Abiding Together

In this episode of the Abiding Together Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing Fr. Mike Schmitz! Fr. Mike is a wonderful speaker and evangelist, but more than that, he is a beautiful witness of what it looks like to be a spiritual father. We discuss spiritual fatherhood in the priesthood and some of the stumbling blocks in our relationship with God the Father. We also discuss what restored masculinity and the family looks like.

One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam's one thing - The book The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You Michelle's one thing - Summer hospitality and potlucks! Heather's one thing - The music video for "Fall On Me" by Andrea and Matteo Bocelli Fr. Mike's One things - Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax and The Heart of Perfection by Colleen Campbell

Discussion Questions Do you feel like you can trust God? What makes you distrust his heart at times? What is your experience of fatherhood in your life? How has this impacted your relationship with God the Father positively or negatively? What does a rebirth or renaissance of the family look like in our world today?

Journal Questions Sit with the words, as if said from God the Father, "I am proud of you". What stirs in your heart? Who in your life has revealed the heart of God the Father to you? In what areas do you need to experience restoration in your relationship with your earthly father and with God the Father?

Quote to Ponder "I know I can trust God the Father as my dad" - Fr. Mike Schmitz

Scripture for Lectio Divina - 1 John 3:1 "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are."

As we approach Pentecost this week, we thought it would be awesome to re-release our conversation from last year about the Holy Spirit with our dear friend, Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR. Fr. Dave created the popular series on the Holy Spirit called "The Wild Goose" with 4PM Media and he was just named the new President of Franciscan University.

We had the pleasure of hearing Fr. Dave's story and chatted with him about how to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and practical ways to open up to a new Pentecost in our own hearts. We were moved and inspired by this conversation and hope that you will be too. You can check out the free Wild Goose Series here.

One Thing We Love This Week

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing – Meaningful Market's Father's Day print and postcards! find them here. 15% your entire order at Meaningful Market with discount code - Abide15
• Michelle's One Thing - New study from Blessed Is She "Blessed Conversations study on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy called Misericordia"
• Heather's One Thing - This new Pentecost playlist I created.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever pondered the idea that the Holy Spirit never leaves us? Discuss how this truth could change the experience of how you go through daily life?
2. Scripture says, "where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom". What area do you need the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to in your life right now?
3. How are you going to prepare for a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit as we approach Pentecost this Sunday?

Journal Questions

1. How could you open your heart to the Holy Spirit in a deeper way this Pentecost?
2. Fire illuminates what we cannot see. Take some time to pray for the Holy Spirit to come and illuminate those areas in your heart?
3. Fr. Dave said that free people make the world nervous. How would your life look differently if you truly lived in freedom?

Quote to Ponder "The Holy Spirit brings people into divine life as children of God where they can live, as true children, in a relationship of intimacy, freedom, and faith in the love and mercy of God." – Pope Francis

Scripture for Lectio Divina - 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom"

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather discuss how to have fruitful and authentic small group discussions that provide safety and opportunities for deep connection with others. We give insights into how to talk in a vulnerable way, how to sit at one another's feet and listen, and what the ingredients are for meaningful conversations. We hope this offers some helpful insights for going deeper in your friendships and small faith groups with other women.

One Thing We Love this Week

• Sister Miriam's one thing - Heather's Greek Salad (diced cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet onion and feta (you can get it without goat milk if you like) and the amazing Abbotsford Greek Islands restaurant dressing.

• Michelle's one thing - Reading books aloud with her daughter. She is using this website to read The Secret Garden.

• Heather's one thing - Making an awesome charcuterie board. Here's a link with a video of how to make one. Also, you can pinterest this and find other cool ideas. I love including a raised bowl with some little chocolates in it as well. Dried apricots, mixed nuts, sliced pepper salami, Boursin, baby dills, cheese, brie, are some of my favorites.

Discussion questions

1. What blesses you the most in good conversation?
2. What makes you feel safe in conversation and what makes you feel uncomfortable?
3. What is bringing you joy right now in your life?
4. What is a theme going on in your life this year?
5. What does restored femininity (masculinity) look like?

Journal Questions

1. Do you spend more time sharing or listening in conversations? How can you grow in the area that you're not as strong in?
2. Who is someone in your life that you need to make time to sit at their feet more often?
3. What holds you back from sharing your heart?

Quote to Ponder "We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection." - Brene Brown

Scripture for lectio divina - Sirach 14-16 "Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them."

