Abiding Together

In this weeks podcast we reflect on the next chapter in Life of the Beloved, “Given”. We talk about the greatest gift we can offer another is not our talents, but our very selves. This allows for the deep connection and intimacy we all long for, but to give ourselves we need to first possess ourselves and know our identity as beloved. Join the Facebook discussion group here. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Steffany Gretzinger - Reckless Love Michelle's One Thing - Lisa Brenninkmeyer’s son Jonny Brenns is on American Idol! Here’s his audition! Heather's One Thing - Magnolia Journal Discussion Questions:     When faced with an opportunity to give to another, we often will count the cost. What are the things that make you turn down opportunities to offer yourself to others? What are the gifts that you receive when you are willing to share your life with others? What are specific ways you can go beyond offering your talents to people, to giving of yourself? Journal Questions: How do I live like an orphan in regards to giving? In what relationships do I take more than I give? How can I practically begin to change this dynamic in those relationships and offer more to the other? Judgement of others can often cause us to pull away from people, but when we remember we are loving Christ when we love that person it changes us. Who in your life can you do a better job of loving today? Quote to Ponder: “Our real gift is not so much what we can do, but who we are” - Henri Nouwen  

This week we continue our book study of “Life of the Beloved” chapter 5, “Broken”. We talk about how our brokenness is unique to our story and that God wants to bring healing and restoration to us. We discuss the ways that we can often numb out to the pain and how God is inviting us to live a more full and abundant life by living our identity as beloved.   One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - “I’ll Keep You Safe” - Sleeping At Last Michelle's One Thing - Mary Williams “Behold” Michelle's Other Thing - Quote by Brennan Manning "When I am aware of my belovedness, I am more compassionate and playful, I take myself less seriously, I become aware that the breath of the Father is on my face and that my countenance is bright with laughter in the midst of an adventure I thoroughly enjoy.” Heather's One Thing - “Closer Than You Know” - Hillsong United   Heather's Other Thing - “Here Now” - Hillsong United     Discussion Questions:     What stands out to you as you read the quote “The first step to healing is not a step away from the pain, but a step toward it.” Have you ever considered your brokenness as being unique and not something to compare to other peoples? Where do you tend to bring your brokenness and numb out instead of bringing it to God? How can you make a change this week in this area? Journal Questions: What area does God want to bring deeper healing into my life? How can I “befriend” my brokenness and bring it under “the blessing”? How can I practically pursue more healing in my life today? Quote to Ponder: “The first step to healing is not a step away from the pain, but a step toward it” - Henri Nouwen  

This week we continue our book study  “Life of the Beloved” chapter 4, “Blessed”. We talk about how the deepest affirmation of our being comes from God who desires to bless us. Many of us have experience so many words of destruction and negativity that need to be restored by true blessing from God and one another. Hope you enjoy this weeks podcast! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The gift of the priesthood giving their lives in the service of their bride Michelle's One Thing - "Better is one day' by Trey McLaughlin Heather's One Thing - My sweet mom. Nothing like the love of a good mother when you're sick. Discussion Questions:     What stands out to you as you read the quote “To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer.” Have you ever received a blessing from someone that really resonated with you? What was it like to receive it? How do I experience prayer as coming into God’s blessing? Journal Questions:  Where can I start blessing people in my life today?  Have I ever had someone speak words to me or over me that were not blessings? Have I ever felt cursed or stuck because of what someone said to me or about me?  How can I concretely be more attentive to the blessings that come to me day after day and year after year? Quote to Ponder: "To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer" - Henri Nouwen  

This week we dive into part 4 of “Life of the Beloved” chapter 3, “Taken”. We talk about how being chosen by God does not exclude others, rather it is personal and includes everyone. We also discuss how to unmask the world, declare truth over our lives, and cure the critical heart with gratitude. Hope you enjoy this weeks podcast! One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - “Fearless and Free” study on Ephesians - by Lisa Brenninkmeyer of Walking With Purpose Michelle's One Thing - Gratitude for the life and legacy of Billy Graham Heather's One Thing - The Instant Pot. Frozen chicken breasts in 12 minutes people! Discussion Questions: God looks upon each of us as unique and chooses us personally. How can you make space to understand this truth more deeply? Do you sometimes feel like you have to hustle or strive for God’s favor and attention? Gratitude is the cure for complaining and criticism. How can you grow in gratitude? Do you surround yourself with people that speak goodness, truth, and beauty into your life? Journal Questions: We become what we focus on. What is blooming in the garden of your heart these days? Have you ever felt left out in the Church community? This is not how the Church is meant to be. Consider opening your heart to God’s healing and restoration in this area. In what area of your life do you need to declare and claim God’s truth right now?   Quote to Ponder: "When we keep claiming the light, we will find ourselves becoming more and more radiant” - Henri Nouwen  

