Podcasts about Contemplation

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “I Wait For You" 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!

890 I Spend My Life in God's Service, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 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 doing 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 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 KJV 14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit. 14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! Reflection on Scripture: I was counseling with a person one time and they felt devalued by their spouse and they were talking about prioritizing themselves more. I have heard this repeated often. In that moment, I felt an internal conflict, or perhaps better said I felt the weight of the balance that Paul presents in these previous verses regarding his equality with other apostles. On the one hand he is no less valuable, and on the other, he is equally a fallen person.  So one side is that we need to learn to not hate ourselves because that is a lie from the enemy, yet the solution to that is not to focus more on ourselves that is an influence from our unhealthy culture. Jesus taught us to love and serve others. He also told us to love others as ourselves. Other people are no more important but no less important than you are. I don't think in general the world has a shortage of people thinking about themselves. Learning to focus more on ourselves is often not the way to resolve these feelings. If we are willing to serve God would that also not be serving God's children.  I think the solution to feeling devalued is to truly understand the value God places in us and now that we feel His love, that we look to Jesus for what he wants us to do with this stronger feeling of value and love. As two examples, consider a situation in which both people in a marriage feel as though they are not being focused on and loved enough. It is possible for both people to feel devalued at the same time. The solution to this problem would not be for both partners to focus on themselves more, but to learn how to receive unconditional love from God. Once fed by the love of God we can help to more clearly connect with another person and appropriately negotiate with our spouse on how to feel more loved from them. This is a profound oversimplification but consider it a metaphor.  Another example is for people who struggle with social anxiety, if we transition to helping other people feel at ease in social settings it can actually lower our anxiety more than trying to put ourselves at ease. Again both of these are oversimplifications but they are examples. So take Pauls statement here about how he remains dedicated to the Church and try and discern how God wants you to balance your dedication?  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

St. Josemaria described the potential of lay holiness in an interesting way.  He said all Christians can and should be "contemplatives in the middle of the world."  Holy Scripture and Church teaching reaffirm this high ideal.  The Christian is intimately united, indeed identified, with Christ himself.  

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “There Is Power" 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!

888 My Grace Is Sufficient, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 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 doing 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 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. ESV 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Reflection on Scripture: Today I gave an invocation prayer for an event for an organization that supports military service members. The person who runs it has done some really amazing things for the servicemembers I have worked with in the past so I was glad to support. The main speaker was a man who served in Vietnam in many incredibly brutal situations. He had led his men in combat and now was telling some of these stories for the first time ever. He was a powerful speaker but it was clear he was working through challenging memories. He was very determined but each person, regardless of their strength, struggles with things. Most of the time we have no decision or input on what thing it is that will challenge us most. This man harnessed that fear of telling his story resulting in a profoundly moving speech.  Paul was not immune to having struggles and even one that he felt extremely vexed by. Paul had amazing visions and gifts from God, and yet he struggled in ways that had him imploring God for help. And yet God did not give it in the way that Paul asked for. Without even knowing yoru situation I can guess that you have things that at times feel heavy for you to bear. Perhaps that is rare or incredibly frequent. If you are being honest though you have troubles. This is the message from God. Use that weakness to draw you closer to God and accept that all things can work together for the good of those who love God.There can be strength in that weakness. It reminds us of our need for God. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. WE are shown the Mercy of God most when we need it. We may be a way off from what  Many times we see only struggle and we dont see the good it does in us. Embrace the truth Paul teaches. WE can rejoice in the perfection of God. Just because you don't get to choose your struggle doesn't mean you have no choice in how to work through it. The resounding solution to that question is found in this scripture. Trust God. Lean on His strength and He will make you stronger than you could imagine  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

