Podcasts about Lectio Divina

This guided Scripture meditation is in Psalm 37 using Lectio Divina. Waiting on God is hard. This Psalm reminds us that God will act on our behalf – in his timing and in his ways. It also reminds us to not get caught up in comparison. It will only agitate us, and nothing good comes from this. So, take a deep breath and allow the Lord to guide you into this meditation in Psalm 37. I believe he has something just for you. Here’s some links I discussed in the podcast: The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @jodieniznik Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here. And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. Listen to another meditation on Psalm 37 from the Summer Series 2023 here The passages we meditated on is as follows: Psalm 37:5-9, CSB 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act, 6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday. 7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. 8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. 9 For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Send us a textWant a prayer life that feels like a real relationship, not a checklist? We dive into Lectio Divina—sacred reading—as a simple, time-tested way to hear God through scripture and grow in freedom. Rather than racing through chapters or playing Bible roulette, we slow down with a short passage, repeat it, listen for the phrase that stirs the heart, talk with God about it, and then rest in his presence. This isn't study or analysis; it's encounter with the living Word who gently convicts, comforts, and guides.We trace how the Church has heard God in scripture from the earliest communities through the Desert Fathers, Benedictine steadiness, and Carmelite contemplation. Along the way, we clarify what “inspired” means, why the canon matters, and how the Gospels shape every reading. Then we get practical: posture, breathing, choosing the day's Gospel, repeating a few lines, journaling, and handling distractions without shame. You'll hear a live walkthrough of Galatians 4–5 that shows how a single phrase—“stand firm” or “do not take the yoke of slavery”—can become a personal word that leads to concrete change.If your mind wanders, you're normal. If prayer feels dry, that silence can still be holy ground. We unpack the “ear of the heart,” how to notice interior movements, and why peaceful rest in God often bears the deepest fruit. Over time, Lectio Divina shapes identity: truth replaces cultural noise, freedom grows where fear once ruled, and trust deepens as you return to the same verses that quietly anchor you. Whether you're new to prayer or seasoned in contemplation, this gentle rhythm can steady your days and open space for real conversation with God.Subscribe or follow, share this with a friend who needs a simple way to pray, and leave a review telling us which verse keeps calling you back. Your words help others discover the path to a freer, quieter, more faithful life.Other Prayer EpisodesPrayer: Building a Relationship with God Beyond Words (Season 2 Episode 40)Relationship is at the Core of Religion (Season 2 Episode 35)Passing on the Faith: A Dialogue on Community, Relationship, and Personal Growth (Season 2 Episode 32)Navigating and Deepening Your Relationship with God (Season 2 Episode 18)Our Relationship with God (Season 2 Episode 8)Relationship (Season 1 Episode 7)Click here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Today's 2 Minute Disciple takes us to Luke 1:1–4, where Luke assures us that his account of Jesus' life is carefully investigated and accurate. In just over two minutes, we'll slow down, hear the passage, notice what stands out, meditate on the truth that we can be certain of who Jesus is, and take a small step to keep an ongoing conversation with God throughout our day.

In this episode of the Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt sits down with Catholic therapist Dr. Gerry Crete to talk about a growing challenge in today's mental health conversations: the overuse and misunderstanding of psychological language.Words like trauma, narcissism, abuse, and mental health are being used more than ever—but are we always using them correctly?Together, they explore: • When therapy language helps—and when it harms • The difference between real trauma and ordinary human struggle • Why labeling too quickly can actually block healing • How to recognize when someone truly needs professional support • The difference between coaching, therapy, and spiritual direction • How compassion, discernment, and humility restore clarityDr. Crete also shares insights from his work as a therapist, author of Litanies of the Heart, and founder of Souls & Hearts, helping listeners understand how healing, faith, and psychology work together—not against each other.If you've ever wondered whether something is “trauma,” struggled with self-diagnosis, or felt confused about where coaching ends and therapy begins, this episode will bring clarity and peace.

The passage for lectio divina today comes from Isaiah 63:7-9. Follow along in your practice guide or grab a journal before you begin, if you'd like. Special thanks to Lem LeRoy for recording Come Thou Long Expected Jesus for the intro, and to Tom Keefer for reading the passage for week five. ⁠⁠⁠Find the practice guide for Joy of Every Longing Heart here⁠⁠⁠.