In this episode we discuss “Life of the Beloved” chapter 2, “Becoming the Beloved” We chat about how we can allow the knowledge of being the Beloved to become infused in our daily life, moment by moment. We also talk about living the abundant life and allowing our hearts to desire heaven. One Thing We Love This Week: Michelle's One Thing - Defender by  Rita Springer Heather's One Thing - Your Love Defends Me by Matt Maher   Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing Sr. Miriam's Other One Thing - Heather's Lenten Worship Playlist   Discussion Questions: What does it looks like in my life to become the Beloved in all that I think say and do? Are there areas in my life where I am listless and bored even though I am busy? What’s happening in those areas? What is the process God has me in to become the beloved? What steps is He taking to open up my heart to Him? Journal Questions: How do you use being “busy” as an excuse for growing in your relationship with God and being present to your own life. When your heart is restless, where or what do you turn to in the world in attempt to satisfy it? How can you practically make space to listen to the voice of God speaking the truth of your Belovedness?   Quote to Ponder: “Becoming the Beloved means letting the truth of our Belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say, or do.” - Henri Nouwen  

In this episode we discuss the first chapter of our book study “Life of the Beloved” called Being the Beloved. We talk about what it means to be Beloved and the voices that come against that truth. Join the Facebook discussion group here One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - “Agape” by Bear’s Den Michelle's One Thing - “The home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and set tasks.” by G.K. Chesterton Heather's One Thing - “I Surrender” - by Hillsong Discussion Questions:                                         What are the voices that try to keep you from living your life as the beloved? How can we live out being the beloved concretely in our day to day life? Nouwen says, you can’t give the gift of being beloved if you haven’t received it. How can we receive this truth more deeply. Journal Questions: What is your interior response to hearing that you are the beloved? What are your thoughts about Henri Nouwen’s assertion that being the beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. Quote to Ponder: “Being the beloved expresses the core truth of our existence” - Henri Nouwen  

In this episode we begin our Lenten book study of “Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen. We begin with an introduction of who Henri Nouwen is and the Prologue. Join the Facebook discussion group here One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Superbowl Michelle's One Thing - Eli Manning/Odell Beckham Jr commercial Heather's One Thing - St. Francis Xavier's arm relic Discussion Questions: Mark 10:21 says “He was moved for compassion for him” Has there been a time when God put someone on your heart to journey with them? Have there been dreams in your life that you have surrendered that God may want to resurrect? Do you have someone in your life to help you midwife your dreams? Could you offer that to someone in your life? Journal Questions: Where are you settling in your life for less than what God desires for you? What is life all about? Why do you do what you do? Was there one quote or phrase that stood out to you from this chapter? Quote to Ponder: “Your story, is the story with which you can come to know God’s story better, and it is his story that makes your story worth living.”  

In this episode we discuss the prayer of Jesus for unity, that we would all be one. We chat about how this is the heart of God and how we can grow in unity among denominations with our Christian brothers and sisters as the body of Christ. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Sacrament of Marriage and good married couples Michelle's One Thing - This video about Matt Maher's thoughts on Christian unity Heather's One Thing - "Now and At the Hour" - by the Brilliance Discussion Questions:                                         What barriers and mentalities do you need God to purify and remove in your heart, in regards to unity? In what relationships, with people of other faiths, do you need to listen more instead of share your opinion? In our society, people of good will must unite. What is one practical way that you could participate in this type of unity? Journal Questions: What can I learn from other Christian denominations? Are there areas in your life and relationships where you focus more on being "right" that being charitable? Where does Jesus want to encounter you this week? Quote to Ponder: "That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me"  

In this episode we talking about spiritual pruning and how its a difficult part of the process, but necessary to bring about growth and good fruit. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Safe Sr. Miriam's Other One Thing - Beyond The Blue Michelle's One Thing -  Print from Katie Fitzgerald - Sr. Miriam quote Heather's One Thing - Lifepoint Worship "Closer" Discussion Questions:                                         What areas in your life is God pruning or wanting to prune right now? Fruit can be good or bad. What are the fruits that are growing in your life? What areas do you need to let God shift your perspective that you are not a victim, rather you are a "strugglers" and with God we are "overcomers"? Journal Questions: What areas do you distrust that God has your good in mind? What are the motives behind the choices you make in the big areas of life? What areas do you need to repent and begin again? Quote to Ponder: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does beat fruit he prunes to make it even more fruitful." - John 15:1-2 

We are so excited to share this interview we did with our good friend Jenna Guizar. Jenna is the founder and creative director of Blessed is She, a Catholic women’s community committed to deepening a life of prayer starting with daily Scripture devotionals and supportive sisterhood. We had a great and heartfelt conversation with Jenna about her ministry, how she balances work and life with 4 children (including one cute newborn who was also a guest on our podcast!), and just her journey of faith and how she abides together with her people. Hope you enjoy this rich conversation. To find out more about Blessed is She check out BlessedIsShe.net, on facebook, on instagram, and on pinterest One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The character "Rey" in the new movie "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Michelle's One Thing - TV Series "Madam Secretary" Heather's One Thing - Movie "The Greatest Showman" Jenna's One Thing - Song by Bethel Music "Perfect Peace" Discussion Questions:                                         Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that you didn't feel equipped to do? How have deep friendships with people of faith supported you during the highs and lows of life? How can you practically make more room in your life to journey and abide together with a small group? Journal Questions: What area in your life do you need to believe and trust that God will be faithful to His promises?  Have you ever felt like you don't "fit inside the box"? If so, how might God be calling you to offer your unique gifts to your community/church/family? Quote to Ponder: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her" - Luke 1:45