Today, I'm joined by an amazing friend and speaker, Maria DeLorenzis Reyes.  Maria is an executive leadership coach who specializes in challenging conventional norms and fostering cultures of belonging and high performance.  As CEO and Founder of Training Innovations and MDR Brands, she has transformed over 1,600 companies, delivered over 5,800 presentations and trained 400,000+ people. Her extensive knowledge and speaking skills make her a sought-after coach, consultant, and speaker.  Maria is also the creator and host of the "Finding the Upside" podcast and TV series. Her book, Unedited: Women's Stories of Truth, Identity, and Transformation That Shapes Leadership, is for anyone who has let a label hold them back from standing fully in who they are. In this episode, we'll explore: Why true belonging in the workplace starts with hospitality and treating every person with equal care, attention, and welcome What it truly means to be a rebel leader and why that's a good thing How to lead with integrity, and why values mean nothing without the actions and behaviors to back them up Her current favorites: Book: Being Smart Is Stupid and The Art of Contemplation, Speaker: Michelle Obama, and Podcast: The Curiosity Shop   More from Maria Her previous appearance on the podcast in Episode 714 Website: mariadr.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MariaDeLorenzisReyes  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariadelorenzisreyes/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themariadr/    More from Tricia  Publish your book with The Big Talk Press Join me LIVE for my Complimentary Monthly Workshop Explore my content and follow me on YouTube Follow me on Instagram  Connect with me on Facebook  Connect with me on LinkedIn  Visit my website at TriciaBrouk.com 

Tuesday August 18, 2026 Today we continue our journey through Spiritual Classics by Richard Foster with a reading from Joyce Huggett's “Learning the Language of Prayer,” alongside selections from Psalm 119. We'll reflect on what it means to grow in prayer—not simply as something we do, but as a language we learn as we draw closer to God. Join us for Scripture, reflection, and encouragement as we grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “I Am Your Servant" 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!

886 We Have Heard For Ourselves, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:37-42 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 doing 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 NIV 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." RSV 39 Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me everything I have done." 40 When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 42 and they said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." Reflection on Scripture: The Samaritan woman at the well shared her simple faith in Jesus. That was enough to peak the interest of the whole location where she lived. Yet it was not this testimony that saved. It was Jesus. His presence. His spirit. His words. When the people had heard Jesus themselves, then they came to understand and have faith. Then they heard it for themselves. This is what we all need. As you spend time in scripture, in prayer, in worship, in meditation, you turn your attention from just hearing other people's experience with God and you begin to have your own, or you deepen your own experience. No matter who you are and what spiritual connection you have had with God, to get lax in this area. When this happens we miss out on the beauty and peace that come from proximity to the influence of God's word in our life.  Why on earth would we not graciously drink from the cool water of life that God offers. God offers you His love? How often do you drink of it? How often do you let it flow by without savoring it? Do you constantly feed your faith in God with deep and meaningful personal experience with God's spirit and His words? Go to the source of truth, the source of peace, the source of power and strength.  Take this mediation as a recommittal to spend time with God. Don't outsource your faith. Don't defer what you hold to be true to someone who had their own spiritual experience. Go to God. Go to His word. Go to God in prayer. By all means learn from the wise and learned people, but your faith must grow from within you. The fact that someone else has profound knowledge that has fed their own faith will not be enough for you until you put your focus to grow the roots of your own faith deeper inside of yourself. THen as that faith grows you can constantly nourish it with more knowledge from wise sources.  Many times we see  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

What do women do with Christianity? While some experiences may be specific to Latter-day Saints, when we talk to women in other churches we find a surprisingly big overlap: our sisters from other denominations describe so many common themes and similar challenges in their institutional religious experiences and personal spiritual lives. In Episode 270, Cynthia and Susan welcome Dr. Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Dean of Core Faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation, for a conversation about women and Christianity. Don't let the "bonus" in the title fool you—this one's a don't miss!

Listen as Renee and Karen recap the summer conference: A Contemplation of Revolution. They chat about what makes this conference so special—the community of old and new friends, the contemplation of ideas together, the culinary delights for body and soul. If you attended and want to listen again, or if you wish you could have come, you can listen to the recordings on the CiRCE website and be refreshed for the start of a new school year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Fully Alive" 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!