This morning Christian will be leading us in a Lectio Divina bible study, which stands for "divine reading," is a practice of slow, prayerful reading of scripture to encourage communion with God.

This guided Scripture meditation, from Isaiah 43, utilizes the Lectio Divina meditation method. God is always doing something new. Yes, he remains the same – but we are always changing and therefore he is always up to something new in our lives. As you enter this new year – are you ready for the new work God wants to do in your life? Listen in to this guided meditation and allow the Holy Spirit to direct you to what he has for you. Here are some helpful links I discussed in the podcast: The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @jodieniznik Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Scripture Meditation Journal here. And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The passages we meditated on is as follows: Isaiah 43:16–19, NIV 16 This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, 17 who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Nathan Meckley reads the first several verses of John known as the prologue, where rather than talking about a birth and childhood, the author casts the coming of Jesus into the world in cosmic and eternal proportion. We reflected on the passage using the practice of lectio divina.

John 1:19-34 | Nate Hand

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

In this Christmas episode of the Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt and Erin unpack the hidden Christian message woven into these beloved classics. Through a mindset-coaching lens, they explore how these stories reveal conversion, repentance, gratitude, and redemption—even though they're not explicitly religious films.Using the idea of metanoia (a deep interior shift of heart and mind), they break down: • George Bailey's journey from bitterness and sacrifice to gratitude                 and joy • Ebenezer Scrooge's conversion through memory, compassion, and                 foresight • How entitlement, resentment, and scarcity blind us to what's                 already good • Why gratitude is the gateway to freedom and renewal • How these stories model Ignatian reflection and discernmentMatt and Erin also show how every great story echoes the Greatest Story Ever Told—the story of redemption written on every human heart.This episode will help you: • Understand why these movies resonate so deeply • Learn how to “watch with spiritual eyes” • Apply the same reflective tools to your own life through journaling                 and prayerWhether you're watching on Christmas Eve, during the Octave of Christmas, or any time of year, this conversation invites you to rediscover the hope, joy, and conversion that Christmas offers—right now.

This 16-minute guided meditation invites you to review your Advent meditations, to hold silence on the threshold between Advent and Christmas, and to imagine God’s new life being born again within you. Dear Ones— This guided meditation is for anyone who has been praying throughout Advent and would like to hold a moment of stillness between the longing and hope of Advent, and the celebratory feast of Christmas. You are invited to be still, to wait, to remember, to imagine. We are held in the paradox between what is and what is to come, the paradox between our poverty, our dependence, our frailty and the fullness of life that is poured out to us each and every day. We pause here to acknowledge that tension, to attend to the Holy One who comes anew in us. References in the meditation: Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Isaiah 43:19 See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin (excerpted from Hearts on Fire, Praying with the Jesuits) Above all, trust in the slow work of God.We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.We should like to skip the intermediate stages.We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progressthat it is made by passing through some stages of instability—and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you;your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,let them shape themselves, without undue haste.Don't try to force them on,as though you could be today what time(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spiritgradually forming within you will be.Give Our Lord the benefit of believingthat his hand is leading you,and accept the anxiety of feeling yourselfin suspense and incomplete. Blessings, Dear One…. Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer – space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today – drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina. Sign up for Lissy's newsletter “The Contemplative Window” or find out about upcoming retreats here. You can support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, making a one-off donation or becoming a member. Thank you so much! All music by Pete Hatch. The post Pause for Christmas Eve – A Guided Meditation appeared first on Contemplative at Home.

