Abiding Together

Happy New Year! Welcome to Season 3! In this episode we talk about beginning again, our word of the year, not settling for mediocrity, and how to engage in your life with new perspective and openness to the love of God. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Deep friendships. Especially with Heather and Michelle of course :) Michelle's One Thing - The prayer "Disturb Us Lord" - by Sir Francis Drake Heather's One Thing - Reckless Love by Cory Asbury Discussion Questions:                                         What is your word of the year? If you don't have one, when will you make time to listen to what God has for you this year? How will you be intentional about living into your word of the year? What areas in your life do you need to begin again and receive the grace to start over? What areas do you need to "unclench your fists" and let it go, so that God can come in power? Journal Questions: In what areas have you settled for mediocrity? How do you specifically want to become more fully alive in various areas of your life? (family, health, spiritual, community, emotional health) What was God sewing into your life last year? How do you think that's connected to what He has for you this year? Quote to Ponder: “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.” ― G.K. Chesterton  

In part 4 of our Advent series "Believe" we are super excited that we get to record together in person! We talk about what it means to believe and hold on to God's promises even in dark times and we reflect on Mary's "fiat". One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - In thanksgiving and gratitude to God for my 15th anniversary of my vows and being able to spend it with Heather and Michelle. Michelle's One Thing - Our listeners who are missionaries! Thank you for being obedient! Heather's One Thing - Soup! Here's the recipe for Heather's Potato Soup 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup flour 3-4 cloves garlic 1 small onion chopped fine 6 medium potatoes washed, unpeeled, and diced medium 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups milk half pound of bacon diced and cooked till crispy salt, pepper, paprika to taste 1tbsp or more of chicken Bouillon paste for additional flavor at the end Melt 1/2 cup butter in large pot over medium heat add garlic and onion and sauté after about 2-3 minutes sprinkle in all the flour and stir cook for about 2 minutes slowly add milk and whisk while you add it Add chicken stock Add diced potatoes, salt, pepper, paprika Bring to a boil, stirring regularly put on lid and simmer on low, stirring regularly When everything thickens either puree soup with hand blender or partially mash potatoes in the pot with masher. If it needs more flavor, add chicken bouillon paste and mix through Add crispy bacon serve with yummy bread :) Discussion Questions:                                         Have you ever noticed God in an inconvenient interruption? What do you need to be obedient to right now and make your own "fiat" (yes) to? In what areas of your life do you find it hard to trust God? Why am I guarded with God? Journal Questions:  Where in your life are you settling for half the promise of God instead of the full promise? Take time to renew your promise to God. How are you going to specifically renew your commitment to Him in your daily life? How are you going to specifically renew your commitment to Him in your daily life?   The saints are you on your side. What saints do you need to intercede for you right now? Quote to Ponder: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her" - Luke 1:45    

In our third part of our Advent series we discuss how to find stillness in the busy chaos of life. God speaks in the stillness and its there that we meet him and find the answers to our restless souls. One Thing We Love This Week:  Sr. Miriam's One Thing -  "Song of Solomon" - by Jesus Culture with Martin Smith Heather's One Thing - Family Daily Advent Reflections - Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp Michelle's One Thing - Love is Christmas - Sara Bareilles   I don't care if the house is packed, Or the strings of light are broken. I don't care if the gifts are wrapped, Or if there's nothing here to open. Love is not a toy, and no paper will conceal it. Love is simply joy that I'm home.   I don't care if the carpet is stained; we have food upon the table. I don't care if it's gonna rain, our room is warm and stable. Love is who we are, and no season can contain it. Love would never fall for that.   Let love lead us, love is Christmas.   Why so scared that you'll mess it up? Imperfection keeps you haunted. All you need is your best my love, that's all anyone ever wanted. Love is how we do, let no judgment over- rule it. Love I look to you, and I sing.   Let love lead us, love is Christmas. Let love lead us, love is Christmas.   Discussion Questions: God wants to give us good things, but often we don’t have room. Where can you make room this week for God? When are you going to take time to “pause” this week and hear the whisper of His voice? What is my spiritual and emotional diet looking like right now? Journal Questions: What in your life do you need to loosen your grip on so that you can trust God more deeply? Have you stilled my heart to hear God’s opinion and wisdom about the things you’re concerned and worried about?   Quote to Ponder: "If you can’t be still and wait, you can’t become what God created you to be.” - Sue Monk Kidd  

In this episode we continue our Advent series by talking about our identity as the beloved sons and daughters of God. In our deepest longing to be loved and known, God the Father calls us His beloved and invites into intimacy with Him.   One Thing We Love This Week:   Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The dentist! Michelle's One Thing -   The Saint Project AND When Beauty Met Truth Heather's One Thing - The Eggnog Latte…you gotta try it (but skip the nutmeg on top) Discussion Questions:                                           God goes to great lengths to experience relationship with us, what do you think you can do in this season of Advent to be open to Him in a greater way? What voices in the world make it difficult for you to hear God’s voice? How did you feel when Sr. Miriam said, “Jesus Christ is not indifferent to you, He’s not just tolerating you, His heart aches for you. You are Beloved to Him”?   Journal Questions: What is in me that is blocking God’s love for me and believing that I’m Beloved? What do I believe about who God is? Do I believe He is more like a police officer, task master, or genie? Do I know deep down He desires a deep relationship with me? Quote to Ponder: “I kept running around in large or small circles always looking for someone or something to be able to convince me of my Belovedness. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that call us the “Beloved”. Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence.” - Henri Nouwen

