Podcasts about Contemplation

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer Season 13 listener questions, which focus on the life and teachings of Thérèse of Lisieux. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here.⁠ Find out more about the Turning to the Mystics book series ⁠here.⁠ Connect with us: This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Reveal Your Glory",  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 3." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=34&p=2349    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

Healthy community flows from healthy rhythms. This week explores the connection between solitude and togetherness, showing that the deeper we are with God in private, the stronger we become together. Learn how time with Jesus shapes the way we love His people.

870 A Samaritan Woman Came to Draw Water, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:5-9 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation John 4 NET 5 Now he came to a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me some water to drink." 8 (For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy supplies.) 9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, "How can you—a Jew—ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?" (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) NKJV 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Reflection on Scripture: I love this story. It is the moment Jesus reveals himself at Jacob's well, literally Israel's well and yet it is not in the country of the Jews. This leads to interesting questions like who were the Samaritans and why do they show up in the New Testament? I think it is meaningful to ponder these questions for a moment. The Samaritans had a meaningful history. Through the whole Bible we see God's interaction with people that he has called His. God called the people of Jacob as his people. Jacob's name was changed to Israel and he had sons that formed large tribes. After Solomon the tribes split into two parts. The Southern Kingdom which was mostly the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the Northern kingdoms representing the other tribes. The northern tribes fell to the Assyrians and interbred with the pagan nations that surrounded. As a result they adopted different habits and theology and for this they did not get along with the Jews well.  So this is why the well of Jacob is among the Samaritans and additionally why Jesus would be near the lands of the Samaritans. They had been Israelites in the past. Jesus chose to reveal that he was the Messiah at this well. He did not choose Jerusalem. He did not go to the Pharisees. He chose those who were rejected, not those who thought themselves very important. We will talk more about the choice of this woman in the future but for now it is important to reflect on God's choice of the Samaritans.  Each of us are, in a form, outsiders to God. We are His children, yet we have acted in a way inconsistent with His perfection. He is able ot use the imperfect to do His work. In fact, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. You are enough for God to love and for Him to accept. His grace is sufficient for you.   Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

Carolyn Meers guides us through a winter reflection on the healing power of slowing down. Where ever you find yourself when you hit 'play' this is a kind and gentle invitation to move differently through whatever activities this day may hold, drawing on an ancient prayer from St Aidan of Lindisfarne, alongside some poetry by Mary Oliver.Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we'd love to hear from you.The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalguideSign up to our mailing list:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/Join our online Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualmisfitspodcastSupport the pod:https://spiritualmisfits.com.au/support-us/View all episodes at: https://spiritualmisfits.buzzsprout.com

Writer, editor, book coach, and podcast host Mara Eller joins me to explore the spiritual dimensions of writing, self-reflection, and creative partnership.  As the developmental editor who walked alongside me through the drafting of Art Is How God Loves Us, Mara offers a unique perspective on the ways creativity can become a gateway to deeper self-knowledge, connection, and encounter with the divine. We discuss the trust between writer and editor, the importance of spaciousness in the creative process, and how writing can help us uncover what Thomas Merton called the "true self." Through Art's Open Door, Mara brings Denise Levertov's poem To Live in the Mercy of God. Through imagery of towering forests and a waterfall crashing endlessly against stone, the poem offers a striking vision of divine love as an overwhelming force of mercy that continues to pour itself out despite our resistance. The poem invites us into awe, reminding us that the spiritual life is not always comfortable, but it is always held within a love larger than ourselves. If you're feeling spiritually dry or creatively stuck, Mara offers two simple invitations: spend time noticing something beautiful in nature, and revisit a song that mattered deeply to you when you were younger. Through attention, memory, and reflection, these small practices can help us reconnect with beauty, integrate our stories, and step once again through art's open door. Resources & Links Preorder Art Is How God Loves Us  To Live in the Mercy of God by Denise Levertov New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton The First Nations Version of the New Testament Maraeller.com The Soul and Science of Great Writing podcast I'd love to hear about the works of art that have become thin places in your own life. In fact, we are doing a call for guest-post submissions over on Substack. You can learn more and submit yours by visiting: https://artistsforjoy.org/artsopendoor   

The Rebbe encourages the recipient to shift her focus, at least temporarily, from abstract contemplation to practical daily matters. He explains that action is central in Torah and mitzvos, and this practical engagement will ultimately enhance her intellectual and spiritual pursuits. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/007/009/2127

