Quiet on Purpose

In this episode I share a story about a "work of my hands" that I have abandoned. I'm wondering if you have a story like that too? I think sometimes we tend to believe God feels about us the way I feel about my abandoned project! I think sometimes we believe God has treated us like I've treated my abandoned project! But today's scripture encourages us to understand and believe that this is not in keeping with God's character - He's not like us! If you've ever wondered if God has abandoned you or given up on you, this episode is for you! Listen in.Read Psalm 138:8Questions from today's episode: Am I tempted right now to believe the lie that God has abandoned the work of His hands in my own life? What circumstances have made it difficult for me to trust that He is still present, still working, still acting in his steadfast and faithful love toward me? Will I choose to open my hands in surrender and look for His work in my life, beginning today?What I'm listening to right nowPodcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

I believe I may have mentioned once or twice that I have 2 beautiful and delightful grandchildren, yes? Have I also mentioned how they live over 5,000 miles away from us?  Perhaps so. While being a Grammy to those 2 precious souls is one of my great delights in this life, I am not well-served when I think that it is the greatest delight of my life. The reality is that many, many of us have tough situations we are currently living with and do not see the end to anytime soon. What if we could say, along with the author of Lamentations, that God is our portion? What if He was enough? Listen in on today's episode and see if God has a sweet invitation for your soul in this scripture.Read Lamentations 3:24 hereQuestions from today's episode: Can you name a situation in your life that feels like a scarcity today, the thing you believe would bring you great delight if only a certain outcome were realized? Would you be willing to hold that situation in your hands and lift it up to the Lord, asking him to help you see your desire for that situation aligned behind your desire simply to know that he is with you, and your desire to be with him? Is he enough?Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

The awareness that he was intimately known and loved by God created within Moses a desire to more intimately know God, love God, and walk in His ways! I often think of life and relationships as on a spiral. We can either be moving upward on the spiral, toward greater wisdom and maturity and health in life; and toward greater love and intimacy in our relationships; or, we can be spiraling downward - away from wisdom, health, maturity, intimacy and love. In this episode of Quiet on Purpose, we'll explore God's invitation to us through this prayer of Moses. Listen in!Read Exodus 33:12-13 hereQuestions from today's episode: How great is my awareness of God's love and favor toward me on a daily basis? Do I struggle to see it, or to believe it? Can I say with honesty that I long to know God more, to know His ways and to grow in His likeness? Is there an invitation from God in this scripture that He is highlighting for me today?

Zephaniah 3:17 says: The Lord your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing! How often do you consider the fact that God is exulting over you with loud singing? Honestly. Ever? How often do you picture Him as a warrior in your midst, fighting to give you victory over your enemy, your real enemy - the Devil, the temptor, the liar, the accuser. How often do you allow yourself to sink into the reality that He gladly rejoices over you, how often do you bask in His love, allowing it to renew you? I'll be honest. It takes concentrated effort and awareness on my part to bask in God's love for me...today's episode we'll talk about this struggle, and the invitation in it. Listen in!Questions from today's episode: Do I believe, in the depths of my being, that God loves, exults, rejoices in me; that He sings over me; that He is a warrior who helps me to gain victory over my enemy? Do I regularly take time to contemplate God's love for me, so that I am quieted by it? As I quiet my heart now, is there an invitation that He is making known to my heart today? How will I respond?

This week is Holy week, the week in the church year from Palm Sunday to Easter, when we take time to reflect on the events of Jesus' last days before his crucifixion and prepare to celebrate his resurrection! While I know, for me at least, it can be difficult to lean into the solemnity of all that it represents, I think that when we do choose to press into and consider deeply all that he endured, what he willingly entered into on our behalf, the pure joy of Easter is so much more tangible. Jesus himself, during his last moments with them before the cross, prepared his followers for the darkness that they were about to experience as they watched him unflinchingly accept the cross. Today's scripture highlights this teaching in John 16:16-22. Read it hereQuestions from today's episode: What is one thing God is inviting me to do to more intentionally lean into the solemnity of Holy week, so that I can contemplate more fully all that Jesus endured on my behalf? How will I incorporate this discipline into the days leading up to Easter Sunday?Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Continuing our series through the season of Lent, this episode returns to John 15 and Jesus' final teachings to his disciples before he goes to the cross. He tells them that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends, and that they are his friends if they do this one thing that he commands: love each other. It's a simple command, but not so simple a task. Join us today as we contemplate Jesus' words to us through his words to the disciples.Read John 15 Questions from today's episode: Is there a particular individual in your life, or a group of individuals that you find it difficult to love? Is the Spirit gently whispering to your heart, “yes, even them”? What first step might he be nudging you to take in that direction? What “laying down” of yourself is He calling you to? How will you respond?Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

