Abiding Together

In this episode we begin our 3 part study of “Gaudete Et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad)” by Pope Francis. We start with a discussion of Chapter 1, “The Call to Holiness”, and that this call is not for the elite, but for everyone to live out in their own unique way. We talk about the misconceptions of what holiness looks like, share some personal stories of how God brought freedom to areas we felt pressure to live a certain way, and how God wants us to come alive. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Prayer of Release Michelle's One Thing - “One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both” by Jennifer Fulwiler Michelle’s Other One Thing - “My Reading Life” by Pat Conroy  Heather's One Thing - Bishop Robert Barron’s talk to Google staff Heather’s other One Thing - Corn and bean salsa Recipe One can of sweet corn whole kernel drained One can black beans drained Juice of one fresh lime A handful or two of chopped cilantro (to your taste) Half a jar of salsa (your choice) 1 cup (ish) grated medium or sharp cheddar cheese A little shake of salt Stir together and serve with corn tortilla chips If it needs more flavor add more salsa and/or lime juice Discussion Questions: Discuss the quote, “Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church"? Holiness is lived out in the little things and flows out to the big things. What are some ways that you choose to live out holiness in little ways? How have you possibly misunderstood what holiness is "supposed to look like" in your life, vocation, and work and how have you felt pressured by this? Where is God trying to make you come more alive this week? Journal Questions: Am I more interested in having more followers on social media than making disciples of Jesus? What areas do you feel pressure in your life to be and live a certain way? How might God want to bring freedom? How do you think that you are called to live out your holiness in a personal way, that is specific to your unique gifts and personality? Quote to Ponder: “Holiness is the most attractive face of the Church” - Pope Francis  

If you’d like to join us for our next study, it starts May 28th - “Gaudete Et Exsultate - On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World” by Pope Francis. If you’d like to read it, you can find it at your local Catholic book store or order it on Amazon In this episode we talk about how to thrive during the summer, when we aren’t in our normal schedules. We chat about some strategies to continue growing in our relationship with God and flourish in whatever situation we are in. We focus on the categories of rest, play, prayer, connection, beauty, self care, and community. We hope you enjoy this conversation. If you'd like to host a coffee time, lunch, or dinner with a few women, here are some questions to put on the table to spark some good conversation. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - “Awakening Love: An Ignatian Retreat with the Song of Songs” Michelle's One Thing - The Royal Wedding sermon Michelle's Other One Thing - Steph Curry’s momma correcting him for using bad language at a game :) Heather's One Thing - “Where You Are” by Bethel and “Pieces” by Bethel Discussion Questions: How can I more deeply connect with the people God has entrusted to me and with the Lord this summer? What is most important to me to have as foundations that will rightly order the rest of my day? How does God want you to play this summer in ways that feed your heart and allow you to receive His joy? How can you cultivate the discipline of pausing for beauty and holy wonder? Journal Questions: What is my spiritual plan this summer? Where am i growing with the Lord? What does it look like for me to have ongoing fellowship with the Holy Spirit? What do I need to do for self care this summer? Quote to Ponder: “Vacation time offers the unique opportunity to pause before the thought-provoking spectacles of nature, a wonderful ‘book’ within reach of everyone, adults and children. In contact with nature, a person rediscovers his correct dimension, rediscovers himself as a creature, small but at the same time unique with a ‘capacity for God’ because interiorly he is open to the infinite”- Pope Benedict XVI  

In this month of May, dedicated to mothers, we wanted to talk about our Lady, our Mother Mary. In this episode we chat about the calling of all women to spiritual motherhood and how we relate to Mary as our mother. We also discuss how Mary can be a powerful model for us of openness to the will of God and filling of the Holy Spirit and how she can assist us in our journey closer to Jesus. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Art “Mary and Eve by Sr. Grace Remington, 2013” Michelle's One Thing - Love Good Culture Heather's One Thing - Fish Taco’s (defrost frozen Mahi Mahi from Costco, sprinkle with Montreal Chicken spice (or whatever you have) and grill for a few minutes each side until it flakes. Serve with a buffet of chopped cilantro, black beans, tortilla chips, salsa, grated cheese, sliced lime, jasmine rice, and soft tortillas) YUM! Discussion Questions: Who is Mary in your life? Mary has various titles such as Refuge of Sinners, Star of the Sea, Blessed Mother. What is your favorite title for Mary? Why? Have you had anyone in your life that you’ve experienced as a spiritual mother or who you have been a spiritual mother to? Journal Questions: How could you grow in your relationship with Mary this month? How can you follow the model of Mary in openness to the Holy Spirit? What can Mary show you about what it means to be a woman? Quote to Ponder: “Mary, she existed in the divine mind as an eternal thought before there were any mothers. She is the mother of mothers she is the world's first love” -Fulton Sheen  

As we approach Pentecost this week, we thought it would be awesome to have a conversation about the Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR. Fr. Dave created the “Wild Goose” project with 4PM Media and has a deep devotion to the Holy Spirit. 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 our hearts 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 One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - "Til We Have Faces” Audiobook Michelle's One Thing - Personal Retreat with a cool priest - Father Nathan Halloran,SJ and LSU students. Heather's One Thing - New podcast for ministry leaders My Life In Ministry Heather's Other One Thing - "Closer" by Lifepoint Worship Fr. Dave’s One Thing - The scripture this week Fr. Dave’s Other One Thing - The guy who climbed El Capitan 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

