that if we don’t have the peace of God first within us. We also ask, what is taking our attention away from the gaze of God this Lent? 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 - St. Faustina’s book Way of the Cross Michelle’s one thing - The book The Contemplative Rosary with St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Avila by Dan Burke Heather’s one thing - The Blessed is She Shine Retreat and the reliquary at St. Tim’s parish in Phoenix, Arizona Discussion Questions: 1.) What area of life do you struggle with the most to maintain peace? 2.) How can I let Jesus act in me? What are the stumbling blocks that hinder Him from acting in me? 3.) God speaks in the quiet places. What are the places where you can get quiet enough to hear God? 4.) Can you be a peacemaker without having peace within yourself first? Discuss. 5.) What’s the one thing that keeps us from staying in the Father’s gaze? Journal Questions: 1.) Is life too much for you or too much for the Lord? Ponder and reflect on where a lie might be in this. 2.) Where have you given the enemy ground to assault your heart and mind and steal your peace? How can you take that ground back with the power of God? 3.) What area do you need God to draw you close and minister to you this Lent? Quote to Ponder: “It would be more efficacious to remain peacefully before the gaze of God and to allow Him to act and work in us with His wisdom and power” - Fr. Jacques Philippe 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.”

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather talk with special guest, Dr. Bob Schuchts. Dr. Bob has been a marriage and family therapist for 40 years and is the founder of the JP II Healing Center. He shares about the five areas of intimacy in marriage and the role of healing and restoration in the places that have hurt that intimacy. Check out more info about Dr. Bob’s ministry Check out his books: “Be Healed” “Be Transformed” “Real 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 playlist “Peaceful Classical Music” Michelle’s One Thing - The Netflix series “Call the Midwife” Heather’s One Thing - Jake taking me to see Justin Timberlake! So fun. Dr. Bob’s One Thing - The book “The Same Kind of Different As Me” Discussion Questions: 1) Which one of the 5 areas of intimacy do you struggle with the most? If you’re not married this still applies. (spiritual unity, emotional intimacy, daily companionship, cooperative teamwork, sexual intimacy) 2) What are the places that you need to work at keeping your heart open in relationships, when you feel the fear of being hurt? 3) How do you need to be more honest in your closest relationships? 4) What is the next right thing you need to do in your marriage (or closest friendship or personal life)? Journal Questions: 1) What issues from your childhood and dating relationships did you bring into your marriage (or will bring into your marriage or future vocational calling)? 2) How can I become more receptive to the love of God, so that I can share that more easily in my marriage or close relationships? 3) If you’re married, consider having the conversation Dr. Bob suggested. “What is the state of our union”? And use the 5 areas of intimacy as a guide. 4) Where do you need to offer forgiveness? Quote to Ponder: "Our most natural tendency is to try to get the other person to be what we need so that we can be loved well. Rather, to let go of that and just honestly love somebody, is when God becomes present." - Dr Bob Scripture for Lectio Divina - Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” Next week we will begin our Lenten series on the themes of “Searching for and Maintaining Peace” by Fr. Jacques Philippe. This book is super small, but jam packed with wisdom. You don’t need to read the book to follow the podcasts, but if you’d like to read it, you can purchase it on Amazon.

The hosts have an honest conversation about living with depression, anxiety, and hardships, and how to find hope and healing in times of trial. They explore the connection between spiritual and emotional growth, embrace the messiness of life, and share their experience attending a powerful worship night with Tasha Cobbs.

Today in the Abiding Together Podcast, we wrap up our book study on the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Part 4 (chapters 13-18). We chat about the resurrection, what it means to be restored and reconciled, and making space for childlike wonder. We hope you’ve enjoyed this book study with us. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: The “Abiding” Women’s Conference in Louisiana Discussion Questions: 1) When have you had an experience of mercy? 2) Who is someone that you need to offer mercy to? 3) What do you experience when God has you in a process or journey? Are you able to be patient or are you filled with unrest and anxiety? 4) Do I live life in grey, stone cold, or do I live life in technicolor? 5) Where am I dying and need Christ to bring life and make things new? Journal Questions: 1) Where do you need to ask God for mercy in your life right now? 2) Where is my heart hard? 3) How can I allow time and space for playfulness, joy and childlike wonder? Quote to Ponder: “We are not on earth to guard a museum, but to cultivate a flowering garden of life” - Pope John XXIII Scripture for Lectio Divina - Romans 6:4-5 “Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Special Lenten Announcement! *We will be doing a book study together beginning on March 4! The book will “Searching for and Maintaining Peace” by Fr. Jacques Philippe *