Readings from the Reading Room.The Architecture of Contemplation is a platform to explore the ways in which presence can be regained in a pace driven culture.As part of this exploration, and linked to this contemplative container, is my experiment opening up my personal library as a shared space for unoptimised time - The Reading Room.People can book in for a two hour slot, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The desire is to create a space for attention and presence to be brought back into relationship with each other.Weekly I will share readings from the library, from the books and paraphernalia that can be discovered there.If you'd like to book in, please send a message over on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@hardeep.earth⁠⁠⁠.This week, we have The Flip, Who You Really Are and Why It Matters by Jeffrey J. Kripal.For more updates, subscribe to The Architecture of Contemplation podcast, and find me ⁠⁠⁠@hardeep.earth⁠⁠⁠. If something resonates in this episode, a nice rating or review is so appreciated, too.Always,H⁠⁠⁠www.perse.london

In this episode, Kirsten and Jim answer Season 13 listener questions, which focus on the life and teachings of Thérèse of Lisieux. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. Find out more about the Turning to the Mystics book series here. Connect with us: This podcast is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠ Thank you!

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “You Must Increase",  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 3." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=34&p=2349    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

868 He Had To Pass Through Samaria, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:1-4 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation John 4 KJV 4 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria. NASB 4 So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing; rather, His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went away again to Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria Reflection on Scripture: I find the framing of this chapter interesting. Because the Pharisees knew Jesus had gained many disciples it seems he was forced to leave and additionally forced to travel through Samaria, which we will explore in coming weeks. This is an interesting way to phrase it and it can give an interesting idea for what was an imperative for Jesus. In the strictest sense Jesus did not have to do anything. Jehovah did not have to create the universe or anything else after that. These things are consistent with God's character and therefore God chooses them. The only way that God would not choose those things is if he did not have his current character. With that said none of that makes it a foregone conclusion for what God has to do. Perhaps this is very obvious but it is worth pondering on for a moment.  God is certainly able to determine His guiding ethics and it is far above human understanding to tell God what he has to do. It is something of a ridiculous notion that the Pharisees could force Jesus to do anything. Even when he was on the cusp of being sent to death, Jesus told Peter he could have called down legions of angels to do His bidding and chose not to. There is literally nothing that the Pharisees could have done, that you could do, that I could do, that would force God to do something that He didn't already determine that He should do.  With that said, once God determines to do something, he lays out a plan on what is needed for that to happen, and then he does it. Before the foundation of the earth God determined that Jesus would come to save us all. So when this moment arrived Jesus planned to go to Samaria and talk to the woman at the well. To make that happen he traveled through Samaria consistent with His intent and as such he HAD to go through Samaria. Just as God has executed His actions through all history he continues to do the same for you in yoru life right now. He has given you the exact life you need, to be challenged sufficiently Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

Sometimes less is more. There is no technique discussed other than contemplating the mind. We might translate this into turning the light of awareness inward, or leave it open to experience and discovery. Read the Journal while listening

During this guided meditation, Peter provides suggestions for combining mindfulness of breathing meditation with a contemplation for cultivating an empathetic and compassionate relationship with oneself and others.  This contemplation is intended to be associated with the Dharma talk of the same night entitled “Integrating Mindfulness With Compassion”, posted in the archive.

Who is Jesus, according to Jesus? We will answer that question by exploring seven scandalous claims he makes in the Gospel of John, known as the "I AM" statements.In John 15, Jesus declares, "I am the true vine." Often, we focus primarily on His command to "abide." We rightly understand that this passage holds a profound truth about our need to be rooted in Him as our ultimate source of rest and life. However, we sometimes overlook the fact that this text has just as much to say about what we produce. Because we are rooted in the vine, we inevitably "bear fruit" as we participate in the mission of God all around us.Ultimately, this is a message about rest and work—abiding and going. It challenges us to simultaneously dig deep into the source of life and reach out to offer that life to the world around us.

In this interview, we hear from Erin Popova who is the Dean of Students of EnterMission. EnterMission is a guided gap year program that seeks to help students navigate life, faith, service, and their future. They partner with domestic and international partners to help their student discover how to live missionally wherever God takes them.

Lee talks about the transformative effect of spending time in quiet contemplation and tuning your ear to God's voice.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “The Valley,  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 3." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=34&p=2349    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

Self-definition is essential to leadership through self-differentiation. This episode unpacks the challenges and benefits.Show Notes:Resisting Definition — Center for Action and Contemplation by Cassidy Hall.Check out The Non-Anxious Life, a FREE AI Family Systems Coach.Become a Patron for as little as $5/month.Subscribe to my weekly ⁠Two for Tuesday⁠ email newsletter.