Merry Christmas Eve! Today's episode is a special Lectio Divina-style meditation—a slow, sacred reading of Scripture designed to help you quiet your heart, refocus your mind, and enter Christmas Day rooted in the presence of Jesus. Together, we meditate on Luke 1:68–75, a prophetic declaration celebrating that God has come near to redeem His people. Using the rhythms of Lectio Divina, Abbie guides you through multiple slow readings of the passage, offering space to sit in silence, listen for the Holy Spirit, and reflect on what God is personally speaking to you through His Word. This is your invitation to pause amid the hustle, breathe, and let Scripture minister to you. Whether you're driving to see family, prepping food, or enjoying a quiet morning by the tree, this episode will steady your heart in the truth of Christmas: Jesus has come. He is Emmanuel. And He came to redeem you. In This Episode You'll Experience: ✨ A guided Lectio Divina using Luke 1:68–75 ✨ Questions to help you recognize what the Holy Spirit is highlighting ✨ A moment to breathe, reflect, and receive God's love ✨ A reminder that Jesus came so you could serve Him without fear, clothed in His righteousness ✨ A peaceful way to prepare your heart for Christmas Day Scripture Read: Luke 1:68–75 (NIV) Reflection Prompts for Your Quiet Time: What word, phrase, or verse stood out to you? What is God revealing about Himself through this passage? What is He revealing about you and your life right now? How is your heart responding to God as you hear His Word? What invitation is the Lord extending to you this Christmas? Resources & Next Steps:

Read by Troy Audet Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Read by Troy Audet Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

The passage for lectio divina today comes from Matthew 1:18-25. Follow along in your practice guide or grab a journal before you begin, if you'd like. Special thanks to Lem LeRoy for recording Come Thou Long Expected Jesus for the intro, and to Naomi Leenhouts for reading the passage for week four. ⁠⁠Find the practice guide for Joy of Every Longing Heart here⁠⁠.

Read by Troy Audet Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Bora ter Uma Conversa através da Palavra de Deus!? Para esta Lectio Divina escolhemos o texto de 1 João 4, 1-6. Então, antes de dar play, pegue a sua bíblia! No decorrer do episódio, dê pause quantas vezes quiser para, fazer a sua própria Leitura, Meditação, Oração e Contemplação. Lembrando que nessa última etapa o tempo é seu, demore o quanto precisar, deixando que o Senhor fale ao seu íntimo, no silêncio, depois que a trilha sonora acabar.| Música: Salmo 47| Site: https://umaconversa.com.br/| Apadrinhe: https://apoia.se/patraodoumaconversa| E-Mail: conversaconosco@gmail.com| Redes Sociais: @1Conversa

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Dating as a Catholic—especially in college—can feel overwhelming, confusing, and high-pressure. Between time constraints, expectations, fear of temptation, and the desire to “do it right,” many people end up stuck or avoiding dating altogether.In this episode of the Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt and Erin coach through real survey responses from Catholic college students who shared their biggest struggles with dating. Using a mindset-coaching lens, they unpack the thoughts and beliefs that quietly block freedom, clarity, and authentic connection.Topics include: • Time management and the belief that relationships are “too much work” • Unrealistic expectations of holiness and “being on fire for God” • Disappointment, rejection, and hearing “I'm not ready for a relationship” • Fear of temptation, lust, and avoiding dating altogether • How unspoken rules and internal manuals create pressure and anxietyMatt and Erin explore how to approach dating not as a problem to solve or a finish line to reach—but as an opportunity for formation and encounter. They also discuss how processing emotions, clarifying expectations, and surrendering control can lead to healthier, more virtuous relationships.This episode is especially helpful for Catholic college students, young adults, and anyone preparing for SEEK or navigating dating with faith and intention.

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Draw Near 2025 Advent Devotional by Teri McDowell Ott. Advent Week 4, LOVE Join us this Advent season reading or listening to week 3, day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott. Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ's presence among us. Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day. LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1 -Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks -Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

The passage for lectio divina today comes from Matthew 11:2-6. Follow along in your practice guide or grab a journal before you begin, if you'd like. Special thanks to Lem LeRoy for recording Come Thou Long Expected Jesus for the intro, and to John Blumenstein for reading the passage for week three. ⁠Find the practice guide for Joy of Every Longing Heart here⁠.