Arabic Sunday Sermon - 1st Sunday of Mesore @ St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church - Peoria, AZ ~ August 9, 2026 | Mesore 3, 1742

A Contemplation of Titus: Titus 1:1-9 by Josh Hall, Senior Pastor, on Aug 9, 2026, at FBCTLH.

Job is probably one of the most difficult and haunting books in scripture, and this summer as we read it together, we wanted a guide—so we invited Mike Petrow back to join us. With doctoral degrees in psychology and mythological studies, Mike helps us understand Job as an ancient text, and as a story that continues to speak in our own lives.Today Mike takes us straight into one of the most striking turns in this story: Job's friends show up in his deep suffering, and one by one try to defend God with tidy theology, debate him out of his grief, and ultimately accuse him of bringing this suffering on himself. But then God show up and finally speaks, rebuking the friends and declaring that it is Job—the one who questioned, lamented, and wrestled—who has spoken truthfully. Mike unpacks what that reversal means for anyone who's ever felt like their questions made them the problem.And then there's Job himself: a good man who loses everything. Mike walks us through what this ancient story has to teach us about our own doubt, grief, and the sacred work of asking questions—showing again how honest questioning can be the threshold to a richer spiritual imagination and deeper faith.Dr. Mike Petrow is the host of The Healer With a Thousand Facesand one of the lead hosts on the Everything Belongs podcast with Father Richard Rohr. He's the Manager of Formation for the Center for Action and Contemplation, a jungian spiritual director, and a certified grief and trauma counselor. And we are so thrilled to share that he'll be joining us live at Restore:Connect this year!We hope this conversation is nourishing and sparks lots of new insights for you as you study the book of Job this month.Tickets for Restore 2026 are now available, and we have a new format we think you're going to love. Get details here!

884 The Field Is Ready To Harvest, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:31-35 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 doing 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 KJV 31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. NASB 31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?" 34 Jesus *said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work. 35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest. Reflection on Scripture: Jesus first used water to describe the gospel to the woman and now to his disciples he uses the analogy of food. God's love and word is more eternally satisfying than food and water and we should equally hunger and thirst for it. The disciples struggled to understand as is often the case but he was not only teaching them the value of God's word but also something else. There are times when we work hard for good things and feel as though we dont see the natural results of that hard work. It is also the case at other times you receive blessings beyond what you deserve. This is true in the work of sharing the gospel. Sometimes we pour out our hearts to others about our love for God and what he has done and we plant the seed. Other times we see the tail end of the conversation. The important thing to notice is that the only way we see any part of it, is if we are involved in the work of the field. There are likely people you care for who you wish you could help to come closer to God and to choose Him. Do the best you can with your role with that person. Perhaps you are the seed planter and perhaps you are the harvester. That is not within your control.  Ultimately as with sharing the gospel as in all other areas of life, we do not get what we deserve. And praise the grace of a loving God that we dont. I am so very grateful that I dont get what I deserve because I am a flawed and fallen man. My efforts of sharing the gospel and many other things are so flawed, and yet God takes those incomplete and messed up efforts and he perfects them for His purposes. Do the best you can to live what God puts on your heart and then trust the rest to Him. In every case, dont worry, you wont get what you deserve.  Many times we see  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

Dieu et les oiseaux

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Your Judgments" 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!