866 You Will Not Go Away Empty-handed, A Guided Christian Meditation on Exodus 3:20-22 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Exodus 3 NIV 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. 21 "And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. 22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." 20 So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you. 21 "I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed. 22 Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters—thus you will plunder Egypt!" Reflection on Scripture: Human ethics are not complete. For hundreds of years the Israelites had been oppressed. None of those past people saw relief in this life. Similarly in the time of Jesus, many Jews were persecuted as well as early Christians. Additionally there are people who suffer around the world, some of them children. In our human ethics this can be very difficult. Yet I think this presents a problem of perspective and what life is. With this perspective many people could argue that life isnt fair. If we consider this human life to be the totality of life then any discomfort during that time is injustice indeed. I am in the military and have had very unpleasant training periods. Additionally I asked a Marine recently if he thought that Marine Corps boot camp was fair, he did not understand the framing of the question. It didnt matter if it was fair was his response. It is very physically demanding and full of suffering but the framing of this experience in his mind was not about it being fair or not because he was doing it for the end result of going where he wanted to go in the USMC.  If we consider this life as a training period for us then it changes our whole ethical framework. Marine Corps boot camp was not designed to be comfortable nor was this life. So it is not a failure if it is not comfortable. The real question is, does it move us to what we need to move toward. For example for early Christians who were murdered for their faith, their ethics would be different. For example when they are in the presence of God for all eternity I seriously doubt that they will consider their lives to have been unfair.  In this scripture we see that God will eventually reconcile His children. He will avenge us of wrongs done to us with His mighty arm. He will forgive our wrongs if we come to Him with His power of grace. Not only that he will reward us for going through these challenges. We will be blessed beyond our understanding for the hardship we go through. This compensation the people received also allowed them to create a beautiful tabernacle unto the Lord. Trust that the Lord will reward every injustice in His way, not ours. Praise God that we will be judged according to His ethics and not our own.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Audiobook.  Mature listeners only (18+).  Contemplation question, "Who have you loved back to life?" from Angela and Bram.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “The Highway”,  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 2." That mp3 is available at https://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2385    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

A contemplative reading of Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, by Niv Rajendra. "There is nothing quite like Thus Spoke Zarathustra in world literature. It is sublime and compelling, written in a state of high inspiration. At times in his life Nietzsche appears to be debating and even carrying the cultural evolution of an entire civilization within him. His writing is driven by an elemental force of nature and spirit that seems to transcend even his own capacity to comprehend what is coming through him. He was a vessel of more than he knew, and it is requiring the work of many others since his death to discern and unfold what erupted in his soul." - Richard Tarnus on Thus Spoke ZarathustraNiv Rajendra is a spiritual health coach, Ayurvedic Practitioner and founder of the EMBODIED Ayurveda Programs. She offers an unmatched alternative to artists, visionaries and rebels seeking a life of extra-ordinary vitality and empowers them to live their most easeful and joyful lives for the long run. Niv's clients claim that working with her has helped them replenish their entire system: emotionally, spiritually, physically, and relationally. ✧ Read the health results possible for you based on previous client ROIs ⁠https://nivrajendra.com⁠✧ Apply to partner with Niv for 2026 https://nivrajendra.com/embodied-ayur...✧ Instagram: @yourhealthcompass✧ Facebook: Niv Rajendra

864 They Will Heed Your Voice, A Guided Christian Meditation on Exodus 3:16-19 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Exodus 3 NKJV 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, "I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey." ' 18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, 'The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.' 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 2 RSV 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, "I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt; 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Per′izzites, the Hivites, and the Jeb′usites, a land flowing with milk and honey."' 18 And they will hearken to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we pray you, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.' 19 I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. Reflection on Scripture: God called Moses to listen to the voice of a burning bush in the wilderness and from the beginning God told him that the people would accept him and that the Pharaoh would not. God knew with precision what would be required to deliver His people from bondage and He told Moses all about it. This was an unknown blessing. Moses did not understand the blessing that he was given. He was given the answer for how it would pan out. Many times in our lives we take steps into what seems to be darkness to our eyes. There have been many times in my life and my ministry where I feel I have gotten only a small partial direction without any indication of what would happen. In fact my whole journey to become a Chaplain took me a total of 8 years and I had no assurance that my path would end in success as it has.  Invariably I suspect for most things God directs us to do we will not get clear direction on the outcome. DIcernment in and of itself is a valuable thing. After we are reasonably assured we have been given a direction the battle is not over. We have to just roger up and do the best we can and stay open to further guidance God gives us along the way. Moses was told the people would listen and that Pharaoh would only respond when compelled but many times Moses didn't know what was coming next.  God invites us into a relationship of trust. He had no such relationship with king of Epypt. So in this situation although it would be very challenging to be Moses, it would be far worse to be the king who opposed him, who opposed God. So the invitation stands to each of us. Do we respond to the call of the Lord or do we choose what our human passions desire? Do we bravely wade into the deep waters, sustained by a God of wonders or do we cower in fear hiding from the Lord? I know what I want that answer to be for me, what is left is actually doing it.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Cousin...it's time to sit and think. Show Notes: What is meditation: A deeper dive https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4171985/https://newedenministry.com/2020/05/24/contemplative-meditation/ https://www.calm.com/blog/mantra-meditation Focused Attention Meditation CoCo's Ancestral Garden: https://youtu.be/9wNmIJBIIz8?si=nj-pfw0QhWGeh4tb Body Scan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH-OQn5Ui8g Contemplative Meditation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9y4X7Sx_ik&t=2s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdHKZr2WVI mantra/Affirmation meditationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8BIhsAgfU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH11undyI2o&list=RDvH11undyI2o&start_radio=1