In this week's episode we wanted you to hear the final talk from our Royal Women’s retreat. Mary Bielski talks about our inheritance as children of God, who is the King of Kings. She passionately shares about what it means to operate in authority, how to become more aware and strengthened by the cloud of witnesses, and how to live out our calling and purpose and receive provision from God. Here is the video Mary shows during the talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEiSF8HpyDg Discussion Questions:     You have a royal inheritance as a child of God, the King of Kings. What does this mean to you? We have authority as daughters of the King. How can you begin to walk in this authority in the way you act and pray? The orphan spirit can keep us from experiencing the inheritance that God has for us because we aren’t ready for it. In what areas does God desire you to grow in maturity so that you can receive His inheritance? Journal Questions: How can you pray with more authority? How do you need to grow in self care so that you are filled up and can offer more to those God has entrusted to you? Where do you need to give God your fiat? Quote to Ponder: “The message of the gospel isn’t about just getting into heaven, its about heaven getting into us” - Mary Bielski  

In this weeks episode we reflect on the theme of our Royalty and how we are adopted daughters and sons of the King and therefore we are royal. We discuss the themes from the women’s retreat we did together in British Columbia last week and share about God’s invitation to us, our identity, how to grow in intimacy with Him, and our royal inheritance. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Bloom Tulip Festival Michelle's One Thing -The film "Embracing the Unknown" Michelle's Other One Thing - Steffany Gretzinger - Oxygen Heather's One Thing - Hillsong - “New Wine” Heather's Other One Thing - Hillsong - “Touch of Heaven” Discussion Questions: God invites us to come to Him as children. What does it mean, and look like, to approach the throne of God boldly? What is home for you and what makes it home? How does this relate to our desire for God and how He reveals His love? How did you feel when Michelle said, “your vocation and your calling are not at war with each another? Journal Questions: How do you usually approach God? Fearful, boldly, only when you need something? What is the narrative in your heart and mind about your identity? Is it God’s narrative? Most of us come from a defeated mindset, but what would it look like to operate from a place of victory in your life? Quote to Ponder: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My delight is in her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.” - Isaiah 62:1-5  

There is good news and bad news. The bad news is Michelle, Sr. Miriam, and Heather planned on recording a podcast while at the Royal Retreat held this last weekend in British Columbia. Because Michelle's flight was over 3 hours late they didn't have time to record a new podcast. The good news is we have a recording of Heather's talk from Saturday of the retreat on intimacy. Here are the two videos Heather used in her talk: Adoptions Wedding first looks Discussion Questions:     How does it make you feel when God says the words “you are mine”? Do you believe that you are delightful to God, even in your brokenness What do you think blocks your intimacy with God? Journal Questions: What ways do you bond with God and what are the ways you need to open the door to? Journal about what the veil is in your life? What broken parts of the parent child relationship or marriage relationship analogies affect your relationship with God? Quote to Ponder: “There can be no intimacy – emotional intimacy, spiritual intimacy, physical intimacy – without vulnerability. One of the reasons there is such an intimacy deficit today is because we don’t know how to be vulnerable. It’s about being honest with how we feel, about our fears, about what we need. Vulnerability is a glue that holds intimate relationships together” - Brene Brown

In this week's episode we break open John 21, where Peter goes back to his old way of life, encounters Jesus, and reconciles with him. We discuss how we often go back to our old ways after Lent, but that God is calling us to deeper intimacy and transformation. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - “Find Me” - Jonathan Helser Michelle's One Thing - “What a Beautiful Name” - Hillsong Heather's One Thing - “Nothing Without You” - Will Reagan Discussion Questions:     What are some reasons why you go back to old ways of living, like Peter did in John 21? What struck you about the story of Peter during the podcast? How can you specifically open yourself up to the grace of the Easter season and Pentecost? Journal Questions: How do you picture God looks at your when you have sinned and messed up? Does this image need to be redeemed? How can you unveil your heart more to God? What is God speaking to you this Easter season? Quote to Ponder: “The invitation this Easter season is to come out of hiding and really let the Lord see us” - Heather Khym  

We thought we would have a little fun this week with a light hearted conversation about some of our favorite things from movies to saints and everything in between. We have learned that in order to have thriving relationships, its so important to never stop learning about the other. Laughing and chatting about things we love, bonds people. We hope you'll take an opportunity to discuss your favorite things with a few friends over a coffee or glass of wine.

In this weeks podcast we finish our Life of the Beloved book study with “Living as the Beloved” and the epilogue. We discuss how God is Love and He desires to be loved by us. All that God has done for us deserves a response, a personal response to His goodness, His love, and His sacrifice. Thank you for joining us for the book study and we look forward to continuing the journey with you each week with the podcast. Join the Facebook discussion group here.   One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - the Easter Vigil Mass, so beautiful Michelle's One Thing - Starburst Jelly beans...Alleluia! Lent is over! Heather's One Thing - Easter playlist   Discussion Questions:     How can you respond to the gift of God’s love in a personal way? Discuss your thoughts on this quote “the world is evil only when you become its slave”. How do you or can you bring the light of Christ into your world in a specific way? Do I present and witness to the Gospel as “Good News” and witness with joy? Journal Questions: What does it look like for me to live out of my belovedness in the mission field God has me in? How have I slipped into living a small story instead of living in the larger story, God’s story? What area of my life do I need to bring into the light and love of Christ?   Quote to Ponder: “The unfathomable mystery of God is that God is a lover who wants to be loved” - Henri Nouwen