Welcome to another one of our Bible Studies! Today we'll be pondering the New Month 5. YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfcZWAqrGOqUGZv7HHWjwyQ Website: www.messianics.us Bet Yeshurun Assembly, Berkley, Michigan, Oakland County. PayPal donations can be securely made at the bottom of the main page of our website: https://messianics.us

882 He Told Me Everything I Did, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:27-30 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 doing 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 NIV 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. NLT 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, "What do you want with her?" or "Why are you talking to her?" 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?" 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him. Reflection on Scripture: This woman did not know about the cross or resurrection. She had an almost nonexistent Christology. She did not know exactly what the Messiah would do. It is pretty clear she didn't know Jesus was even the Savior, as that wasn't a common Jewish understanding of Messiah. The thing that makes this story so meaningful to me is what she does with the information she has. In John 9 Jesus tells the Pharisees would not be guilty if they were truly blind but they claimed to see. This woman was still blind in very important ways of understanding what Jesus would do for her, yet her approach to the truth, to Jesus as the way, was phenomenal. She believed and trusted Jesus. It can be valuable to look for the lessons in the scriptures that are for us also. Each one of us has more information than this woman. We have the advantage of having the full account of Jesus and his saving effort. We get to see stories of him in so many situations teaching. We hear his full message of love to many different situations. We have the stories of His miracles. We see the impact of the cross and the resurrection. And what do we do with that information? This woman had such limited information about Jesus, yet she invested herself in that message. The believed Jesus and attempted to share that. How blessed we are that we get to live in a time where Jesus is known across the globe. Certainly not be every person, but to billions of people. Sometimes I have thought that it would be amazing to live in the time of Jesus to get to see him, yet I think we are so blessed now to have a much deeper understanding of Jesus. The question that remains, what do we do with that knowledge? The most important knowledge of all? Many times we see  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 monthly series called "What Are the Sisters Reading?" continues with Sister Emily Beata Marsh, FSP, who shares about a book called "Saint Bernard's Three Course Banquet: Humility, Charity, and Contemplation in the De Gradibus"  by Father Bernard Bonowitz as he reflects on Saint Bernard of Clairvaux's short classic, "The Steps of Humility and Pride" (De gradibus humilitatis et superbiæ). To check out more books on the Catholic faith and religious items of interest at the Pauline Books and Media Center at 1025 King Street in Alexandria, please click here.  

I sat down with a woman who walked away from one of the most public marriages in music history — and I wanted to know what it actually takes to choose yourself when the whole world admires your partner. Deborah Santana spent over thirty years building a life, a business, and a family inside a marriage to one of the most famous musicians of our time, Carlos Santana. From the outside, it looked like the dream. But somewhere along the way, she started asking herself the question so many of us avoid: Am I actually living my purpose, or just managing everyone else's?  Deborah is an author, activist, philanthropist, filmmaker, and longtime advocate for equity and empowerment. Her new memoir, Loving the Fire, traces a journey of choosing truth over appearances, freedom over fear, and her own voice over quiet acceptance of what no longer serves her. In this conversation, we get into what it really takes to rebuild your identity after fame, motherhood, and decades of putting yourself last — the moment that finally gave her permission to leave, what she's learned about love the second time around, and why she now believes the world has lost something essential by turning away from matriarchal wisdom. We also talk about raising kids who feel truly seen and the intuitive flashes she trusts more than almost anything else in her life.  Deborah is 75 and more radiant than ever. She is living proof that reinvention can happen at any age. If you feel like you've abandoned yourself or your dreams to keep others happy, this one is for you. Key Moments You'll Love ✨ :

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Simply Amazing" 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!

Why does slowing down feel so unsafe, even when we know it's good for us? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks why contemplative prayer isn't just a spiritual discipline, it's a genuine tool for psychological healing. Drawing on a recent conversation with Dr. Tim White of St. Mary's University and patterns he sees constantly in his clinical work, Adam explains why clients with anxiety, OCD, and scrupulosity often struggle most to be still, and why that stillness is exactly where healing begins. Topics covered: Lectio Divina and Ignatian prayer as contemplative practices Contemplation as receiving, not analyzing Bringing God into ordinary daily moments Catholic contemplation versus secular mindfulness Fr. Jacques Philippe on God's unwavering presence Becoming childlike again as a path to healing Slowing down isn't unproductive. It might be the very thing you need most. Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623