The Bible often encourages us to a silent, receptive stance before God's reality and goodness.  This kind of prayer takes recollection or composure of heart, which in turn requires some trust in God.  Our distaste for quiet prayer can be rooted in an unwillingness to cede control or a fear of the changes it might provoke in us.  Jesus's advice to the busy Martha is pertinent for all times: "Mary has chosen the better part."  Although our lives are rightly busy,  we should also play the role of Mary--quietly listening to Jesus--and we can do this by learning how to pray in silence. 

“Contemplation of Death” was a teaching given by Ajahn Brahm at Bodhinyana Monastery on the 20th December 2000. The main audience was the Sangha.   An edited transcription is available here: https://bswa.org/teaching/contemplation-of-death-2/ Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Days of Awe”,  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 2." That mp3 is available at https://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2385    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

862 I AM THAT I AM, A Guided Christian Meditation on Exodus 3:13-15 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Exodus 3 KJV 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. ESV 3 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I am has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Reflection on Scripture: It is difficult even to know exactly which way to go when thinking through this passage. It is heavy and simple at the same time. Moses had a legitimate problem. He didn't even know how to refer to God. He did not know God's name. He presented it as a tactical problem. How could he preach belief in a God without a full understanding of who God is. The simplicity and complexity is that God's response is not specific. On the one hand it represents an actual thing Moses could pass on as a solution for this question but on the other it is not a formal name. In fact it is much deeper. It is the essence of being.  In greek the phrase would have been written as Ego Eimi which is just I am or I exist. It is the essence of being. And also it is declarative. In contrast with the human notion of existing that we exist because we can do or think. God exists because he exists. We come into existence by God's hand in creation, and He exists. There is not criteria for proof given in this declaration, just the certainty of His eternal existence.  This became such a profound statement from God such that when Jesus later said in the book of John "Before Abraham was, I AM" the people instantly grabbed rocks to stone him for blasphemy. He equated Himself to be the one who spoke to Moses in this experience with the Burning Bush. The most important statement God wanted to make to the people is. I am here, and I am me. And that is the declarative statement that should be rend us to our soul. God exists. God is here. He is who He is and it is our great blessing to slowly gain understanding of what that means for the rest of our lives and into eternity.   Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

This week, we share a "Space for God" devotional offered by Rev. Chris Lugo (Pastor). Chris unpacks several dimensions of the memorable phrase from Psalm 46:10, "Be Still and Know that I Am God."  What does it actually mean to be still? How might we—in our frenzied, modern lives—take steps towards stillness?View Our Complete Archive of “Space for God” Prayer PracticesLearn More About Spiritual Direction through Coracleinthecoracle.org  |  @inthecoracleSupport the showFor the Journey is a resource of the Coracle Center of Formation for Action and is made possible through the generous support of men and women across the globe.

