Abiding Together

In this episode, we continue with part three of our Lenten book study Be Transformed by Dr. Bob Schuchts. First, we discuss how Holy Communion heals the wound of abandonment, ponder what it means to allow the fullness of this Sacrament take root in our lives, and reflect on the beauty that Jesus will never leave us. Then, we move into how Confirmation heals the wound of powerlessness and share ways the Holy Spirit has inspired us to do things we never could do on our own. Hey friends! We know that Be Transformed is packed with incredible things, so we encourage you to not feel the need to rush. We want this to be a place where you can rest and be with the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself stuck on a chapter, we invite you to take the time you need and join us again when ready. May God bless you and bring you healing through His Sacraments! Heather's One Thing- Restore the Glory Podcast Sister Miriam's One Thing - March Madness Michelle's One Thing - Corda Candles especially the St. Francis of Asissi scent (Poverello) Michelle's Other One Thing - Hope's Garden's resources on the Song of Songs Discussion Questions: What in my life and heart hinders the Sacrament of Holy Communion from fully transforming me? What do you believe was present in the early Church community that is missing today in our communities? When have I experienced the fruits of Confirmation in my life? Where in my life do I need the Holy Spirit to overwhelm my fear? Journal Questions: When and how have you experienced the pain of abandonment in your life? How has Christian community either reinforced or healed those wounds? What are the obstacles that prevent me from loving Him fully and receiving His Love fully? When do I resist the embrace of the Lord? Quotes to Ponder: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" - John 6:56 "Anointing is not an act, but rather a state or mode of being and behaving and, so to say, a whole style of living." - Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa (Be Transformed, pg 74) Scripture for Lectio: "I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me" (Phil 4:13). Sponsor - Live Liturgically: Live Liturgically helps Catholic families bring peace into their homes with products that bring order and intention. Their flagship product, the Liturgical Family Wall Planner, is a game-changer for families seeking to live with more purpose. Many families are using and LOVING the Wall Planner. Paulette, a planner user said, "An absolute must for organization in a Catholic way!" The planner includes: A memorable quote from Sunday's Gospel across the top as a focal point for the week Space for a Gratitude List, Prayer Intentions, and Meal Planning Reminder of the liturgical week and color of the current Church season Daily list of National Holidays and Catholic Feast Days Colored circle to indicate the liturgical color of the day Grocery List To-Do List Section to plan Sunday Mass time See what 3 months using this calendar will do for your family! Head over to LiveLiturgically.com and check it out. You can try your first planner for 50% off with the code AbidingTogether50.

In this episode, we continue with part two of our Lenten book study Be Transformed by Dr. Bob Schuchts. We discuss the power of God's blessings and how curses block our ability to receive His blessings. We dive into the seven types of deadly wounds that distort our identity and how each Sacrament restores a specific wound. In particular, we discuss how Baptism heals the wound of rejection and share how we have allowed God to speak the truth in our own lives that we are His beloved daughters. If you find a tender place in your heart, remember, it isn't because God wants to hurt you. It is because He wants to set you free. Hey friends! We know that Be Transformed is packed with incredible things, so we encourage you to not feel the need to rush. We want this to be a place where you can rest and be with the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself stuck on a chapter, we invite you to take the time you need and join us again when ready. May God bless you and bring you healing through His Sacraments! Heather's One Thing - The Song Holy by Martin Smith Heather's Other One Thing - Her Playlist - Only Jesus Sister Miriam's One Thing - The National Eucharistic Revival and Congress. Sign up for the newsletter here. Learn more about the pilgrimage here. Register for the pilgrimage here. Get involved on social media: Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Sister Miriam's Other One Thing - The Song - Break Every Chain Michelle's One Thing - Young Moms Discussion Questions: Where in your life is the Lord inviting you to go to the roots? Where in my life am I keeping the Lord at an arm's length? How is Jesus teaching you how to love and be loved? What lies have you been identifying with in this season of my life? Journal Questions: Where is my connection broken with the Father? Where do I not trust the Lord? Where in