Read by Pastor Kyla Farris Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Luke 1.26-38—The Invitation of Advent_ Lectio Divina by Lettered Streets Covenant

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Send us a textWe explore mental prayer through a Carmelite lens, moving from definitions and methods to the lived experience of silence, distraction, and trust. The theme is simple and demanding: prayer is a relationship, not a performance, and silence is where love learns to listen.• mental prayer as interior attention and loving presence with God• meditation using reason vs mental prayer using affection and attention• rosary as rhythm that steadies focus on the mysteries• how distraction and dryness purify motives and deepen trust• the necessity of silence for identity, depth, and freedom from noise• discursive prayer and the Carmelite emphasis on friendship with Christ• practical helps for recollection: scripture, crucifix, sacred music• growing intimacy through practice, Lectio Divina, small resolutions• reflection prompts on silence, expectations, and dialogue vs monologueClick here to support the Carmelite Friars! Have something you'd love to hear Fr. Stephen and John talk about? Email us at myfriendthefriar@gmail.com or click here!

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Draw Near 2025 Advent Devotional by Teri McDowell Ott. Advent Week 3, JOY Join us this Advent season reading or listening to week 3, day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott. Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ's presence among us. Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day. LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1 -Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks -Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

Today's poem–from Lee's new book, After Poems, Psalms–offers memory and the psalter as parallel texts for Lectio Divina. Happy reading.Lee's book is backordered at US outlets like Bookshop.org, but is in stock at Barnes & Noble and can be acquired directly from Peepal Tree Press (or in digital format from the behemoth-that-shall-not-be-named). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Dating in Catholic college can feel weirdly intense: pressure to get married, gossip on small campuses, fear of “leading someone on,” and a ton of unspoken rules about how it's supposed to go.In Episode 274 of the Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt and Erin put on their Catholic dating coach hats and walk through real survey responses from students at a Catholic college. They do “hypothetical coaching” on:

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

The passage for lectio divina today comes from Psalm 72:1-7. Follow along in your practice guide or grab a journal before you begin, if you'd like. Special thanks to Lem LeRoy for recording Come Thou Long Expected Jesus for the intro, and to Wendy Pocock for reading the passage for week two. Find the practice guide for Joy of Every Longing Heart here.

Read by Pastor Mark Posthuma Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

Dear friends,Welcome to Season 3, Episode 17 of the podcast! (I think we mistakenly call it episode 18 in the intro! Whoops!)Today, Ro and Rae give an update, and get pretty chatty! If you'd like to skip to the meditation, it's at 09:45. Today we chat about our grocery deliveries and other things that have been going on around here! We also share about our grocery and supply deliveries to 17 families in need, here around our valley in Northern Thailand. We are looking for committed support for these monthly deliveries, which total between $400-500 USD per month. You can help out at https://donorbox.org/shekina-garden-social-projects.Today's episode is lectio divina on Philippians 2: 5-9, with Neil.Each meditation we offer has three parts.First, Neil will offer some exercises to help you find quiet readiness for meditation.Second, he will guide you through the verses with lots of space for your own contemplation. And third, we encourage you to process your meditation by sharing your experience and thoughts— if you are meditating with others—or journaling or recording your experience in some way if you are meditating on your own. One of the ways we fund our community is through the support we receive on Patreon! If you want to join in, the link is http://patreon.com/shekinameditationpodcast or send a donation through http://shekinacommunity.com/donateFollow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/shekinagardenWe are so thankful for your support,Much love,The Shekina Garden Community

Read by Pastor Karen Triplett Music by Taylor Hunt Connect with us online: https://www.cheneyfaithcenter.org https://www.facebook.com/cheneyfaithcenter https://www.instagram.com/cheney_faith_center

What if Catholic dating wasn't just swiping, overthinking, and feeling like “there's no one out there”… but real conversations, real formation, and real freedom?In this episode of The Catholic Coaching Podcast, Matt & Erin sit down with Taylor O'Brien, founder of Candid Dating — a Catholic speed dating app and events apostolate that's exploding in popularity (including huge events at SEEK).Taylor shares the story of her broken engagement, the season of deep healing with Jesus in adoration, and how the Lord led her into creating Candid: a space where Catholic singles can actually talk, get “reps” with the opposite sex, and grow in human formation, not just chase a ring.Together we talk about:   • Why Catholic speed dating is often less pressure than apps or       traditional dates   • The lies Catholic singles believe ( “God will just drop my spouse in front      of me,” “I can't say yes to a first date unless I know I'd say yes to a      second,” “I'm responsible for their feelings if I say no” )   • How locus of control & mindset coaching help you stop carrying what      isn't yours   • Why dating is about authentic encounter, not shopping for a spouse   • How God uses the “waiting” and even heartbreak as powerful formationWe also share what we're doing together at SEEK in Columbus:   • A shared Candid + Metanoia Catholic booth   • Free temperament assessments (with buttons