Today in the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Heather, and Michelle progress with the book study on the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (chapters 9-12). They continue to relate the story concepts with our spiritual life by discussing themes like the false narrative of the enemy, the dynamic of stoney hearts that God wants to restore and turn to flesh, true living of the paschal mystery, and the power of God’s resurrection power in our lives. We hope you enjoy this episode! Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam’s One Thing - Fire Within- Fr. Thomas Dubay Michelle’s One Thing - The movie “Gifted” Heather's One Thing - The Abiding Together small groups! We love you! Discussion Questions: 1) What is one of the false narratives that the enemy has been telling in your life? 2) What do you think the Father wants to say about that? 3) What area of your heart do you feel has been turned to stone or has been hardened? Why? 4) “Hurting people, hurt people”. Discuss this concept and how we can offer a response of healing. 5) Where have you settled for the dry bread from the enemy instead of the banquet that God is offering to you? Journal Questions: 1) Instead of being child like, we can be childish with God. What is the difference between those two dynamics that you can see in your own life? 2) The enemy makes empty promises. What is one that you can see he has made to you in your life? 3) What is one promise of God and His faithfulness that you have seen at work in your life? 4) “Battle looks like surrender”. What is one battle that you need to move into a disposition of surrender to God? Quote to Ponder: "Aslan is on the move” - C.S. Lewis - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe *Scripture for Lectio Divina - Ezekiel 36:26 * “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Today we continue our book study on the Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Chapters 5-8. We reflect deeper on the story and how it relates to our spiritual lives. Themes such as the battle of light and darkness, jealousy and making others feel small, the power of the name of Jesus, surrender vs control and how the story of Narnia is an echo of what our hearts long for in Christ. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam’s One thing - The women from the “Undone” retreat https://jpiihealingcenter.org/events/undone-womens-conference-tallahassee-fl/ Michelle’s other one thing - The book “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mercy-Story-Justice-Redemption/dp/081298496X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548091113&sr=8-1&keywords=just+mercy Heather's One Thing - Evangelization Ministry of Catholic Christian Outreach https://cco.ca/resources/faith-studies-series/ Discussion Questions: 1) What is one truth about God that you can see in your story? 2) Where do you need to grow into your royal identity as a daughter/son of God? 3) Discuss the truth about how the name of Jesus contains His presence. How could this change how you pray? 4) “He isn’t safe, but He’s good.” Discuss this quote and surrender vs. control. Journal Questions: 1) Who can you go to who can speak wisdom into your life? 2) Like Edmund, are there any places of your life that you feel fear when you think about God? 3) What parts of your heart have been turned to stone and need the warmth of God’s hand to bring them back to life? Quote to Ponder: "Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” - C.S. Lewis - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Scripture for Lectio Divina - Revelation 21:4-7 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

Today we begin our book study on The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (Chapters 1-4). We dive into the themes of this chapter such as innocence, faith, temptation, sin, and shared adventure. We hope you will continue to join us on the journey into this wonderful story, which we hope will help us reflect more deeply on our relationship with Christ, our own story of faith and redemption, and the invitation to adventure with God. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam’s One thing - The song “Pieces” (the live version) by Amanda Cook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4O5dqzN68 Ascension would like to offer you a 20% discount through the month of February on Fr. Josh Johnson’s book Broken and Blessed. Just go to www.shop.ascensionpress.com click on Broken and Blessed and enter the promo code fatherjosh (for US residents only) Michelle’s other one thing - New song “Electricity” by Ellie and Drew Holcomb https://www.drewholcomb.com/news/2019/1/11/electricity-new-music-from-drew-amp-ellie-holcomb Heather's One Thing - New Worship Playlist “Into the Deep” https://open.spotify.com/user/12184473750/playlist/4gHBMwlnndJaBp4jjYxpAQ?si=uQs5kI_-RQCHiso29p3hRg Discussion Questions: 1) What stood out to you in the reading for this week? 2) Where in my life has the enemy taken a place, where I have lost hope and need Christmas to come? 3) For the women - Discuss the difference of femininity between Lucy and the witch. How has this affected your life? 4) When we numb our heart and our identity, we numb our wonder and our inheritance. Discuss this. 5) Where are the places and spaces that you can find wonder that leads to God? Journal Questions: 1) How has the enemy spoken things in your life that bring about shame? 2) What are the parts of Edmund you see in yourself? What parts of Lucy do you see? 3) What is your Turkish delight (sin or temptation) that keeps you bound? 4) Where are the places you hide from the Lord and others? Quote to Ponder: "And what wonderful adventures we shall have, now that we are all in it together." - (Lucy) CS Lewis Scripture for Lectio Divina - Matthew 18:3 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Stories are powerful ways to communicate deep things of the human experience in a way that touches us and makes us more human. Jesus is the perfect example of being a master storyteller, making His truth and teachings relatable and personal. We discuss how we can open our spiritual eyes to stories and movies to see how they speak of the bigger story of salvation and the longings of the human heart. We also share about how our owning our stories is key. Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam’s One thing - Clemson crushing Alabama in the National Football Championship Michelle’s other one thing - Fr. Mike Schmitt’s talk from the Focus SEEK Conference. Watch it here at minute 45:35 - https://youtu.be/ZcBidOcLUsc Heather's One Thing - Song “Highs and Lows” by Hillsong Young & Free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEBOJMXqSdQ Discussion Questions: 1) What is your favorite story or movie that has parallels with the story of Salvation? Why do you love it so much? 2) Do you relate to the quote “for most of us, life feels like a movie we’ve arrived at 45 minutes late”? How connected to you feel to the larger story of Salvation in your daily life? 3) Have you ever wanted to take the pen out of God’s hand and write your own story? How do you need to grow in trust that He writes the best stories? Journal Questions: 1) What do you think is your role to play right now in the story of Salvation? 2) What movies or books do you love? How do those relate to the Story of Salvation? 3) How are you pursuing truth, beauty, and goodness in the stories and movies you consume? 4) What are three themes of your life story? What does God want to say about that? Quote to Ponder: “A story is a way to say something that can't be said any other way." - Flannery O'Connor Scripture for Lectio Divina - Psalm 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.