my heart do I earnestly need and desire the Father's blessing? Where in my life, my heart, and my story do I experience the most wounds and the most spiritual attack? What do I believe about myself? What do I believe about the Lord? Quotes to Ponder: "The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian's life of faith" (CCC, 1210). "From the very beginning, God blessed all living beings, especially man and woman" (CCC, 1080). This is why St. John Paul II concludes, "At the root of human sin is the lie which is a radical rejection of the truth contained in the word of the Father." - Be Transformed, Page 25 Baptism is a public blessing declaring that you and I are precious and unrepeatable gifts of the Father. By restoring our relationship with God, Baptism fundamentally heals the wounds of rejection that have plagued the human race since our fall from grace. - Be Transformed, page 37 The goal of our spiritual life is to be transformed into the image of Christ so that we share in the divine intimacy that He enjoys with the Father and the Holy Spirit. - Be Transformed, page 17 "Catholic theology can help us understand how a sacrament can be valid and legal but 'unreleased' . . . if its fruit remains bound or unused. . . . Sacraments are not magic rites that act mechanically, without people's knowledge or collaboration. . . . The fruit of the sacrament depends wholly on divine grace, however this divine grace does not act without the 'yes'—the consent and affirmation—of the person." (Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa) - Be Transformed, page 39 In the exercises, Ignatius identifies two opposing spirits that he says are always at work in our lives and in the world. He simply calls them the "good spirit" (which represents our hearts attuned to the Holy Spirit) and the "evil spirit" (which refers to our fallen human nature influenced by the father of lies and subject to the world's influences). - Be Transformed, page 46 Scripture for Lectio: "Behold, I make all things new." (Revelation 21:5) Sponsor - Word of Life: Word of Life is a religious education curriculum created in partnership by the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press to help Catholic schools and parishes meet the challenges and opportunities of proclaiming the Gospel. Word of Life uses four key themes to awaken an authentic Catholic identity and demonstrate how the truths of the faith speak to the human heart. Through activities, videos, and other digital resources, students and parents can interact with faith formation materials in the classroom and at home. The Word of Life curriculum explores who we are as human persons, what our purpose in life is, why the faith is relevant in our modern culture, and how to live a truly integrated life of virtue through the grace offered by the Church. Word of Life is proud to serve over 50,000 students in more than 700 schools and religious education programs across the United States. Learn more about Word of Life and how to bring it to your parish or school by visiting wordoflifeseries.org.

In this episode, we begin our six-part Lenten series on the book Be Transformed by Dr. Bob Schuchts. We welcome Dr. Bob, as our special guest, to introduce his book and set the stage for what you can expect in the following five weeks. He shares an overview of how the seven Sacraments heal our wounds, he breaks down the three-fold transformation process, and explains why the disposition of our heart is pivotal to being transformed by the Sacraments. Friends, we are excited to continue this journey of being transformed with you next week! See you then! Heather's One Thing- Lenten Playlist: Songs in the Desert Sister Miriam's One Thing - Virtual Healing of the Whole Person Retreat on March 27-31 Michelle's One Thing - White Chicken Chili (or try this Seafood Chili or White Bean and Fish Chili for Fridays in Lent) Dr. Bob Schuchts' One Thing - Rediscovering Our Lost Fullness by Andrew Comisky and the exciting news that the JPII Healing Center will have a new publishing house! Click here to check out Dr. Bob's podcast Restore the Glory! Discussion Questions: How have you been approaching the Sacraments? Have you had an experience where Christ encountered you deeply in the Sacraments? Please share. Where in my life do I observe how each of the Sacraments impact my identity and my relationships? What fears, concerns, or intrigue do you have about this upcoming season of Lent and diving into the Sacraments? Journal Questions: What am I seeking from Christ in the Sacraments this Lent? How do I currently engage in the Sacramental life of the Church? Where in my life do I need more humility? How can I create more space for communion with others in my life, my home, my church, and my community? Quotes to Ponder: Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify. They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies. The Father always hears the prayer of his