Dave's been throwing parties. Three in four days. Confirmation sponsor for a friend's son, family and friends over the next night, and then — because the universe has a sense of humor — some local gentleman decided to remodel Dave's brick mailbox. With his truck. At speed. Bricks were found over a hundred feet away. The guy left his license plate behind, which Dave is now holding like a man who accidentally picked up evidence and doesn't know what to do with it. The driver's fine. Well — he's in jail. But he's alive. Dave wants him to know that God's mercy is always ready and present, even for the man who turned a brand-new brick mailbox into gravel.Meanwhile, Adam got a new plum tree. Planted a maple. He's getting oaks for the pig pen so they'll drop acorns someday. One of his chickens died in a water barrel trap that nobody designed on purpose — the lid flipped, the chicken couldn't get out. Farm life. And then the real news: baby Mary is doing better. Haylee got to hold her. Adam held her for over three hours — only his second time since she was born in February. Three months of NICU, and the man finally got to just sit with his daughter. Praise God. Keep those prayers coming.Also — Adam's turning 40 on June 2nd. And Lady Pamela is due with their next baby on June 4th. They floated the idea of recording an episode in the delivery room. Pamela has not been consulted.This week we're sipping 13th Colony Distilleries Southern Rye Whiskey, French Oak Finish, Small Batch — 47.5% ABV. Platinum award-winning. Silky texture with hints of rye, apricot, and brown sugar. The rye's there but it doesn't overpower — still has a lot of bourbon elements to it. About forty bucks. That's a great buy.Then the conversation turns to something Adam's son Jude sparked. Jude — Adam's second oldest — just finished reading the entire Bible, Genesis through Revelation, straight through. Now he's reading the Council of Trent Catechism. He's a kid. Nobody told him to do this. He just had good books lying around the house and picked them up. That's the whole point.The virtue of study — studiositas — isn't what school taught us it was. It's not cramming. It's not memorizing facts to dump after the test. Aquinas calls it a habit of the mind ordered towards truth. Classical education at its best doesn't fill your head — it forms the way you think. The more you read rightly, the more you can arrive at correct conclusions through a sound process, not just recall. Study leads to contemplation. Contemplation is rest in truth. And it's not about finishing the book. If you're reading to check the box, you've already lost the plot. Sit with it. Let yourself be carried. The intellectual life doesn't compete with the family — it serves the family.From there, Adam and Dave go back and forth on the books that actually formed them. Adam leads with Joseph Pieper's In Tune with the World — a short, devastating argument for why festivity dies when we strip the divine out of celebration. Dave counters with The Soul of the Apostolate — the book that reordered his understanding of what has to come first before any ministry means anything. Adam brings John Senior's The Restoration of Christian Culture — hard opinions, harder truths, and a quote worth sitting with: the virtue of study requires a canon, a body of great works proven across time. Without tradition to guide what's worth studying, you're just chasing novelty.Dave goes deep on Fr. Timothy Gallagher's The Discernment of Spirits — a practical walkthrough of St. Ignatius's rules that shed light on the stages of the spiritual life and how the enemy shifts tactics as you grow. Adam responds with Raymond Arroyo's biography of Mother Angelica — a story of suffering, faithfulness, and a woman who said yes without knowing where it would lead. Dave makes a case for the Psalms — Psalm 51, the De Profundis in Latin, and the realization that there's a psalm for every moment of a man's life, and he'd been skimming past them for years.Adam goes deep cut: Fr. Paul Murray's Aquinas at Prayer — a book that reoriented his understanding of St. Thomas from pure intellect to contemplative soul. Dave brings Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina — hundreds of pages of our Lord's words on mercy that are sometimes scandalously generous. Adam throws in Simon Sinek's Start with Why as the non-Catholic book that changed how he thought about business, marriage, and fatherhood. Both men land on fiction that haunts them — Adam with Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter, Dave with Candice Millard's Hero of the Empire on young Churchill. They touch on Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Gone with the Wind, the bishop chapters of Les Misérables, Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, and close with John Senior's Thousand Good Books — the canon itself, the list that connects it all.They end where they always end: with Plato. They're halfway through the Republic in their great books group. David sits on the dumb couch. He knows he sits on the dumb couch. He's fine with it.Raise your glass.TOPICS COVEREDDave's brick mailbox obliterated by a truck — bricks found 100 feet away, driver in jail, license plate left behindThree parties in four days at Porter Prairie: confirmation, family gathering, and involuntary demolitionDave building a grain cradle for his scythe for the upcoming grain harvestAdam's new plum tree, maple tree, and oak trees planned for the pig penThe chicken that died in a water barrel trap nobody designed on purposeBaby Mary update — doing better, Adam held her for three hours, Haylee held her tooAdam turning 40 on June 2nd and Lady Pamela due June 4thBourbon of the week: 13th Colony Distilleries Southern Rye Whiskey, French Oak Finish, 47.5% ABVJude Minihan reading the entire Bible and now the Council of Trent Catechism — and nobody told him toWhy having good books lying around the house matters more than assigned readingThe virtue of studiositas — Aquinas on study as a habit of the mind ordered towards truthStudy isn't cramming — it's forming the way we think, not filling our headsWhy finishing the book isn't the point — sit with it, let yourself be carriedThe intellectual life doesn't compete with family — it serves the familyJoseph Pieper's In Tune with the World — why festivity dies without the divineThe Soul of the Apostolate — what has to come first before any ministry mattersJohn Senior's The Restoration of Christian Culture — hard opinions and the necessity of a canonFr. Timothy Gallagher's The Discernment of Spirits — St. Ignatius's rules made practicalRaymond Arroyo's biography of Mother Angelica — suffering, faithfulness, and saying yesThe Psalms as treasure — Psalm 51, the De Profundis in Latin, and why Dave had been skimming past themFr. Paul Murray's Aquinas at Prayer — reorienting Aquinas from intellect to contemplativeSt. Faustina's Divine Mercy in My Soul — mercy so generous it's almost scandalousSimon Sinek's Start with Why — a non-Catholic book that changed everythingSigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter — fiction that haunts you because it doesn't read like fictionCandice Millard's Hero of the Empire — young Churchill before the cigar and the brandyPatrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team — why hard conversations are acts of charityGone with the Wind — Rhett Butler as a man whose virtues take a lifetime to findThe bishop chapters of Les Misérables — Hugo's best character, written by a man who wasn't even a fan of the ChurchNeil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death — prophetic in 1985, terrifying nowJohn Senior's Thousand Good Books — the canon that connects all the great worksThe Count of Monte Cristo as a commentary on Dante's InfernoPlato's dialogues — the Republic, Euthyphro, the Symposium, and why you need a great books groupAdam sits on the dumb couch at great books night and he's fine with itREFERENCED IN THIS EPISODEBooks & Writings:In Tune with the World: A Theory on Festivity by Joseph PieperLeisure, the Basis of Culture by Joseph Pieper (mentioned)The Intellectual Life by A.G. SertillangesThe Soul of the Apostolate (Dave's pick)The Restoration of Christian Culture by John SeniorThe Death of Christian Culture by John Senior (mentioned)The Discernment of Spirits by Fr. Timothy Gallagher (based on St. Ignatius's rules)Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network by Raymond ArroyoAquinas at Prayer by Fr. Paul Murray, O.P.Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Maria FaustinaStart with Why by Simon SinekKristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid UndsetAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniGone with the Wind by Margaret MitchellHero of the Empire: The Boer War, a...