This is our second episode in 2025 during the season of Lent. Historically, Lent is practiced as a time to reflect on our own mortality and sin nature in preparation for Passion week, culminating with the celebration of Easter Sunday. I mentioned previously that I grew up in a church tradition that did not follow the liturgical calendar, but today I find some of the rhythms of the church calendar to be helpful for me as I seek to incorporate my faith practices into all of life. So in recent years, I've been more intentional about marking the season of Lent, and I want to invite you to participate in a few special episodes during this season with me. I hope you'll find them helpful, as, it seems evident that if you find yourself here, you also are seeking to be mindful about bringing your faith and spirituality into the whole of your life! Listen in!John 15:4-5 & 8-10Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Today marks a very special day in the church calendar. It is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent. Historically, Ash Wednesday and Lent are practiced as a time to reflect on our own mortality and sin nature, as we prepare for Passion week, culminating with the celebration of Easter Sunday. I grew up in a church tradition that didn't focus on the liturgical calendar, but I still find the rhythms of the church calendar to be helpful for me as I seek to incorporate my faith practices into all of life. In recent years, I've been more intentional about marking Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, and in this episode, we're going to use our time together to do another Sacred Reading that focuses on the theme of Lent. Listen in!

For my last birthday, one of my soul sisters gave me the gift of a simple leather bracelet with a tiny metal plaque, on which is engraved “Be Present.” I treasure this gift both because it's a testimony to the fact that she sees me and knows my heart, and because it is a daily, much-needed reminder to me to be present for all of it! I want to be present to God's presence with me; I want to be present with the people He puts around me; I want to be present to myself -to what I'm experiencing and how I'm processing it all-what's happening internally as I experience what's happening externally. But this doesn't come naturally to me, I need practice, and I need God's help. Today's episode takes time to consider both. Listen in!Do I have a tendency to spend more time ruminating on the past or else daydreaming or worrying about the future than living in the present? What might I be missing right now because I am not practicing being present and alert? Is there an invitation for me here today? Is there a confession I need to make? 

In this episode, we explore the spiritual practice that started my journey into Quiet on Purpose! Here at the beginning of Season 5, I feel so blessed that God has allowed me to share this journey with you. Thanks for listening!

Today's episode is a little bit like a benediction to 2024 and a little bit like an invitation to all of us for 2025. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may OVERFLOW with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”! We'll be talking about my "word" for 2025 and the invitation that has me excited about what's in store for this new year. Listen in! Read Romans 15:13 above! Questions from today's episode: Do I tend to view life as a grand adventure with God, or more like a difficult exam I have to pass, or perhaps there's another analogy that represents my life better? What are the implications of this viewpoint? Is there an invitation from God for me here today? How will I respond?

In this very special Christmas episode, I simply read the Christmas story aloud for you from Luke 2:1-20, and provide a few short minutes for you to meditate on the wonder of its truth! Read Luke 2:1-20 here Lyrics and story behind O Holy Night Lyrics and story behind O Little Town of Bethlehem Lyrics and story to We Wish You a Merry Christmas --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

We're all waiting for something. It's probably safe to say that we're all waiting for something all the time! And waiting can be hard. Not just for children, but for the rest of us, too. When it comes to unanswered prayers, we can sometimes grow weary of praying the same thing with seemingly no response. We can begin to doubt God's willingness to answer, or worse, we begin to doubt His loving goodness and kindness toward us.  Today's scriptures encourage us not to lose heart. They offer hope and a new perspective! Listen in! Read Micah 7:7 and Galatians 4:4-5 Questions from this episode: Ttake some time to sit with Jesus in whatever it is that you are most waiting for. What is it that rises to the surface as you consider what you're waiting for today? Now ask him to help you to see the possibilities of what he is up to while you wait. As you practice your holy imagination, ask God to continue to strengthen you to persevere with hope in the waiting. Waiting Here for You by Louie Giglio Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Here in the United States, we're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, so this is a Thanksgiving episode. But it's also more than that. It's a call to arrange our lives around simplicity, not necessarily by changing our circumstances, but by prioritizing what matters at a deeper level! I hope you'll listen, whether you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday or not, and whether you happen to find this episode at Thanksgiving or not! Psalm 103:22 Questions from this episode: What practices naturally cause me to pause and notice God's presence? Is there anything I can do to allow more time for one or more of those daily? What practices naturally distract me from God's presence? Is there anything I can do to spend less time on those daily? "The Next Right Thing" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