Son's Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit. As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life, whatever is subjected to his power. - CCC# 1127 "The desire and work of the Spirit in the heart of the Church is that we may live the life of the risen Christ." - CCC, 1099 The sacraments are God's chosen remedy for healing our deadly wounds and infusing our souls with Christ's resurrection life. - Be Transformed, pg xv In the words of St. John Paul II: "The Holy Spirit [working through the sacraments] . . . purifies from everything that disfigures man . . . , he heals even the deepest wounds of human existence." - Be Transformed, pg xv But when inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, our personal mission becomes a dynamic participation in Jesus' work of restoring all things to the Father. - CCC 850 Fr. Jacques Philippe expresses this common human condition of ours with great insight: "It is worth reflecting on the problem of pride. We are all born with a deep wound, experienced as a lack of being. We seek to compensate by constructing a self, different from our real self. This artificial self requires large amounts of energy to maintain it; being fragile, it needs protecting. Woe to anyone who contradicts it, threatens it, questions it, or inhibits its expansion. When the Gospel says we must 'die to ourselves,' it means this artificial ego, this constructed self, must die, so that the real self, given us by God, can emerge." - Be Transformed, pg 2 Scripture for Lectio: "All of us, gazing with unveiled faces on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 Sponsor - CORDA Candles: Draw closer to the saints and create a peaceful place of prayer with CORDA candles. Handcrafted by a husband-and-wife team, and made with clean coconut wax and a beautiful, modern design, these are saint candles like you've never seen, or smelled before! 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In this episode, we dive into the power of prayer. Prayer is the language we use to talk to God, the Lover of our souls. Many times, it can be easy to approach prayer haphazardly, forgetting that we are meant for intimacy and speaking heart to heart with each Person of the Trinity. When we remember that prayer is really about two hearts connecting, our prayer can be transformed. Join us as we share about our prayer lives and how the different seasons of our lives have changed how we pray. Heather's One Thing - Picture Bible Heather's Other One Thing - Soaking Worship Instrumental Spotify Playlist Sister Miriam's One Thing - Magnificat Magazine Michelle's One Thing - Jesus and You, Women: Ignatian Retreat for Women under the guidance of Edith Stein By Fr. Sergio M Fita Discussion Questions: What holds you back from approaching the Lord in prayer from the heart? What is your quickest avenue to get to the heart of God? What obstacles are you experiencing in your prayer life? How can you embrace your current season in life and its impact on your prayer life with greater freedom? Journal Questions: How does the Lord call me to prayer uniquely? Have I been approaching prayer as something on my to-do list? What changes could I make to approach God with a more open heart? How has my prayer life changed over the years? What does intimacy with God look like today? Quotes to Ponder: Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment. But we tend to forget Him who is our life and our all. This is why the Fathers of the spiritual life in the Deuteronomic and prophetic traditions insist that prayer is a remembrance of God often awakened by the memory of the heart "We must remember God more often than we draw breath." But we cannot pray "at all times" if we do not pray at specific times, consciously willing it. These are the special times of Christian prayer, both in intensity and duration. (CCC, 2697) Through his Word, God speaks to man. By words, mental or vocal, our prayer takes flesh. Yet it is most important that the heart should be present to him to whom we are speaking in prayer: "Whether or not our prayer is heard depends not on the number of words, but on the fervor of our souls." (CCC, 2700) "Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." - St. Therese of Lisieux Scripture for Lectio: "Jesus was praying in a certain place and after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us how to pray as John taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1 Sponsor - House of Joppa: This week's episode is sponsored by House of Joppa. If you are looking for beautifully curated Catholic home décor, jewelry, art, rosaries, and other gifts, look no further than House of Joppa. Each product is designed to draw you deeper into your faith and help you to fall more in love with Christ and His Church. Whether you are looking for something for yourself or a special gift for a friend, you will love House of Joppa. Abiding Together listeners receive 15% off their purchase at checkout with discount code: ABIDE15. Visit them online at https://www.houseofjoppa.com or on Instagram @houseofjoppa.