This episode originally aired February 8, 2015. Contemporary theologian and author Father Richard Rohr discusses how we can reconnect to our true self by overcoming the many ways in which our ego blocks our path. A Franciscan priest for more than 40 years and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Father Richard has firsthand understanding of how silence and meditation, deeper spiritual intuition and the inherent experience of love can lead to transformational discoveries within oneself. According to Father Richard, within each of us lies the true self and the false self. The true self, he says, is what religion often calls the soul—your eternal essence. The false self is the persona you create for yourself. Father Richard believes your goal in life is to find and manifest your true self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Father Daniel Chowning shares profound insights from St. John of the Cross, revealing the path to healing that's rooted in God's merciful love—because true healing begins when we recognize our wounds and invite God into them.If you've ever struggled with distorted views of love, or feel stuck in the past, this episode offers practical steps to rediscover authentic love, heal old wounds, and live more fully in God's grace.Father Daniel, a Carmelite friar with decades of ministry experience, including studying in Spain, living in Rome, and authoring Healed by Love—breaks down the profound relationship between prayer, self-knowledge, and love's transformative power. You'll discover how the dark night isn't just a metaphor, but a universal stage of healing where God's love penetrates our deepest brokenness. We explore how love as a self-giving act aligns with Jesus's example, and why learning to love as God loves is our lifelong vocation; one that's impossible without divine grace.You can find Fr. Daniel's book here.

Shame doesn't only live in the dark corners of a broken life. It lives just as quietly in the person everyone else envies — the one who has achieved everything and still wakes up feeling like it isn't enough.Ken Shigematsu grew up moving between Japan, England, and Canada, carrying the weight of a shame-and-honor culture that most Western theology never addresses. In this conversation, he and Michael explore why deep grace is different from knowing grace is true, what it means to grow our capacity to actually receive love rather than deflect it, and why beauty and joy aren't spiritual extras — they are among the most direct routes out of shame and into the self God made.Ken also shares the simple daily practice that, over 30 days, can literally rewire the neural networks that make it hard to feel loved by God — even when you believe it.Ken Shigematsu is a pastor in Vancouver, Canada, and author of Now I Become Myself: How Deep Grace Heals Our Shame and Restores Our True Self.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Father Speak”,  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 2." That mp3 is available at https://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2385    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

Min-Ah Cho is an associate teaching professor at Georgetown University, where she specializes in constructive theology and Christian spirituality. She recently published a fascinating and thoughtful book titled The Silent God and the Silenced: Mysticism and Contemplation amid Suffering that explores the implications of reckoning with God's silence for our spiritual and ethical lives.