I began praying today's verses in the weeks leading up to my husband's and my recent sabbatical, anticipating what God might do in my heart during this sweet season of spending much more focused time seeking His presence and listening for His voice. As I prayed this scripture and poured my longing out to God, I began to sense His gentle whisper to my soul, issuing an unexpected invitation. I hope you'll listen in as I share this journey! Read Philippians 3:10-14 here --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

The question that comes to mind when I read this psalm is this: What do I do when life feels out of control? What's my emotional response, and then what comes next? For me, the emotional response is fear. More accurately, panic! My suspicion is I'm not alone in this. Even if you feel just a little bit of fear, today's episode, based on Psalm 46 might just have some foundational truths that will be an encouragement and help to you. Listen in! Read Psalm 46 Questions from today's episode: What am I afraid of right now? What am I doing with that fear? What is God inviting me to, and how will I respond? Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Don't worry - I didn't suddenly decide to get political! Not even a little bit. Instead, I have something far more refreshing for you. There's only one who is always trustworthy, and he also promises to lead us into life and eternal pleasures! Sign me up. This is our last episode in the Psalm 16 series, and also my last episode until after my sabbatical. Listen in! Read Psalm 16:11 Questions from today's episode: Do you trust Him to lead your path? Are you truly seeking to follow His lead? Is there a question you want to ask of Him, considering where you find yourself today? Listen for His response to your heart. Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

There are some moments in life that are absolutely delightful and I have no problem having a glad heart. But then circumstances change and the delightful moments pass. I need something more secure to keep hope alive. Today's episode helps me remember what that hope is! Listen in!
Read Psalm 16:9-10 here 
Questions from today's episode: Is my heart characterized by gladness and rejoicing, confident that God will never forsake me? Or am I living each day out of a mindset of “scarcity,” confident instead that I don't have enough of whatever it is I believe will make me truly happy? What would it look like to abandon myself fully into God's hands, knowing that He will never abandon me? Am I ready to make that shift?
A Hope that is Secure
Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Do you ever go to bed at night stumped by a problem that you just can't figure out, and then you wake up in the morning and the answer seems so clear? Or, have you ever been so shaken by some of life's circumstances that you can't see your way forward? In today's episode we consider these two different, but related scenarios and what the psalmist, King David, has to say about them. Listen in! Read Psalm 16:7-8 Questions from today's episode: First, thank God for giving you counsel, perhaps even at times when you have not recognized it was from Him. Then, invite God to show you personally what you can do to set a visual reminder “always before you” - something that will help you to grasp the reality that He is with you at all times. Something that will remind you to turn to Him when “shaky times” come, so that you are not shaken. Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

I remember looking in the mirror for the first time somewhere in my twenties and noticing lines on my face. Apparently I furrow my brow often enough that a line had formed between my eyebrows at that early age! I did not think it was a line that had fallen in a pleasant place! There are lines, however, boundary lines, you might call them, that God sets in our lives, which, because He is so good, so kind, and knows us better than we know ourselves, we can trust that they are always good! In this episode, we'll consider those beautiful lines, and how we might cooperate more intentionally with God's good purposes in our lives. I hope you'll listen in! Psalm 16:6 Questions from today's episode: In what ways have the “lines” fallen for me in pleasant places? How is God making my inheritance beautiful? Am I faithfully orienting my life around him, trusting him to be faithful to care for me? What invitation is he extending to me today? How will I respond? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