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather discuss their own personal prayer lives and how it has changed through seasons and vocation. They also chat about how to develop a rhythm of prayer, cultivating spiritual disciplines, and how to pray with your spouse.

One Thing We Love this Week

• Sister Miriam's one thing - The beautiful hike at Heather's house
• Michelle's one thing - Devotion to the Sacred Heart
• Heather's one thing - Our friend of the podcast Michael Corcoro

Discussion Questions

1. What form of prayer do you find easiest? What is the most challenging for you?
2. How can you experience the gift of prayer in this season of your life?
3. What ushers you into the presence of God quickly?
4. Discuss the idea of a daily conversation with God throughout your day.
5. If you're married, how can you pray with your spouse this week?

Journal Questions

1. How is God inviting you to make time with Him?
2. What is most on your heart right now to speak with God about?
3. What devotions are you drawn to and why?
4. What are the things that distract you in prayer?
5. What spiritual disciplines do you need in your life right now?

Quote to Ponder "Love to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself" - St Teresa of Calcutta

Scripture for Lectio Divina - Jeremiah 29:12 "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather recap their conference on restoring the beauty with special guest Fr. Josh Johnson. We talk about the four themes of our weekend and how this applies to all of us at every stage in our spiritual journey. We also discuss what it looks like to have restored hearts, femininity, hope, relationships.

One Thing We Love this Week

• Sister Miriam's one thing - Book by Dr. Conrad Bars I Will Give Them a New Heart
• Michelle's one thing - Being together
• Heather's one thing - Her husband Jake (also the incredible Hannah Van Noort)
• Fr. Josh's one thing - Fr. Lucio Choi & Heather's family

Discussion Questions

1. Fr. Josh said that when we allow Jesus into our painful places that he will not hurt us, he will only love us. What does this stir in you?
2. Sometimes we can brood and focus on our pain or lies more than the truth. What does this do to your heart when you do this? How can you change this pattern?
3. The word restore means to stand again. What is a part of your life that you would like the Lord to raise you up, to stand again?
4. Where in the garden of our souls is Christ present, but we don't recognize him?
5. What is one area from your childhood that God wants to restore in you?
6. What does it mean to restore the beauty in the Church?

Journal Questions

1. God asks us, "would you let me love you in your deepest shame and vulnerability?" Journal your own prayer response to this question.
2. If we are in relationship with Jesus and know his voice, we can better perceive where he is in challenging moments in our life. Pause and reflect on where Jesus is right now in the difficulties of your life.
3. How is God asking you to restore the beauty in yourself and the Church?

Quote to Ponder "How many times in our life is Christ present in our garden, in our soul, but we think he is the gardener?" - Sister Miriam

Scripture for Lectio Divina - Lamentations 5:21 "Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old."

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about the gift and calling of motherhood. Whether it be biological or spiritual motherhood, every woman is called to offer her maternity. Motherhood stretches our hearts to love more deeply and give new life to others. We talk about adoption and spiritual motherhood, which allows others to be born in our hearts as we image the gift of adoption that God has given to us.

Visit ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday!

One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam's one thing - the beauty of Bowling Green, Kentucky Michelle's one thing - weekend getaways with her spouse Heather's one thing - two songs from the new Hillsong United album, "People": Clean and Highlands (Song of Ascent)

Discussion Questions

1. Where do you experience the joy of maternity and femininity?
2. What would you like Jesus to heal in your maternity and femininity?
3. How is God inviting you to expand your heart to love others?
4. What does it mean to be a life giver?

Journal Questions

1. Is there someone that God is placing on your heart to offer your gift of maternity to?
2. How does God need to expand your view of motherhood?
3. Reflect on your relationship with Our Blessed Mother. How can you grow in this?

Quote to Ponder "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" - Mother Teresa

Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about Pope Francis' Easter message and how we can truly live in the Resurrection. We discuss the power of God that can roll away even the hardest stones in our heart and what the common blocks are to hope in Jesus.

Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday!

One Thing We Love this Week Sister Miriam's one thing - Seminarians at Mundelein Seminary Michelle's one thing - Writings of Fr. Padro Arrupe, SJ Heather's one thing - The Song "Healer" by Upperroom worship and in case you missed it, here's Heather's Easter Playlist - Hallelujah Is Our Song

Discussion Questions

1. What is the stone that I need to remove, what is the name of this stone?
2. Am I expecting to find the Risen Jesus in the most painful parts of my heart and story?
3. Where am I giving into discouragement and where have I lost hope?
4. What struck you from Pope Francis' message or the podcast and why?