In this episode, we discuss how easy it is to settle for less than what God offers by clinging to earthly idols and loving other things more than Him. We share about some of our own idols and how turning to God instead has transformed our hearts. We admit how easy it is to accept less than the fullness of life in Jesus and turn to something or someone else in our sorrows. The truth is that Jesus is the only One who can truly satisfy us and bring real comfort in the broken places. Heather's One Thing - As the Deer Heather's Other One Thing - "Return" by Fr. John Burns Sister Miriam's One Thing - Surrender Novena (can also be found on the Hallow app) Michelle's One Thing - Amy Heyes Art Michelle's Other One Thing - Comforter, Amanda Cook Michelle's Other Other One Thing - Revival, Judah and the Lion Michelle's Other Other Other One Thing - Blessed is She "Burn" Virtual Retreat Discussion Questions: When you are in pain, who or what do you reach for first? What good things in your life is the Lord calling you to reorder? How might the Lord be inviting you to give up your idols in Lent? What healing have I experienced in the past from loving Christ the most? Journal Questions: Who/what do I love the most? What am I placing my salvation in rather than God? What idols is the Lord inviting me to give up? What fears do I have about intimacy with the Lord? Quotes to Ponder: "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." ― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory "Let yourself be vulnerable. Let your walls down, your carefully constructed fortresses breached, your fiercely guarded heart laid bare. Let your wounds be touched, your fears revealed, your deepest desires, damaged dreams, and most daring hopes unveiled before the Bridegroom, who has the power to redeem, restore, and resurrect them. Drop your independence and the idea—which you clutch so tightly—that you can do anything to protect and save yourself. And LET HIM LOVE YOU." ― St Elizabeth Scripture for Lectio: "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." ―Ezekiel 36:24 - 27 Sponsor - Be Love Revolution: Ten years ago, Be Love Revolution began with the intention of helping young women know the personal and transformative love of Jesus, and empowering them to be God's love in the world today. Be Love Revolution (BLR), a dynamic Catholic ministry, desires to personally accompany young women on their journey of faith through one-on-one mentoring and discipleship. Be Love Revolution operates in cooperation with Renewal Ministries, a Catholic ministry of evangelization and renewal throughout the world. Be Love Revolution's mission is three-fold: BE HIS: To help young women meet Jesus and grow in a life-long, personal relationship with Him. BE FREE: To help young women live freely and confidently in their identity as beloved daughters of God. BE LOVE: To equip and empower young women to be God's love in the world today. Based in Ann Arbor Michigan, BLR leads weekly bible studies, Adoration Nights, small groups, retreats, service and mission opportunities, and collaborates with two high schools and four middle schools for ongoing evangelization and discipleship. Every August, Be Love Revolution hosts Pine Hills Girls Camp, where more than 200 middle schoolers and a staff of 100 young women from Michigan and beyond gather for a life-changing and unforgettable week. The Revolution of Love is on the move and there are BLR Chapters located in Traverse City, Michigan, London, Ontario, Lansing, Michigan, Leonardtown, Maryland, and Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more about the Be Love Revolution here Connect with Be Love Revolution on Instagram here Learn more about Pine Hills Camp here Connect with Pine Hills Girls Camp on Instagram here

In this episode, we reflect on how "humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong (Pope Francis)". We discuss how we as Christians are called to cultivate a posture of humility and tenderness in a culture that is quick to criticize and condemn. We also chat about how often we forget that we belong to each other and end up picking sides, which results in more division and hostility than relationships that are filled with vulnerable love and truth. Today let us ask for the tenderness of God to be a gift that He gives us in our own hearts first, so that we can then give it to others. Heather's One Thing- Lessons from the School of love - Debbie and Peter Herbeck Sister Miriam's One Thing - Spicy Korean Style Gochujang Meatballs Michelle's One Thing - The Olive Tree from Jackie Mulligan Discussion Questions: What does it mean to receive the tender and compassionate love of the Lord? What does it mean to be tender to other people? What shuts down our sensitivity? How is God inviting you to receive and give His Tenderness? Journal Questions: How can I grow in tenderness towards myself? How is God inviting me to show tenderness with the person I struggle with most? Where are the places in my heart where I have been hurt and allowed a coldness to enter my heart? Where in my life and my heart am I struggling to receive the Tenderness of God? Quotes to Ponder: I no longer need the armor, my softness is the strongest part of me. - Brianna Wiest The Heart of Christ is so great it wants to welcome us all into the revolution of tenderness. - Pope Francis Tenderness is not a weakness. Tenderness is the path for the strongest, most courageous men and women. It is the path of humility. The more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on the people. the more responsible you are to act humbly. If you don't, your power will ruin you and you will ruin the other. Connect your power with humility and tenderness. - Pope Francis Mary gave us a mother's warmth, the warmth that shelters us amid troubles, the maternal warmth that keeps anything or anyone from