The words "chosen" and “my cup” in Psalm 16:5 make me chuckle a little. I'm sure it's not just my family that believes that everyone needs their own cup! When our kids were little, to avoid fighting over cups, each child got to pick their favorite color and that was their “chosen AND assigned cup”! To this day, my husband and I like to keep a water cup on the counter throughout the day, and we pretty much always use cups from our plastic cup collection of different colors so we can distinguish which one is our own! My guess is, your family has a "chosen cup" story too. I hope you'll listen in to this episode to find out what it has to do with cups! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

In this episode, we're going to meditate on Psalm 16:3&4, and take some time to consider how we determine who the "saints" are, who we consider "excellent" and what it means to "delight" in them! Read Psalm 16:3&4 here Questions from today's episode: Do I delight myself in a community of Jesus-followers? Have I been intentional about the voices I listen to and have I surrounded myself with others who are trying to grow in their faith and in Christ-likeness? Is there a gentle invitation to me from Jesus today? How will I respond? Music written & recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

When you stop to think about the good in your life, what comes to mind? Your people? Experiences or education you've been privileged to enjoy? Possessions? Or maybe what comes to mind for you is the good things you've been able to contribute to the world, making it a better place! And I would say, "Yes! And also, there's something more." Listen in to this episode as we consider ALL the good we can handle! Read Psalm 16:2 Questions from today's episode: Where does this verse challenge you most? Can you readily see that every good thing in your life is a gift from God? Can you readily admit that apart from Him your “good” works are empty and meaningless, not necessarily even “good” at all? Do you, like me, have to admit that, while you may give mental ascent to the truth that the only good you know in this world is found in Him alone, your life and heart don't always live in that reality? What invitation is God extending to you today, drawing you one step closer to a deep and dependent relationship with Him? How will you respond? This song has been a particular blessing to me of late. Enjoy! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

I have to confess that over the years, in times of trouble or distress, God was not always the first place I turned for refuge. However, I know that when trouble comes or something distressing happens, there is One who can be trusted completely, and only One! We can take a deep breath, hit pause, and seek the Lord immediately, because through His Spirit He is always with us! While other trusted friends, confidants and counselors can be a great help, I want to learn to turn first to God, my refuge! You too? Listen in! Read Psalm 16:1 Questions from today's episode: Do I take refuge in God before seeking it elsewhere? Where else do I seek refuge, what person or activity do I tend to turn to first? How can I train myself to take refuge first and foremost in God? Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

The verse we're considering in this episode appears, at first glance, to be repeating itself, just saying the same thing in different ways. But, when you look closer, considering it more deeply, you begin to uncover layers. "Layers of hope," I'm calling them. Listen in! Read it here! Questions from today's episode: Am I ready to ask God to show me His ways? Am I genuinely ready to be guided in His truth, or am I still trying to hold onto control and do life my way? If I'm still clinging to control, why? What scares me about giving Him control? Have I really made Him my Savior and put my hope in Him? Talk to God about your answers to these questions, and listen to what He might be saying to you today. Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning Not familiar with Trader Joe's? Here's more info! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

What do you do when you don't feel God's love for you? What if you never feel it, on an emotional level? A recent conversation with a friend got me thinking about this, and I think today's verse speaks to that question. Listen in! Read Psalm 27:13 Questions from today's episode: Is there an area of your life that feels desperate, that you are in danger of “despairing” over? Tell God about it. Are you struggling to see His goodness today? Ask Him to reveal something small that has happened in the past 24 hours that is a reminder of His goodness in your life. Ask Him to help your unbelief! King of My Heart is a great song to remind me of the goodness of God! Listen to it here! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

If you are part of a church that follows the liturgical church calendar, you will be very familiar with the fact that this week is Holy Week. For all Christian traditions, liturgical or not, this is certainly the most sacred week of the year, the one in which we celebrate the passion of Jesus Christ, culminating with His crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter morning, and all that it means for us. So I think it is only appropriate that in today's episode we peer into the very moments of Jesus' death. I hope you'll make this week's episode even a small part of your Easter preparations this year! Luke 23:44-46 Questions from today's episode: Have you personally accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on your behalf yet? If not, are you ready to do that today? Take these next few minutes to talk to God about your gratitude that Jesus is the One who made it possible for you to have a relationship with Him, in spite of your imperfection and sins. If you've already come into a relationship with God through Jesus, spend these next few moments thanking God again for initiating the relationship with you and doing all that was required to make you right with Him. We did nothing to deserve it on our own! NASA article Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