Welcome to Week One of A Quiet Light, our Advent journey with Saint Joseph from Advent to Epiphany. If you missed the introduction episode, go back and give it a listen — it sets the tone for everything we're walking through together.This week, we're sitting with the title Saint Joseph, Most Faithful and praying with Psalm 122:1–9, the psalm Joseph himself would've prayed and carried in his heart. The word that stands out this week? Peace. Peace in a season that often feels anything but peaceful.In the episode, we talk about: • How Saint Joseph lived a simple, steady rhythm of prayer — not to check a box, but to stay rooted in God all day long. • How his quiet faithfulness invites us into deeper spiritual discipline, not perfection. • The power of posture and praying with our whole body — kneeling, lighting a candle, creating sacred space. • How the artwork for this week reflects Joseph's urgency to pray and his readiness to respond to God. • What it means to become “expectant” with hope — not just for Mary, but for Joseph as a father preparing his heart for Jesus.Your challenge for Week One:Choose one small resolution that brings more light and intention into your prayer this week. Maybe it's five extra minutes using Lectio Divina with Scripture, kneeling beside your bed, or praying with a candle lit — one quiet step toward faithfulness.Tune in, pray with us, and let this Advent begin gently, quietly, faithfully. Let's Go Be the Light. 

In this episode, we begin our Advent journey in Eden, a place of freedom, communion, and life without shame. Eden is not only a moment in history, but also an interior garden within each of our hearts. We talk about the deep ache we all feel for union, rest, and peace, and how this longing reveals our original design for communion with God. We also reflect on the shame that often accompanies this desire for communion with others, especially when our desires are left unmet, and how bringing these places of poverty to Jesus opens us up to real, lived communion with Him.   Heather's One Thing - The Renew Conference in Toronto Heather's Other One Thing - Her Advent Worship Playlist Sister Miriam's One Thing - Sacred Anchor Artisans (Catholic Etsy!) founded by Tim and Molly Olsen Michelle's One Thing - The Inspired Living and this Chrism Candle Michelle's Other One Thing - Fr. Innocent Montgomery, CFR   Welcome, dear friends… to this Advent journey, a pilgrimage of the heart, through four sacred spaces where heaven once touched the earth.   These are the places of Advent. Eden. Loreto. Elizabeth's home. And a stable under starlight.   Each one holds a mystery… a whisper of God's coming, a rhythm of waiting, a quiet invitation to abide.   We begin… in Eden — the garden of beginnings and original designs, Here, everything was whole once, every breath in attunement with God's own. But even in the ache of what was lost, something sacred remains, a longing, a promise, a memory of shalom harmony still written in our bones.   Eden reminds us: our waiting is not empty. It is the remembering of love that has never stopped pursuing us.   Journal Questions: What are the unique gifts that God has placed inside of you? When do I experience shame in the ache for communion? When have I recently experienced a rupture from Eden? Who in your life allows you to feel at home and at ease? How can I return to Eden through a daily practice?   Discussion Questions: How have you experienced yourself as a gift? When have you experienced an ache for Eden in your life? When do you feel exiled from Eden? What glimpses of Eden have you seen in your life recently?   Quote to Ponder: "We all long for Eden, and we are constantly glimpsing it: our whole nature at its best and least corrupted, its gentlest and most human, is still soaked with the sense of exile." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien)   Scripture for Lectio: "Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." (Genesis 2:25)   Sponsor - Altar + Home: Altar and Home by Conception Abbey exists to bring the beauty of Benedictine spirituality into your domestic church. The way we as Benedictine monks punctuate our days with prayer. The way we balance prayer and work (ora et labora). The way we pray with scripture in lectio divina. The way we live in community to support one another. Incorporating these treasures into your daily lives can draw you and your domestic church into Christ one day – one prayer – at a time. Our online store offers intentionally Catholic products for every occasion and every season. Lectio Divina rosary guides, daily journals, greeting cards, sacrament gifts, icons, and prints, along with books, bibles, and everything you need to make your home a sacred space.  Make Advent and Christmas a time of joy and peace with our Monk-Curated Collections—bundled sets specifically chosen by the monks to share our lives with each of you. They make the perfect gift for the Catholic in your life. Through this Altar + Home ministry, the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey share the prayer God calls us to at the altar into the domestic church of our customers as we seek to cultivate one holy, apostolic, Catholic Church. We invite you shop with us at www.altarandhome.org. Use the discount code ABIDE to get 20% off your order.   Chapters:  00:00 Altar + Home 01:25 Intro 02:17 Welcome to Eden 09:38 Our Heart is a Garden and Place of Communion 11:18 We are Made as a Gift 13:32 Healing from Shame in Our Ache 17:57 Homesickness and Exile 20:23 God is Longing for Us 22:16 Imaginative Prayer 24:13 The Goodness of Our Bodies 26:06 Inviting the Lord into Communion 27:47 Advent is a Time of Preparation 29:32 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0 