extinguishing in the heart of the Church the revolution of tenderness inaugurated by her Son. Where there is a mother, there is tenderness. By her motherhood, Mary shows us that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong. She teaches us that we do not have to mistreat others in order to feel important. - Pope Francis The lack of physical (and not virtual) contact is cauterizing our hearts (cf. Laudato Si', 49) and making us lose the capacity for tenderness and wonder, for pity and compassion. Spiritual orphanhood makes us forget what it means to be children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, friends, and believers. It makes us forget the importance of playing, of singing, of a smile, of rest, of gratitude. - Pope Francis Tenderness is the best way to touch the frailty within us. - Pope Francis Prayer: Saint Joseph, father in tenderness, Teach us to accept that we are loved precisely in that which is weakest in us. Grant that we may place no obstacle between our poverty and the greatness of God's love. Stir in us the desire to approach to Reconciliation, That we may be forgiven and also made capable of loving tenderly our brothers and sisters in their poverty. Be close to those who have done wrong and are paying the price for it. Help them to find not only justice but also tenderness so that they can start again. And teach them that the first way to begin again Is to sincerely ask for forgiveness, to feel the Father's caress. Amen. Scripture for Lectio: So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. - Luke 15:20 Sponsor - Rooted for Good: Rooted for Good hand makes premium all natural products that feel amazing and work really well! Enhance your skincare experience with Rooted and join the growing number of satisfied customers across the US and beyond who are switching to Rooted and going all-natural. On top of the amazing benefits and affordable pricing, using Rooted products makes a difference for others as well. Every time you choose our all natural premium products 10% of your purchase goes to help someone in need in a developing country! From Coffee Exfoliators & Sugar Scrubs to foaming Face Wash, luxurious Bath Salts to Premium Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and everything in between, make Rooted for Good your source for all natural healthy living. Rooted provides an option to choose all natural living that resonates with your Catholic values. See all of our amazing products and read the stories of the lives that are being blessed through Rooted purchases at RootedForGood.com.

This week, we have a very special episode that was recorded live from the FOCUS SEEK 2023 Conference in St. Louis! Here we discussed the importance of surrendering to God the tender and wounded places of our soul. Just as salt can flavor a dish from the inside out, so must we allow God's abundant love to transform our hearts. Only once we do this, can we be a light to others. This transformation can sometimes be a painful process. Many times, when we see the struggle ahead, we can be tempted to turn away from the good. But friends, pain is part of the process, and it makes us love the outcome even more. As you listen to today's episode, ask yourself, "if you just said yes to God, what would your light look like if you let it shine?" Heather's One Thing- Glass Canvas Sister Miriam's One Thing - Michelle and Heather's kids Michelle's One Thing - Everyone at the SEEK conference and all our listeners Michelle's Other One Thing - the FOCUS staff Michelle's Other Other One Thing - Pope Benedict XVI Michelle's Other Other Other One Thing - College Football (especially SEC University of Georgia) Discussion Questions: What is the Lord calling you to in this season? How are you responding to the Lord's calling in your life? How has Christ conquered you with Love? How is He conquering you with Love now? What do you think Jesus believes about you in your weaknesses? Journal Questions: Where in my life am I choosing lukewarmness or mediocrity over abundant life? How do you experience your own weaknesses? What do you believe about yourself in your own weaknesses? What do you think Jesus believes about you in your weaknesses? How do you experience other people's weaknesses? Quotes to Ponder: "Each of you has a personal vocation which He has given you for your own joy and sanctity. When a person is conquered by the fire of His gaze, no sacrifice seems too great to follow Him and give Him the best of ourselves. This is what the saints have always done, spreading the light of the Lord ... and transforming the world into a welcoming home for everyone." ― Pope Benedict XVI "Fear not; rise, He is calling you." ― Mark 10:49 "I have called you by name & you are mine." ― Isaiah 43:1 "God came into the world to reawaken the thirst for great things in us." ― Pope Benedict XVI "Holiness never goes out of fashion." ― Pope Benedict XVI Scripture for Lectio: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16) Sponsor - Walking with Purpose: Are you looking for an opportunity to dive deeper into Scripture? Do you long for the wisdom of Christ as you navigate the messages of today's culture? Rooted and Radiant is the newest Bible study from Walking with Purpose, a Catholic women's ministry whose mission is to help women and girls encounter Jesus through Scripture. Rooted and Radiant is written for any woman who wants to live her life grounded in Jesus Christ. In this study, you will learn the book of Colossians verse by verse and understand the challenges that faced the Colossians, which are remarkably similar to our own challenges today. Learn how to abide in the wisdom of Christ and encounter the God of clarity and peace. AT podcast listeners can receive 15% your Rooted and Radiant study - available in both paperback and e-book format - with the code ABIDING2023 (thru 3/1/2023).