In episode 76, I introduced a spiritual practice for praying in the body. Today's episode is a related spiritual practice on honoring the body in which we live out all of life, including our spirituality. This spiritual practice is rooted in the earliest writings of scripture. Humans are created in the image of God, and this truth should inform not only the way we treat other humans, but also the way we treat our own selves. Today's episode, therefore, explores the spiritual practice of honoring the body we've been given by God. Listen in! Genesis 1:26 Today's spiritual practice: Close your eyes, and pay attention to your breathing. Paying attention to your breathing is one of the simplest ways of getting in touch with your body. Notice if your breathing is shallow, and take time to breathe deeply. Allow your breathing to release any tension you are holding in your back and your shoulders. Allow yourself to relax into your space as a physical expression of your trust in God. Now, gently turn your attention to your body, and invite God to speak to you through it. Think about what happens inside you when you consider the idea of honoring your body or meeting God in your body. Does this idea excite you? Scare you? Confuse you? Intimidate you? Just sit with that feeling for a moment, and don't try to judge it. Next, consider, what is the condition of your body these days? Have you been caring for it consistently by eating right, sleeping and resting enough, exercising, attending to medical issues or concerns, or have you been ignoring it or even abusing it in some way? Sit with your awareness and talk to God about what comes to mind. Listen for His response. Next, listen to what your body might be trying to tell you. Is there any place of tension or discomfort that you've been ignoring? Any medical issues that need attending to? Are there feelings of dis-ease that are vaguely unsettling? Listen to see if there is anything you have been keeping outside your conscious awareness. Talk to God about your body, reflecting on what you have discovered in this exercise, and how you are caring, or not caring, for it. Ask Him if there is anything He might be calling you to do now as an act of honoring your body as His dwelling place. Ask Him to show you one practical way you can grow in the area of honoring Him by honoring your body as made in His image and as the dwelling place of His Spirit. Then, respond to His leading. Stephanie Paulsell books Ruth Haley Barton books --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Spiritual director and author, Ruth Haley Barton says “we are in need of a sacramental approach to life, in which the body is understood to be sacred because it is the place where God's Spirit has chosen to dwell. Given this, all aspects of life in the body can become places where we meet and know God in unique ways.” As we pay attention to what is going on internally, in our body, it is possible to also become more aware of God's presence with us in our body and in our experiences. Taken from Ruth's book Sacred Rhythms, today's spiritual practice is a simple way of praying, talking to God, when we may not have the words to express what we are feeling. I hope you'll join in. I'd recommend listening to today's episode when you have time to be still and uninterrupted. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Ruth Haley Barton's website. Today's material taken largely from Sacred Rhythms. Prayer Movements: First, hold your hands in your lap, palms open to the sky. As you do this, bring to mind one element of your life, such as your family, your work, or yourself. You don't need to put words around it, just allow your thoughts to flow into your consciousness. Allow yourself to think about any joys you are celebrating, any concerns or desires you have, any problems that need resolving. For the 2nd movement, lift your hands slightly and hold these thoughts in God's presence. For the 3rd movement, raise your hands all the way up and move them apart to surrender your prayer to God. When you are done, return your hands to your lap, again with palms open, and just rest in the awareness that you've released your prayer into God's capable hands. Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Today's episode is on an encounter between God and Moses on Mt. Sinai, where God has, amazingly, agreed to show Moses His glory. When God displayed his glory to Moses it was astonishingly beautiful and downright shocking. Listen in as we talk about what God revealed to Moses in this encounter and how it informs our view of Him today! Is there something astonishing that God is revealing to me today? Is He pushing my boundaries, revealing something in my heart that I have believed to be true of Him that is, in fact, untrue? Is He inviting me to see Him with fresh eyes today? If so, how will I respond? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