860 Who Am I That I Should Go, A Guided Christian Meditation on Exodus 3:10-12 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Exodus 3 NIV 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" 12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." RSV 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 He said, "But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain." Reflection on Scripture: Moses felt genuine and well placed self doubt. He knew that his own influence would not be enough to do what was in front of him. He knew that Pharaoh would not listen to him and do what he was being asked to do. He was quite literally being asked to do something that is impossible. Pumping himself up to believe he could do the impossible would be pointless. Sometimes in this world we get the message that all we have to do is manifest things by believing in them and that makes them come true. God invited Moses into something else. He said "I will be with you". It is the presence of the Lord that makes impossible things possible. When you encounter some massive issue in your life it doesn't even matter if you can even overcome the issue yourself. The message here though is that with God it is possible. When you feel overpowered, turn your confidence to the all powerful God of heaven.  The sign that God gives is that Moses will serve Him on the mountain. The answer to what is impossible is not your strength or wisdom, or anything else you do. Your talents do matter but they are not what make the real difference. The life saving difference. Let God prevail in your life. This meditation is your weekly reminder to put your confidence in your God. When your power fails, that does not mean that all power fails.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod  

The Stages of Change Mini SeriesUnderstanding the Contemplation Stage of ChangeIn today's episode we continue our series exploring the Stages of Change model developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente.This episode explores the contemplation stage, the stage where awareness has begun, but change has not yet fully happened.The part of us that wants change… and the part that is still afraid of it.In this episode we explore:Why awareness and action are not the same thingThe emotional exhaustion of living between two worldsWhy people stay stuck in patterns they know are hurting themThe hidden benefits behaviours can still provideFear, identity, belonging, and nervous system safetyWhy familiar pain can feel safer than uncertaintyThe grief that can come with changeSupporting someone who is in contemplation without pushing or shaming themWe also talk about how contemplation is often a deeply vulnerable stage because once awareness begins, it becomes difficult to fully “unsee” the impact of our behaviours.This episode is an invitation to meet inner conflict with honesty instead of judgement, and to understand that questioning a behaviour is already movement.Journal prompts or reflection:What behaviour or pattern am I currently questioning in my life?What do I fear I might lose if I change?What is this behaviour helping me avoid, numb, regulate, or cope with?How can I best support my nervous system through this?For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go towww.iquitalcohol.com.auFollow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr CassidyIf you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contemplation and participation are not mutually exclusive. We need to create space so we can see reality more clearly and orient ourselves towards what we really want. That said, we cannot renounce the world forever, if we want to be a part of a better one. Get Jenny Odell's Books Here.Buy Jenny Odell's book here.Listen to a different podcast episode about Jenny Odell's book.Read Julie's Medium Blog.Support JULIE (and the show!)Support + get some bonus stuff over on PATREON.Get an occasional personal email from me: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTune in on INSTAGRAM AND YOUTUBE or TIKTOK.Info on War Tax Resistance.Donate to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund and the Sudan Relief FundThe opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) Detailed advice on posture, sitting and connecting with the body. Followed by guided body contemplation exercise using the 6 sense channels.

Make Your Home In This Luminous Dark A conversation with James K. A. SmithIn this episode, I sit down with philosopher and author James K. A. Smith (Jamie) to explore the mystical tradition as a living pathway into deeper faith, creativity, and presence.Jamie shares how his journey into mysticism began not through abstract theology, but through personal crisis, an experience of depression that exposed the limits of intellect and certainty. From there, voices like St. John of the Cross and Thomas Merton opened up a new way of understanding faith, not as mastery, but as surrender; not as knowing, but as unknowing.Together, we explore what it means to “make your home in the luminous dark,” to embrace mystery as a space of transformation rather than failure. We also dive deeply into the surprising role of art, especially contemporary and “difficult” art, as a powerful and often overlooked gateway into contemplation. Rather than delivering clear messages, great art invites us into encounter, disorientation, and wonder, forming in us the very capacities needed for a mystical life.This conversation is an invitation to let go of control, to trust the deeper currents of love beneath reality, and to discover how both mysticism and art can open us to the presence of God in ways that certainty never could.JOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB! Every Tuesday at 8 pm EST in June 2026, we will be reading James's book online in our Patreon community! We'd love to have you with us. Visit patreon.com/makersandmystics to RSVP. Send us Fan MailSupport the showJOIN US FOR BOOK CLUB! Every Tuesday at 8 pm EST in June 2026, we will be reading James's book online in our Patreon community! We'd love to have you with us. Visit patreon.com/makersandmystics to RSVP. Sign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1Give a one-time donation https://buy.stripe.com/9AQeYj7431fD12waEOJoin the Makers & Mystics Creative Collective https://www.patreon.com/c/makersandmystics

In this special episode, Jim and Kirsten review the season and offer a way for us to turn to Thérèse of Lisieux for guidance on our own spiritual path. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The books we will be using this season are: Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until May 15, 2026. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/ ⁠Thank you!