In this episode, we reflect on the importance of giving thanks to the Lord for all He has done in both the beautiful and difficult moments of life. We talk about how practicing gratitude can change our perspective of reality and helps us recognize where God has been present even in moments we do not understand. We also name the fears that can sometimes keep us from giving thanks and discuss how gratitude becomes an act of surrender that opens us to God's steady, faithful presence. As a gift to you, we end today's episode by doing Lectio Divina with Psalm 34 and invite you into a time of prayer with us.   Heather's One Thing - Jalapeno, Pepper Jack, and Bacon Corn Pudding Recipe  Heather's Other One Thing -  Hell or High Water and Edens by Amanda Cook Sister Miriam's One Thing - Her SOLT Community Michelle's One Thing - College Football   Other Resources Mentioned:  Life Transitions Part One and Part Two with Chris Benzinger One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp   Journal Questions: What graces have I received this year? How did the Lord accompany me this year? What do I need to let go of as we transition into a new liturgical year? What parts of my life am I afraid to give thanks for?   Discussion Questions: What has the Lord taught you in this season? What was surprising this past year? What challenges and joys did you experience this year? Where are you resistant to give thanks?   Quote to Ponder: "Gratitude is at the center of a life of faith. It sounds too simple to be true, but isn't that the sign of all deep truth: so simple we're tempted to dismiss it, and so hard, it is exactly what God uses to change our hard lives." (Ann Voskamp)   Scripture for Lectio: "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 34:1-8)   Sponsor - The GIVEN Institute: The GIVEN Institute is a vibrant non-profit organization dedicated to activating the gifts of women for the Church and the world. GIVEN wants to help you receive the gift that you are, realize the gifts you've been given, and respond with the gift only you can give.  Applications are now open for GIVEN's 2026 Leadership Program. Faithful Catholic women between the ages of 21 and 35 are encouraged to apply today! GIVEN's program includes participation at the Leadership Forum from June 24-28, 2026 in Washington, DC and a year of dedicated, 1-on-1 mentorship with an established Catholic female leader. Abiding Together Co-Host Heather Khym will be a speaker at the 2026 Leadership Forum next June along with other phenomenal Catholic women leaders of all ages, all vocations, and all walks of life. If you are a woman between the ages 21 and 35 and seeking leadership training, faith formation, and support to better understand and pursue your particular mission, GIVEN's Leadership Program is designed just for you! You'll grow in relationship with Christ, gain a deeper understanding of your personal vocation, and be empowered to develop an Action Plan to activate your personal gifts to impact the world.  For women over 35 with a desire to get involved, please consider becoming a Mentor or Volunteer! For more information and to apply, please visit www.giveninstitute.com/forum.   Chapters:  00:00 The Given Institute 01:26 Intro 02:16 Welcome 03:45 Practicing Being Thankful First 06:01 Giving Thanks in All Things 08:25 Gratitude is the Center of A Life of Faith 11:22 Being Afraid to Give Thanks 13:14 Lectio Divina 23:18 Our Reflections from Lectio 28:46 One Things   Music used under license i94Cr0