I mentioned in episode 73 that my word for 2024 is “Dwell”. I am already so excited about what God is doing in my heart this year as I choose each day to dwell in His presence; in the safety of His embrace. I want to explore more places in scripture that talk about what it's like to dwell with Him, but I'm reminded that before any scriptures talk about us choosing to dwell with Him, they talk about Him choosing to dwell with us! Today's scripture comes from the book of Exodus, when God first reveals to a recently emancipated group of slaves that He is going to "dwell" with them! Listen in! Read Exodus 25:8 here! Questions from today's episode: In this episode, I provide a few minutes for us to simply be in the presence of God. As you sit in the silence, I encourage you to invite God to reveal how He has been near to you, perhaps in a recent crisis, or simply in small moments that have passed by, unnoticed by you. Ask Him to give you eyes to see how He has made His dwelling with you. Then simply sit in the beauty and magnitude of that reality. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Happy New Year! I'm so excited to be beginning the 4th season of Quiet on Purpose, and so grateful to have you here with me! This week's episode is from John 13:3-5. Recently, my husband and I were reading together and something from this well-known scene caught my attention that I'd never noticed before! Listen in today as I focus in on what it tells us about why Jesus did what he did in these verses, and how that might inform our lives! Read John 13:3-5 on Bible Gateway Questions from today's episode: I'm going to provide time for each of us to simply sit in the loving presence of God. As you sit, I invite you to wait expectantly for him to warmly embrace you and whisper of his love for you today. Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

This episode is set to release after Christmas, but it is still the fourth week of Advent. We have reached the end of this season of waiting with hopeful anticipation for the birth of Jesus! During this season, we've been following along with the themes the church follows throughout the 4 weeks of Advent, preparing our hearts for the climactic celebration of Christmas with the birth of the Messiah! The theme of the 4th week of Advent is Love, and so we complete our Advent series with the topic of God's love, which ultimately is the whole point of Christmas! Our scripture today is Exodus 34:5-7: Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.  And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” This is the word of the Lord. It is absolutely true and given to us in love. Thanks be to God. Listen in and consider God's incredible love for you! Questions from today's episode: Do I really believe in the compassionate and gracious love of God? Or do I believe something contradictory to how He has revealed Himself here? Am I ready to let go of the lies I've believed and embrace Him as He describes Himself? What is He saying to me today? What do I want to say to Him? Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

This is the third week of Advent, a season of waiting with hopeful anticipation for the birth of Jesus. During this season, we are following along with the themes the church follows each of the 4 weeks of Advent, preparing our hearts for the climactic celebration of Christmas and the birth of the Messiah!In most traditions, the theme of the 3rd week is Joy, so this week we are also focusing on joy. Our scripture in today's episode is 1 Chronicles 16:27: Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Listen in, as we contemplate the Joy that accompanies God's "dwelling place"! Questions from today's episode: Am I a joyful person? If not, have I ever invited God to make his home in me through Jesus? Is this something I want to do today? If I have already invited God to make his home in me, am I also growing in the area of continually “abiding” in him? Making Jesus my “home” as well? Is there an invitation that God is extending to me today? How will I respond? Did you invite God to dwell in you through Jesus? Click here, then select "Send voice message" and tell me about it! I'd love to connect with you! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

The second week of Advent traditionally focuses on the theme of "Peace". So, this week, our episode is taken from a quote of Jesus in the Gospel of John, "Peace I leave with you..." Jesus left his peace with us as a gift! It's ours to have, but we have to learn how to take hold of it! Listen in as we consider what that looks like! Read John 14:27 Questions from today's episode: What is going on in my heart right now? What anxieties and fears are trying to take hold there? As I sit with Jesus in these next few moments, what invitation is He extending to me personally? And how will I respond? Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

This is the first week of Advent, and our theme is Hope! In a world where life often fails to meet our expectations, Hope is something we all need, and struggle to take hold of. Listen in today for a little infusion of Hope into your life! Today's verse: Isaiah 55:8 Another awesome message of Hope Questions from today's episode: What would it look like for me to embrace “Hope” today? Is there an expectation I need to release my grip on so that I can be open to receive the good gift God is offering me in its place? What is God's invitation to me today? What is my response? Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Happy Thanksgiving! It's no secret that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I love to remind myself and you that the practice of gratitude is something that should extend way beyond one day! In preparation for your own celebration, or as a way to wrap it up, listen in to this short, fun episode about "Giving Thanks"! Read Psalm 107 here! For consideration, from this episode: “God, show me what I've been overlooking. Help me to see new evidence in my own life of your unfailing love and your wonderful deeds to me!” And then, let's give him thanks for all that he reveals to us! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