In this episode, we discuss freedom in Christ. We all have places in our lives where the enemy has whispered a lie. A lie that tells us we will never escape the bondage of our sins. That we will always be slaves to something. But these whispers are just that - a lie. We are not made to be filled with weakness! We are made to live in freedom. Christ came to earth to break the chains of sin and death. He has created a pathway for us to live in freedom. Friends, what if the place of your greatest pain could become the place of your greatest holiness? Join us as we discuss how we are made for freedom. Heather's One Thing- Live in the Prayer Room by Jeremy Riddle Michelle's One Thing - Soul of Shame, Dr. Curt Thompson Sister Miriam's One Thing - Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti Recipe Discussion Questions: What would it look like for me to be free? Is it more comfortable to live in my chains or pursue freedom? When have I experienced the fruit of inner healing in the past? What is a place of bondage in my life that the Lord is inviting me into greater freedom? Journal Questions: Where would I experience more freedom in my heart and in my life if I truly believed the power of the Resurrection lived in me? How has the Lord called me out of bondage and into freedom in the past? What are the places of self hatred in my heart? How can I receive and accept the Lord's tenderness there? Quotes to Ponder: "If you want to hold people in chains, one must first convince them that they are meant to be bound." // from the movie "Woman King" "As long as this attachment remains, it is impossible to make progress in perfection, even though the imperfection be very small. It makes little difference whether a bird is tied by a thin thread or by a cord. Even if it is tied by a thread, the bird will be held bound… it will be impeded from flying as long as it does not break the thread." // St John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt. Carmel, Book One, 11.4. Scripture for Lectio: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) Sponsor - House of Joppa: This week's episode is sponsored by House of Joppa. If you are looking for beautifully curated Catholic home décor, jewelry, art, rosaries, and other gifts, look no further than House of Joppa. Each product is designed to draw you deeper into your faith and help you to fall more in love with Christ and His Church. Whether you are looking for something for yourself or a special gift for a friend, you will love House of Joppa. Abiding Together listeners receive 15% off their purchase at checkout with discount code: ABIDE15. Visit them online at https://www.houseofjoppa.com or on Instagram @houseofjoppa.

In this episode, we continue our annual tradition, sharing our Word of the Year! Each year we each ask God to give us a theme to focus on for the new year and invite you to do the same. After personal prayer and reflection, we share our words for 2023 and how our words of the year have been connected over time. At the end of the episode, we also share an exciting announcement about our upcoming Lenten Book Study and insights into the theme for Season 12 of the podcast! Sister Miriam's One Thing - Belovedness by Sarah Kroger Heather's One Thing- Only Jesus Playlist Michelle's One Thing - Amanda Cook Edens Michelle's Other One Thing - Placemakers: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace - Christie Purifoy Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from this week's episode? Which podcast host's "word" resonated most with you and why? After prayer and reflection, what's your word of the year? How can you see your spiritual progress through the evolution of your words of the year over the past few years? How have these words or themes built upon each other? If you have never done word of the year and want to, what ways can you ask God what it is? Journal Questions: How was God present to you in your word for 2022? Take some time to reflect on what God desires to reveal to you as your word of the year. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you. Make sure to write it down and memorialize it in a way that will keep it at the forefront of your mind throughout the year. What is one change you can make in the coming year to be more open to the will of God? What themes has God been using as an opportunity to encounter Him? Are there specific scriptures, saints, or quotes that will serve as a guide or reminder of your word during the year? Quotes to Ponder: Trust makes us willing to be what God wants us to be, however great or however little that may prove. Trust accepts God as illimitable Love." // Caryll Houselander, "No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly." // J. R. R. Tolkien "He who climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows." // Saint Gregory of Nissa "We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can, namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us." // Saint Teresa of Avila Scripture for Lectio: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3) Announcements: We are excited to announce