This Sunday we will continue our Noticing God sermon series by looking at “alone time”. In his ministry, Jesus taught and demonstrated the importance of spending time alone with God. We will look into the benefits and practices of silence and solitude. Resources: ⁠Contemplative Outreach contemplativeoutreach.orgThe Centre for Action and Contemplation  cac.orgThe Welcoming Prayer

880 Worship God In Spirit and Truth, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:24-26 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 doing 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 24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (the one called Christ); "whenever he comes, he will tell us everything." 26 Jesus said to her, "I, the one speaking to you, am he." ESV 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." Reflection on Scripture: God wants us to worship him in spirit. Not just in spirit but in truth. The truth of Jesus, and that he is the Christ, the anointed chosen one who delivers us. In true worship our heart is turned toward God. Turned toward the true glory of God. The woman at the well expected a Messiah. Based on prophecy and cultural tradition. She had an awareness about the most important prophecy of the old testament. The one pointing to Jesus, who she did not know. She had no way of knowing the full impact of that prophecy.  You do. You have an awareness of the truth that Jesus was talking about here. When he finally revealed himself to the woman, she believed. In this meditation your primary focus should be to worship God in spirit and truth. Yes, calming breathing feels good. Brain training to learn to be more relaxed is helpful. Ultimately though the thing that will change, not only your life, but your eternal future, is an awareness of the salvation of God. Not only that but this fact is the most profound form of mental health I could imagine.  You live in a universe where there is a Messiah, a Christ, the God of heaven, capable of creation of the universe and unending destruction. He did not create you, to damn you. He created you to offer you eternal life. God knows your flaws and weaknesses. He knows the worst parts of you and still has chosen to love you. Is there anything to fear or worry about when the God of heaven has chosen to love you with the most profound love. Jesus who is revealed in this scripture is He. Now worship him in spirit and truth. Pour our a heart of gratitude to the one who loves you with a perfect love as only a heavenly father can .  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 special episode initially ran early in 2025 but I wanted to bump it up for those of you who missed it and also because I honestly think Richard Rohr is worthy of a re-listen. If you're not already familiar with Richard Rohr, he's a wonderful Franciscan friar, the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, and one of my most profound teachers. I really loved and highly recommend his book The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage. In this conversation, he helps us to make sense of disorder, evil, anger, and grief—while also helping us to truly grow. For the show notes, head to eliseloehnen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During this guided meditation Peter provides suggestions that can associate the practice of mindfulness of breathing meditation with the 4 Tetrads of the Anapanasati Sutta.  It is intended to supplement the review of the Anapanasati Sutta he provided during the meeting of July 15, 2026 which is posted on this website.  Following this contemplation, he will answer questions participants may have about their meditation practice.

Welcome to Contemplations with me, Hardeep Kaur. Today we are contemplating a particular kind of alienation that occurs in a world where technology grows in primacy. The work of Günther Anders emerges as a guiding provocation - in a world where humans become obsolete in the shadow of technologies that overpower their makers, a sense of shame emerges, which in turn further unmoors, and untethers us from all that feels familiar. The mythic figures of Prometheus and Circe are called upon to explore what can be done to re-negotiate a new relationship to belonging to the world.If something resonates, or speaks to you in this Contemplation, I'd love to hear from you.If you're ready, let's contemplate.HProduced by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠perse.london⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ x ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Architecture of Contemplation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voice + Contemplation: Hardeep Kaur ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hardeep.earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ratings and reviews are so appreciated - it's heartening and always edifying, to hear what lands for you.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Be" 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!