There are times, circumstances in life, when the road God has put in front of us is painful, difficult, and we can't see how it could possibly be "good" for us! And yet, His word says that He is good and everything He does is good. So how do we reconcile what we're facing with that? Trust is a concept we understand easily, but an exercise we struggle to practice. We need His help. Listen in today as we take time to consider where we might be struggling to trust Him and ask for His help. Read Psalm 119:68 here Questions from today's episode: Is there some difficulty, some circumstance I'm facing today that is causing me to question God's goodness? Is there some story in my life that I can draw on in the midst of this difficulty to remember His goodness in the past? Even if I can't immediately see it, will I choose to trust Him today? Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Sometimes what God offers us is incomprehensible. Or so contrary to the way we think that it's just impossible to wrap our heads around! In today's verse, we're being reminded of the fundamental truth that God has removed all our offenses and sins; they've disappeared the way morning fog burns off and the sun shines through! And on top of that, He invites us to return to Him, to enjoy the warmth of His love and the closeness of relationship with Him. What an incredible invitation! Listen in! Read Isaiah 44:22 on Bible Gateway Questions from today's episode: Have I been avoiding God in any area of my life, trying to manage my sin on my own? What is He saying to me today? What is my response? Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

When it comes down to it, do I really trust God? When I desire to maintain control of situations, am I really relying on His wisdom, His ways, and His goodness, or am I relying on my own, finite, flawed understanding, my own limited ability to see into the future? Today's episode provides us with an opportunity to take a minute to consider ways that we're still relying on our own understanding. Listen in! Read it here! Questions from today's episode: Are there areas of my life that I am struggling to entrust to God, preferring to try to control them myself? Asking God for “holy imagination”, can I imagine ways in which the “undesirable outcomes” might in fact be God's gift or protection in my life? Am I ready to surrender to Him? The best way to make French Press Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

The invitation to walk with God is a stunning one! But to truly walk with God also requires the characteristic of humility. In Matthew, Jesus describes himself as humble, which is shocking, really, when you consider that he also claims to be the Son of God! I don't know anyone who is naturally humble. It requires a work of God in our hearts, and a true journey with Him, for us to become humble people. Are you ready to consider responding to that invitation? Today's episode is here to help you take the first, or the next, step! Listen in! Read it here! Questions from today's episode: Am I able to see and admit my own pride and conceit? Am I ready to ask God to give me a heart of humility instead? What next step is God inviting me to take on my own journey of humility? How will I respond? Scripture Journal on Humility Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Just like children, insisting that life feel "fair," we often approach God expecting Him to treat us "fairly," whether that means we think things ought to be better for us, or perhaps, we come with our tail between our legs, expecting to be punished. The beautiful truth, of course, is that God isn't always "fair." But He IS just. And He IS merciful. And He invites us into His justice and mercy, both to receive it and to give it away! I hope you'll listen in as we explore in this episode what it might mean for us to "love mercy"! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

While "justice" is a "hot topic" and a buzzword in our culture these days, I wonder how much of our time is honestly spent considering what lies within our realm of power, our own sphere of influence, that we could do something about, something to enact justice, but perhaps we're too busy casting blame on someone else, someone with more power, someone who ought to be behaving more justly, at least in our own humble opinion. Today's episode isn't about big picture justice, and how certain political leaders do or don't help that cause. Rather, as is our practice in this podcast, we're going to look at our own hearts, and allow God to highlight for us what it might look like to "do justly" right where he has us today. I hope you'll listen in! Read it on Bible Gateway Questions from today's episode: Is there anyone toward whom I've been acting unjustly? Is there anyone in my sphere who needs my efforts on their behalf to bring about justice? Or is there an organization that is working to bring justice for mistreated individuals that God is prompting me to get involved with on some level? How can I “do justly” today? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Sometimes our view of God seems to grow smaller, or be obscured by the mountainous problems or other demands of life. This week's verse invites us to "look to the heavens" and consider just how BIG and how GOOD God is! It's a refreshing, perhaps much needed, reset to our perspective! I hope you'll listen in! Read today's verse! Questions from today's episode: What threatens to obscure your view of who God is today? What is God revealing to you about himself as you shift your gaze to the heavens? How will you respond to this new perspective or this reminder of his character? Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