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Stunning”,  from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 2." That mp3 is available at https://dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2385    Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

858 I Have Heard Them Cry Out, A Guided Christian Meditation on Exodus 3:7-9 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in  and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.  Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.  You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.   Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:   Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate. Scripture for Meditation Exodus 3 NIV The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. NLT 7 Then the Lord told him, "I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. Reflection on Scripture: I want you to stop everything you are thinking and hone in on this call from the Lord. I am aware of your suffering is what he says to you. I know what you have been through. This scripture points out that he could tell you clearly, I know your victories and your setbacks. I know your heart. I know what you need. I know what it takes to craft you into the image I want from you. Not only do I know all these things but I am strong. I am strong enough to save you. I have that power. The greatest challenge of all the one we should be most desperate for is a forgiveness of our sin.  Each one of us has weakness within our mind and heart. Take this moment to turn from that weakness toward the strength God offers. Working with people in the most challenging of circumstances has shown me again and again that each of us have our own story with plenty of deep valleys. As an example It has been a few weeks since I put out an episode. I got sick then had a family member in the hospital and then someone I minister to in a professional context was in the hospital. So I have had many things up in the air. And at the end of all that I ended up traveling to support a family member and I am not at home to celebrate Mother's Day with my wife. At certain points I have been quite low recently. And yet I know that my struggle is knot unknown to God. He knows it. And he lets these things happen because he knows what is required to cause us to grow. He knows what is required for us to overcome. Please trust the one who has power to save.  Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?  FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Do you ever feel like you're hustling nonstop, but deep down, something's missing? Henry David Thoreau wrote that most people live lives of "quiet desperation," and if we're honest, a lot of us in leadership know exactly what he meant. Larry Baker is a leader who's spent a lifetime on an inner journey. His daily practice of contemplation transformed not just his career, but his entire outlook on life and leadership. If you crave deeper meaning and want your work to feel purposeful for both you AND your team, this conversation will spark something inside you. Successful leadership doesn't just come from tactical business moves or working harder. It comes from pouring into yourself, developing your own awareness and resilience, and leading from a place of genuine care. By tending to your own inner work, you create stronger foundations for your family, your team, and your company, especially when life throws curveballs. In this episode, Larry shares how facing his mortality as a child launched a decades-long practice of contemplation, what it looks like to lead from the inside out, and why this "soft work" is actually the hardest and most rewarding thing you can do. We'll dig deep into why putting your people first isn't just nice, it's strategic, and why self-knowledge and heart-driven leadership fuel loyalty and clarity when you and your team need it most. By the end of the episode, you'll have tools and encouragement to take real steps toward your own practice, no matter where you're starting. You'll understand how doing the work beneath the work changes everything above it.   Leadership Takeaways (00:00) Why leaders feel stuck and where the search for meaning begins (02:22) How Larry Baker's near-death experience transformed his approach to leadership (04:07) How Larry developed his meditation practice, even when it felt like he was failing at it (06:03) Why love, care, and "soft skills" are the hard skills in business (09:24) How the inner journey shaped culture and retention at FleetWatcher (14:00) Step-by-step: How to start a daily practice of contemplation (even if you're busy) (17:07) The benefits of starting your day with stillness and gratitude (18:45) Practical differences between meditation and contemplation for leaders (23:55) Why the business community must lead with heart (28:04) Embracing our connectedness   Connect with Larry Baker https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-baker-3883348/   Links and Resources Mentioned The Third Eye by T. Lobsang Rampa https://www.amazon.com/Third-Eye-T-Lobsang-Rampa/dp/0345340388   About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).   Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ Connect with Andrea Butcher on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/   Abundant Empowerment Upcoming Events https://www.abundantempowerment.com/events

This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Fr. Chris shares a quote from Josef Pieper's book, Only the Lover Sings. We talk about love and music, beauty that is discovered in the one we love and in those around us, and how singing points us to love.References:Only the Lover Sings: Art and Contemplation by Josef PieperFace to Face: Knowing God beyond Our Shame by Fr. Stephen FreemanMere Christianity by C.S. LewisThe Silver Chair by C.S. LewisFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us Fan MailSupport the show

On this special bonus episode, James Finley and Kirsten Oates interview Fr Richard Rohr about his special connection to Thérèse of Lisieux. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and ecumenical teacher who bears witness to the deep wisdom of Christian mysticism and traditions of action and contemplation. Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, Father Richard teaches how God's grace guides us to our birthright as beings made of Divine Love. He is the author of numerous books, including The Universal Christ, The Wisdom Pattern, Just This, and Falling Upward. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The books we will be using this season are: Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until May 15, 2026. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at ⁠https://cac.org/support-cac/⁠ Thank you!

In this third dialogue session, Jim and Kirsten will focus on the meaning behind Thérèse's second chosen name, The Holy Face. Resources: The transcript for this episode can be found here. The books we will be using this season are: Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Third Edition, translated by John Clarke, which can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series), edited by Mary Frolich⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us: Have a question you'd like Jim or Kirsten to answer about this season? Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasts@cac.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send us a voicemail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cac.org/voicemail⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We'll be accepting questions for our Listener Questions episode until May 15, 2026. This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at https://cac.org/support-cac/ Thank you!