S14 E14 - Leading with God-Given Authority (Part 2)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our conversation about leading with our God-given authority, particularly in our spiritual or biological motherhood. We talk about how God has blessed us with the Sacraments, Scripture, and prayer to fight spiritual battles. We reflect on the importance of rooting our identity in Christ, how Our Lady modeled feminine leadership, and practical ways to do spiritual warfare. We also discuss generational bondage, repairing trust, and the power of an apology given and received. Heather’s One Thing - Her playlist and her friendship with Michelle...
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S14 E13 - Leading with God-Given Authority
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we reflect on leading with our God-given authority rather than worldly influence. We discuss the importance of remembering our identity in Christ and how true authority is a display of intimacy that has been rooted in a real tangible love. We share the ways we may have been wounded by authority figures in our past, why these wounds can distort our perception of authority, and how to heal from these wounds so that we can lead others into the light of Christ. Heather’s One Thing - from My Kitchen Little Sister Miriam’s On Thing - The book by Dr Gerry Crete...
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S14 E12 - Living in the Resurrection
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we reflect on the themes of resurrection, grief, and hope in Pope Francis’ . We chat about the sadness of unfulfilled dreams and the tender places in our hearts where we are afraid to hope and want to stay in the tomb. We also talk about the anxieties and worries that can come with trying to figure things out on our own and the importance of surrendering our plans to God. Just like Christ, we are called to walk through the sufferings of this life with Him into the Resurrection. Heather’s One Thing - Her Heather’s Other One Thing - The book by Rachel...
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S14 E11 - A Time of Renewal (Holy Week: Focus)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we conclude our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and discuss the theme of “focus”. We chat about our natural temptation to focus on our woundedness, why we should take action and invite Jesus into these places, and how our wounds can be transformed into signs of the resurrection power of Christ. We also talk about the crosses we bear and the importance of recognizing the little resurrections in our life. Friends, thank you for journeying with us this Lenten season. We look forward to seeing you again after Easter! Heather’s One Thing - ...
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S14 E10 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 5: Scholarship)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on how life is a continual process of refinement and how true learning comes through the healing found in suffering and communion. We also talk about the feelings of shame that accompany situations where we fall short, the importance of recognizing our limitations in humility, and how God desires to redeem our deepest wounds to help us grow in communion and love. Heather’s One Thing - Sarah Kroger’s new song Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Heather Khym’s (AGAIN!!)...
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S14 E9 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 4: Filling Up the Sufferings of Christ)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of “filling up the sufferings of Christ”. We reflect on the connection between repentance and love, recognizing how they complement each other, and the beauty of repentance as an intimate act of drawing nearer to God. We share our own struggles during this Lenten season, how others have helped keep us accountable, and the importance of helping others grow in holiness. Lastly, we chat about the significance of renouncing falsehoods about ourselves and embracing the truth about our...
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S14 E8 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 3: The Right Kind of Zeal)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of the right kind of zeal. We chat about how we may be feeling tired and tempted to relax our Lenten penances and discuss the importance of taking time to reflect on why we felt called to take on a specific sacrifice and then recommitting ourselves with zeal to carry it out. We also talk about the joys of living in covenant with the Lord, the heartache we should experience when our hearts wander, and the beauty of giving ourselves totally to Him out of love. ...
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S14 E7 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 2: In Conversation with Jesus)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of being in conversation with Jesus. We reflect on the importance of reserving space for dialogue with God, surrendering to Him our own plans and desires, and allowing Him to love us in our poverty. The process of dying to self is always accompanied with the hope in the promise of resurrection and new life that Jesus offers. Heather’s One Thing - In thanksgiving for Deacon Bob and Fr Dave Pivonka letting her use their studio to record this episode and for being...
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S14 E6 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 1: True Self-Denial)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of true self-denial. We reflect on the importance of recognizing our need for God’s love and allowing ourselves to be transformed by His grace. We also share personal experiences and insights on repentance, amendment, and trusting in God’s plan especially when the desires of our heart are not being fulfilled. We end by discussing the joys that can come from Lent when approached with a tender, sensitive, and alert heart. Heather’s One Thing - Heather’s Other One...
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S14 E5 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Intro: A Time of Reflowering)
Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we begin our seven week Lenten study of the book “A Time of Renewal” by Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. In this episode we cover the introduction and the sections on the first four days of Lent. We discuss how Lent is an opportunity for us to grow in intimacy with God and how viewing fasting as a time of renewal, not suffering, can help us encounter a deeper transformation. We also reflect on our ability to help others grow in holiness, why Lent is the Springtime of the liturgical year, and how we can allow ourselves to bloom this Lenten season. Heather’s...
info_outlineIn this week's episode, we reflect on the role both joy and sorrow simultaneously play in our lives. We chat about how pressing into grief allows us to more fully experience joy, and how when we try to numb ourselves to the sorrow we also numb ourselves to the experience of joy. We also talk about the importance of naming disappointments, intentionally maturing in our faith, and what we have personally learned while grieving the loss of a parent. When we learn to suffer well and meet God in the midst of our sufferings, we can reach a deep joy we never thought possible.
Heather’s One Thing - Attending and speaking at SEEK ‘24. Watch the impact session here.
Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Therapist’s Conference with the JPII Healing Center
Michelle’s One Thing - Nick Sabn Retiring From College Football
Journal Questions:
- What paradoxes am I called to live in right now?
- How can I bring the Lord into my disappointments?
- Am I more prone to pushing my emotions aside or letting my emotions rule my life (emotional gluttony)?
- In seasons of grief, who are the people who have been my midwives and accompanied me through those seasons?
Discussion Questions:
- What disappointments have you experienced this past year? Is it hard for you to be honest with God about those disappointments?
- What is God redeeming and restoring in your life?
- In a current disappointment or heartbreak you are feeling, what gratitude are you experiencing alongside it?
- What gifts of daily bread is the Lord providing for you in this season?
Quote to Ponder:
“Our life is a short time in expectation, a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other at every moment. There is a quality of sadness that pervades all the moments of our lives. It seems that there is no such thing as a clear-cut pure joy, but that even in the most happy moments of our existence we sense a tinge of sadness. In every satisfaction, there is an awareness of limitations. In every success, there is the fear of jealousy. Behind every smile, there is a tear. In every embrace, there is loneliness. In every friendship, distance. And in all forms of light, there is the knowledge of surrounding darkness . . . But this intimate experience in which every bit of life is touched by a bit of death can point us beyond the limits of our existence. It can do so by making us look forward in expectation to the day when our hearts will be filled with perfect joy, a joy that no one shall take away from us.” (Henri J.M. Nouwen, Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life)
Scripture for Lectio:
He turns my mourning into dancing. You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
Sponsor - Pilgrimage to Beauty:
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Visit PilgrimageToBeauty.com/abidingtogether to find out all the special perks for our Abiding Together listeners, including $500 off of your registration!