878 We Know What We Worship, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:20-23 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 doing 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 NABRE 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. NASB 19 The woman *said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship." 21 Jesus *said to her, "Believe Me, woman, that a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. Reflection on Scripture: God has chosen you as one of His worshipers. Jesus taught the true worship. It is to know God the Father and Jesus Christ. When Jesus said Salvation is from the Jews, that is not because the Jews had the capacity to create something that would save them. It meant that God had chosen His people, and Jesus was born of that lineage. Salvation is not man made. Salvation is not found on a mountain, and although the Temple was directed by God, the temple did not generate salvation. Salvation has always come from God alone. From time to time, God has asked us to do things and yet our salvation has never come from those things that God asked us. It comes from living in unison with God's spirit. Even according to the much harsher law of Moses, redemption was found by seeking it from God alone, through the means God commanded.  We live according to what Jesus said here. To worship God in spirit. If we do worship incorrectly we can get caught up in the physical details. Perhaps even intellectual elements of worship. Worship should be done in spirit. Even when I use the word worship, perhaps some consider only music. Although music is a valuable means of connecting with, and experiencing the still small voice of the Spirit, it is not the whole definition of the meaning of Worship.  We should seek to venerate and worship God in every way. Every action, every drink of water can be worship to God if done in the right spirit. On this day I invite you to make every thought and action an act of worship to the Lord our God.  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

"Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false self. This is the man that I want myself to be but who cannot exist, because God does not know anything about him. And to be unknown of God is altogether too much privacy. My false self is the one who wants to exist outside the reach of God's will and God's love—outside of reality and outside of life. And such a self cannot help but be an illusion."–Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

At 75, Deborah Santana Proves It's Never Too Late to Choose YourselfMany people first came to know Deborah Santana through her 34-year marriage to legendary musician Carlos Santana. But as the former CEO of the Santana organization, a philanthropist, author, and lifelong advocate for women and girls, Deborah has built an extraordinary legacy of her own.In this heartfelt conversation, Deborah shares what happened when she made the courageous decision to leave her marriage—not because it was easy, but because it was no longer authentic. What followed was a profound journey of healing, self-trust, freedom, and discovering who she was always meant to become.At 75 years old, Deborah reminds us that it's never too late to choose yourself, trust your intuition, and create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values and purpose.Whether you're navigating midlife, rebuilding after divorce, searching for greater purpose, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation will leave you feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to take your own next step.✨ In this episode, you'll discover:

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 Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World by Roman Krznaric.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

Who is Jesus according to Jesus? We are answering that question by exploring seven scandalous claims he makes in the Gospel of John, known as the "I AM" statements.In John 14, Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Within each of these three words, we find something we desperately long for—something we were created for. Yet, we frequently replace these authentic longings with cheap, enticing counterfeits. These counterfeits promise fulfillment but ultimately leave us empty.In this message, we discover that while we tend to be preoccupied with our destination, what we truly need—and what Jesus offers—is a way of life that transforms both us and the world around us.

In this episode, Randy Woodley argues that the church has been asking the wrong question. Not whether the story happened, but what the story asks of us. And to start to ask better questions, we have to go back to the root - where did this all come from? And how did Western Christianity get it wrong? We talk about Platonic dualism made belief more important than action, producing hierarchy, empire, and harm. We talk about reading scripture as story rather than evidence, replacing the word salvation with healing, and what repentance actually costs. If you've felt the distance between what you believe and how you live, this conversation names where that came from and what it takes to close that gap.Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley is a dynamic writer and speaker with a deep passion for creativity and Indigenous spirituality, justice, and earth empowerment. His diverse background and experiences have uniquely equipped him to bring about positive change in Indigenous communities for four decades. With his wife, Edith, (Shoshone) they have four children and six grandchildren. An award-winning author and a tribally recognized Keetoowah descendant (UKB), the author of 15 books, Randy weaves together Indigenous wisdom, ecological sustainability, and spirituality. Randy is both an active farmer and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He is respected by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities worldwide and has been featured in The New York Times, Politifact, Time Magazine, and The Huffington Post. Randy publishes a weekly Substack at https://rwoodley7.substack.com/ and is a faculty member at Richard Rohr's Center for Action and Contemplation.Together, the Woodley's co-sustain Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, https://www.eloheh.org/ a non-profit, regenerative farm and school determined to assist others grow healthy food and combat the climate crisis. The Woodley's are founders of Sho-Kee Cultural Consultants https://www.sho-kee.com/ where they bring Indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural expertise to clients nationwide, working with organizations, educational institutions, and creative projects.Randy's Book:How Western Christianity Got it WrongRandy's Recommendations:ErasedThe Dawn of EverythingConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Blessings Fall" 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!