our Lenten Book study!! This year, we will be reading Be Transformed by Dr. Bob Schuchts. Through the guide of this book, we will discuss how the Sacraments can heal and transform your relationship with Jesus Christ. Supplies are limited so we recommend you order your copy of the book as soon as possible. Ave Maria Press is in the process ordering more and by purchasing early, you can help them estimate how many are needed. Ave Maria Press has graciously provided us a discount code if you order the book through their website. Use the code TRANSFORM at checkout to receive 25% off not only Be Transformed, but your entire order (through 3.31.23 with some exclusions)! You can also order the book through Amazon using our affiliate link. We do receive a small commission if you use our Amazon link. Anything we receive is used to help support our ministry. Click here for Amazon in the US. Sponsor - Pink Salt Riot: This year we are once again excited to partner with Pink Salt Riot to help you keep your word of the year close to your heart for 2023. In addition to brand new, updated versions of all of their word of the year necklaces and bracelets they have offered in the past, this year they are also offering an engraved cherry wood word of the year desk sign and a word of the year journal with prompts for each month throughout the year to help you walk even more intentionally with your word. All Pink Salt Riot word of the year products are custom made and engraved in their studio in Oklahoma. You can get 15% off your ENTIRE order at Pink Salt Riot with the coupon code AT15 at checkout through March 15, 2023 at pinksaltriot.com.

We are so excited to be back! In this episode, we reconnect after an extended break to share with you updates from each of our lives according to the mysteries of the Rosary: joyful, sorrowful, luminous, and glorious. While our first episode back is traditionally our "Word of the Year" episode, we felt the need to open up about what has been going on in our lives the past seven months. Stay tuned for next week's episode to discover each of our words for 2023. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We are so incredibly grateful for you. Heather's One Thing- Fr. Mike Schmitz Catechism in a Year Podcast (Trailer Here) Sister Miriam's One Thing - Hope's Garden Michelle's One Thing - Elizabeth Wade Studios Michelle's Other One Thing - With all Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life; Rachel Bulman Amazon or Word on Fire Bookstore Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from this week's episode? How has Christ met me in the Joyful Mysteries of my life? How has Christ met me in the Sorrowful Mysteries of my life? How has Christ met me in the Luminous Mysteries of my life? How has Christ met me in the Glorious Mysteries of my life? Journal Questions: Reflect on the past few months of your life. What are ways you have experienced joy, sorrow, illumination, and glory? Joy: A delight or an area of gratitude where you have felt the tangible presence of the LORD. Sorrow: A hurt or an obstacle. Illumination: Something the LORD brought to light: an area of pruning, longing, and an ache. Glory: Something you see the LORD redeeming and restoring. It can be in process. Quotes to Ponder: "The Rosary mystically transports us to Mary's side as she is busy watching over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth. This enables her to train us and to mold us with the same care, until Christ is 'fully formed' in us." -JP2 "Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring His every word: "She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Lk2:19; cf. 2:51). The memories of Jesus, impressed upon her heart, were always with her, leading her to reflect on the various moments of her life at her Son's side. In a way those memories were to be the 'rosary' which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life." -JP2 Scripture for Lectio Divina - "Mary pondered all these things in her heart." Luke 2:19 This episode is sponsored by Reform Wellness. This week's episode is sponsored by Reform, a functional medicine and holistic wellness practice rooted in Christ. Reform redefines health as the state of your body and soul, and their mission is to empower others to find well-being in Christ, thrive in whole-person health, and become the best versions of themselves—physically, mentally, and spiritually. We highly recommend Reform Online, a twelve-week course that walks you through Reform's nine Wellness Pillars to help you reclaim your identity in Christ, optimize nutrition and sleep, manage stress, and much more. Reform is for everyone because everyone is made for wholeness and holiness. No matter how far away you may feel from wholeness in body and holiness in spirit, the Divine Physician desires to heal you. We invite you to learn more about Reform on their website, reformwellness.co, and on IG @reform_wellness. Reform is offering an exclusive discount for all our listeners on their upcoming Lenten Reform Online course. Use code "Abide10'' for your exclusive discount through January 31.