We often ask God to "bless" others, or to "bless" us, or to "bless" our food. But have we considered that we are called to "bless" the Lord? How do we do that? The answer is "with all that is within you!" And, if we're honest, that feels about as impossible as leaping across The Grand Canyon! Is there a simple answer that can make it feel more accessible to me? Listen in! Read today's verse! Questions from today's episode: What feels most challenging right now about the exhortation to “bless the Lord” with all that is within me? What feels most exciting about it? Do I sense an invitation from the Spirit at this moment, a prompting that will help me move in that direction? What is my response? Spurgeon's notes on Psalm 103 Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

What is one thing you know? One thing you anchor your soul to, that keeps you from drifting, even in the tough times? In today's episode, we'll talk about one option. Perhaps you don't have an anchor like this. Or perhaps you need to be reminded what your anchor is. I hope you'll listen in today. I think you'll be encouraged and refreshed! Read today's verse! Questions from today's episode: What set of circumstances in your life is most likely to threaten your confident hope that God is for you? As you bring this truth into the presence of God, is there an invitation He is extending to your soul today? How will you respond? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Have you ever had one of those moments when God seems to speak to your soul by reminding you of a Bible verse you've memorized? Often those verses we've memorized come in the form of a song we've sung. I'm grateful for the many song writers who have put scripture to song. Among the oldest of these is the old hymn "I Know Whom I Have Believed". Check out the link below if you're unfamiliar. You can also check out the links for more information about the songwriter. I hope you'll listen in today for an encouraging episode about entrusting your most tender concerns to the One who can be trusted! Read the verse here! Questions from today's episode: What are you most likely to fret over today? Do you hear God's invitation to entrust it to Him today? Do you believe that He is big enough, strong enough, and good enough to guard what you are willing to entrust to Him? How will you respond?Lyrics here Hymn writer bio here YouTube version here Podcast music composed and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

There are abundant definitions for the word "redeem" but the one that I resonate most with is one of the simplest: "to buy back." I love that God promises to buy back the messes we make and the time that we have wasted when we turn our lives over to Him! Redemption is one of the most beautiful and most fundamental characteristics of God. We see it woven throughout the story of the Bible, and we see it woven into our own stories, as well! Listen in to this encouraging episode today! Read it! Questions from today's episode: Is there a circumstance in your life right now that is ugly or seems beyond redemption? If so, I invite you to bring it before the Lord right now, and ask Him to give you hope, in order to see His redeeming work in the midst of it. Is there a circumstance in your past that God has redeemed? Give Him praise right now for that, and ask Him if there's someone you can encourage today with your redemption story. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Waiting is hard! Whether we're waiting 2 minutes at a stoplight or months on end for something important, it's a given that we're inclined to treat the wait as though it were an unwelcome guest. But how we wait influences who we become on the other end. So, what might it look like to "wait on the Lord" in the waiting? To "hope in his word"? Today's episode takes a gentle look at how waiting is both hard and holy. Listen in! Bible Gateway Questions from today's episode: What are you waiting for right now? Are you tempted to “fake wait”? What would it look like to wait upon the Lord with your whole being today? Are you willing to put your hope in him as you wait? Thinking about a Magnolia Journal subscription? Check it out here! Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

We tend to hold onto the sins of the past for dear life. We keep a record of the wrongs done to us, thinking we have to hold people accountable. We keep a record of the wrongs we've done, thinking that somehow we will make them right. When all along, God extends a different invitation to us. One that offers more peace, freedom and joy than we can imagine! Listen in! Read it on Bible Gateway! Questions from today's episode: Where do I find myself today in the cycle of shame and forgiveness? Is there something specific I need to simply name out loud in the presence of God and then surrender to His love and forgiveness? Take some time now to respond to Him. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support

Can you think of a time when you've cried to God "out of the depths?" Maybe you've found yourself in some dire situation, your life crumbling all around you, despair threatening? If you've made it even as far as Jr. High, this scenario has probably been true of you on at least one occasion! If so, listen in. You might find some comfort in today's episode! Read today's verses! Questions from today's episode: Do I find myself today in a situation I might describe as "the depths?" If so, regardless of how I got here, am I willing to call out to God for mercy and plead with him to hear my voice? And as I cry for mercy, am I willing to surrender the outcome to him? Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quietonpurpose/support