In this episode we begin our 4 part Advent series with the topic of "Belonging". Here we talk about the gift of belonging to God's family and what this means to us as Christians. We also reflect on the women in the lineage of Jesus and how He redeemed their stories. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - good people especially the Texas A&M students Michelle's One Thing - Michelle's new shop Meaningful Market has launched! 15% off discount code: abide Heather's One Thing - Spotify Advent Playlist - Christmas Joy Playlist Discussion Questions: What woman in the lineage of Jesus do you relate most to? Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, or Bathsheba? How can you create room for God this Advent? (in areas of personal, family, community) What do you need to let go of to make space for God to restore and redeem?        Journal Questions: What does God want to birth in you this advent? What area of brokenness in your story does God want to bring new life into? What lesson can you learn from Our Lady this advent? Quote to Ponder: “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” - Brené Brown  

In this episode we talk about prayer as an encounter with Love, a conversational relationship with God. We talk about different ways to pray and connect with the heart of God, what to do in seasons of dryness, and cultivating the discipline of prayer in your schedule. One Thing We Love This Week: Heather's One Thing - Deliverance Prayers: For use by the Laity Michelle's One Thing - College Football - GO NOTRE DAME! Sr. Miriam's One Thing -Hope - God is good, he will fulfill His promises Group Questions Do you have a prayer time scheduled into your day or rhythm of prayer? What form of prayer connects you to God most easily? What commitment are you willing to make to grow in your prayer life? Journaling Questions What do you think God is speaking to you about in your prayer time? When do I relate to God as a fairy Godmother rather than a loving Father who desires my heart? Quote to Ponder "You, eternal Trinity, are a deep sea. The more I enter you, the more I discover, and the more I discover, the more I seek you.” St Catherine of Siena ​  

In this episode we have a special guest and dear friend Lisa Brenninkmeyer! She is the founder of Walking With Purpose, a Catholic women’s Bible study that aims to bring women to a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We chat about how she seeks to abide with Christ in the midst of balancing busy family life and work and how to abide with others in community. Walking with Purpose bible studies WalkingWithPurpose.com Download this beautiful Abide in Me printable scripture verse. Check out this video about Walking With Purpose One Thing We Love This Week: Lisa Brenninkmeyer  One Thing - "The Life of the Beloved" by Henri Nouwan Michelle Benzinger's One Thing - Celebrating Life Heather Khym's One Thing - Good old fashioned pranks with friends Sr. Miriam's One Thing -  - Her new coffee mug Discussion Questions What does “abide” mean to you personally? What are some of your obstacles when it comes to abiding in Christ? How do you journey with others (especially other women) in your spiritual walk? Journal Questions In what situations do you find yourself striving instead of Abiding? What commitment can you make today to intentionally abide more deeply in Christ? Quote to ponder "if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask for whatever you wish and it shall be done for you." John 15:7  

In this episode we talk about advice and words of truth we wish we could give to our young adult selves. We speak about places of identity, calling, that your vocation is not the finish line, and the importance of allowing people with wisdom to speak into your life. One Thing We Love This Week: Heather Khym's One Thing - Brene Brown Michelle Benzinger's One Thing - Blessed is She Advent Journal Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Yeti Cup Group Questions What advice would you give to your younger self or to yourself right now? How can you incormporate one thing talked about in the podcast into your life? Who are the people you rely on to speak wisdom and truth into your life? Journaling Questions How can I grow in self awareness? Where do I often try to find my identity other than God? Work? Attention from others? Vocation? Labels? Quote to Ponder "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire" - St Catherine of Sienna  

In this episode we talk about the quote "Beauty will Save the World" by Dostoevsky. We discuss how true beauty leads you outside of yourself to humanity and to the Divine Creator, whereas the counterfeits lead us away. We address how paying attention to our life allows us to experience epiphanies of beauty. One Thing We Love This Week: Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Don’t Believe the Lie, Bill Johnson Michelle Benzinger's One Thing - Examen Journal Michelle Benzinger's Other One Thing - CreatingToLove.com Heather Khym's One Thing - Nurses and doctors who offer care for people in need. You rock! Heather Khym's Other One Thing - Bring Him Home by the Canadian Tenors Group Questions What is one way that you commonly experience the beauty of God? How can we call beauty out in other people? What are the beauty counterfeits that have affected your life in a negative way? Journaling Questions How can I co-create with the Holy Spirit to bring beauty into the world? What am I consuming in my world? Is it true beauty of not? When and how can I create space/pause to encounter beauty? Quotes to Ponder “We do not want merely to see beauty... we want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it."- CS Lewis “Deep in his heart, every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” ― John Eldredge, Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul  

In this episode we talk about how breakdown can lead to breakthrough if we allow God to enter into our pain. Join us as we discuss how to grow in deeper intimacy with God and experience healing and restoration. One Thing We Love This Week: Heather's one thing - "No Longer Slaves" Michelle's one thing - fall weather and green and white pumpkins Sr. Miriam's One Thing - St. Hildegard poem Holy Life-Giver Doctor of the desperate. Healer of everyone broken past hope, Medicine for all wounds, Fire of love, Joy of Hearts, fragrant Strength sparking Fountain, Protector, Penetrator, in You we contemplate how God goes looking for those who are lost and reconciles those who are at odds with Him Break our chains! You bring people together. You curl clouds, whirl winds, send rain on rocks, sing in creeks, and turn the lush earth green. You teach those who listen, breathing joy and wisdom into them. We praise You for these gifts, Light-giver, Sound of joy, Wonder of being alive, Hope of every person, and our strongest Good. Group Questions What does freedom look like? What comes to mind when you read this scripture, “Let the weak say, “I am a warrior!” Have you ever approached God as if He was more like as if He was more like a fairy godmother than a loving Father? Journal Questions Where might God “putting His finger” into a wound in your life so that he can bring  breakthrough? What is one practical way I can begin the journey from breakdown to breakthrough? Quote to Ponder “In my deepest wound I saw Your glory, and it dazzled me” - St. Augustine