What's the difference between meditation and contemplation—and why do Catholics so often confuse them?In this episode of Mysticism, Word by Word, we unpack what the Church means by both, how meditation can open into contemplation, and why dry prayer is still fruitful.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Tear Down the Idols" 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!

874 Give Me This Water, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:13-15 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 doing 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 RSV 13 Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." NET 13 Jesus replied, "Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." Reflection on Scripture: I love this passage because it reminds us of powerful truths. It is perfectly expected that we ask God for his life-giving water. It is hard to know the intentionality of this woman. Was she being cynical and unconvinced or had she already sensed Jesus' divinity? I tend to see her as still being suspicious and yet that did not deter God's saving power. God is pursuing you. As we ponder our freedom, as we ponder the ability we have to petition the Lord, Praise be to God that he has blessed us with freedom, if not from every single worldly government, at least freedom to petition Him directly.  As we ponder the gift that Jesus gives us, I hope that inspires within each of us a profound gratitude that such a petition is even possible. In Christianity we can oftentimes become overly presumptive that of course God offers this salvation. It is not a foregone conclusion and is a profound blessing for which we should never cease to give thanks. I thank God for religious freedom. I thank God that so many people have such freedom and I pray strongly that each person will be able to have the freedom to follow God as the spirit leads them.   Since God has already offered salvation, I profoundly desire each person on earth to have the freedom they require to be exposed to God's word, and the disposition to be able to embrace the saving words of Jesus. Each one of us are thirsty. We are desperate for the water of Christ. We NEED his salvation and it is a life giving water that can quench our thirst forever. I am so grateful God has found us in a desert of sin and chose to give us cool and refreshing water.  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

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Born Again",  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!

872 If You Knew The Gift Of God, A Guided Christian Meditation on John 4:10-12 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 doing 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 NIV 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" NASB 10 Jesus replied to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 She *said to Him, "Sir, You have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do You get this living water? 12 You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well and drank of it himself, and his sons and his cattle?" Reflection on Scripture: If you knew the gift of God. I think we truly don't understand the full breadth of the gift of God. This is even more true for those who are early in their faith walk. I spoke to someone today who really struggled with strong negative feelings about herself. I spent quite a bit of time talking with her about what scripture shows about God's love. Scripture is clear how each of us are profoundly flawed, yet it is equally full of references to the love of God. As we get to know who Jesus is it allows us to set aside our fears.  The woman in this story had so much to be ashamed of. She had no reason to assume that Jesus would show up and represent the very presence of God and His love. She had no understanding of what the gift of God would be. She had no expectation that she could ask Him for living water, or eternal mercy. Just as the person I talked to struggled with a similar problem. Both of these women came to learn of this gift, The grace of God, and they were profoundly changed by deeper understanding of Jesus. The beautiful thing is that we are able to get to know Jesus more and more as life goes on. You are continually learning about the gift that Jesus speaks about.  When Jesus offers you more understanding of His gift, do not respond with skepticism or doubt. When you experience troubles, isolation, fear, or anger in life, this may be an offer to truly get to know Jesus. If you rely on what you think you know about God it might get in the way of who God really is. That was the case for the woman at the well. Her isolation and life of sin opened hear heart enough to rejoice when she finally met Jesus. She accepted his proclamation as the Messiah and as a result she received eternal salvation. How well do you know the gift of God 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

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!

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  

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   

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!

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  

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.