Journal Questions

1. What practical things do I need to do to live in the new life God has brought to me instead of the old way?
2. Where am I looking? At graveyards or looking for the Living One?
3. What place in my heart do I need to invite the resurrected Jesus?
4. Spend some time remembering the good things God has done in your life.

Quote to Ponder "Human history does not end before a tombstone, because today it encounters the "living stone", the risen Jesus. We, as Church, are built on him, and, even when we grow disheartened and tempted to judge everything in the light of our failures, He comes to make all things new" - Pope Francis

Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 11:25-26 "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.' Do you believe this?"

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sr. Miriam, Michelle, and Heather talk about the gift of God's mercy. In light of the diary of St. Faustina, they discuss how often we don't turn to God in our weakness and sin because of shame or a belief that we are not worthy. The truth is that God's mercy is a free, inexhaustible gift that our loving Father wants to give to us in abundance.

Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday!

One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam's one thing - Springtime and flowers Michelle's one thing - Her trip to Dallas Heather's one things - Free 50 day Easter Devotional "Arise"

The new Hillsong Young & Free acoustic album Easter Playlist - Hallelujah Is Our Song

Discussion Questions:

1. What struck you from the podcast this week?
2. What has been a stumbling block for you in receiving God's mercy?
3. Often we think of God as a harsh Father, but in fact he shows us His vulnerability as He pours out His heart to us naked on the cross. Share you thoughts on this.
4. What is one main area that you need to trust God?

Journal Questions:

1. What is your heart response to God's gift of complete vulnerability, naked on the cross, giving His heart to you?
2. What do you really want to ask God for, confident that He knows best and He is good?
3. Why is it hard for you to trust God?

Quote to Ponder: "Jesus I trust in You!" - St. Faustina

Scripture for Lectio Divina - Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need"

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather have another heart to heart conversation with our good friend Dr. Bob Schuchts. Dr. Bob is a family and marriage counsellor for 40 years and founder of JPII Healing Center. Dr. Bob shares about the 7 universal wounds in the human person that affect how we relate to others, ourselves, and God. He teaches about how those present themselves in our lives and how we can begin the healing journey that leads to freedom.

You can find more about Dr. Bob's ministry at https://jpiihealingcenter.org/

Dr. Bob's book "Be Healed" - https://jpiihealingcenter.org/product/be-healed-dr-bob-schuchts-copy/

All his other books - https://jpiihealingcenter.org/shop/

Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday!

One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam's one thing - Song "Come out of Hiding" Steffany Gretzinger Michelle's one thing - Song "You Don't Miss a Thing" by Amanda Cook Heather's one thing - Shredded Buffalo Chicken Recipe (see recipe below)

For the instant pot:

• Add to pot - 3 lbs frozen chicken, 1 packet of powdered ranch dressing,
• ½ - ¾ of a 17.5 fl oz bottle of Franks buffalo wing sauce (must be buffalo flavor)
• Manual cook for 20 min.
• When it's done, do a natural steam release for 10 min, then manual steam release the rest.
• Drain excess liquid if you don't want it.
• Add 3 tablespoons of butter
• Shred chicken with 2 forks
• Serve on buns or tortilla wraps with all the extras you enjoy.

If using a slow cooker, add the chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch package, cook on low for 6-7 hours, shred, then add butter and cook for one more hour.

Discussion Questions

1. What struck you from the podcast this week?
2. How can we cooperate with the healing that God wants to bring into our lives?
3. Who is a safe person around you who can speak truth to you, encourage you, and lift your gaze to the Father?
4. Which of the 7 wounds do you resonate the most with in this season of your life?

Journal Questions

1. What is something you often overreact about that may be revealing a deeper area of woundedness?
2. What mindsets or negative beliefs do you think you have brought from your childhood into your adulthood?
3. Write down the 7 wounds that Dr. Bob mentioned. What is your first memory of when each of those wounds entered your life? Ask Jesus what He wants to speak to you about that.

Quote to Ponder

"Life comes through the heart" - Dr. Bob Schuchts

Scripture for Lectio Divina - Isaiah 53:5 "By His wounds we are healed."

Today on the Abiding Together Podcast, Sister Miriam, Michelle, and Heather finish up their Lenten series on Fr. Jacques Philippe's book Searching for and Maintaining Peace. They talk about how God wants to build a house where he dwells within us and how we are invited to be receptive and open instead of self protective. They dig into what causes us to lose peace and ask how are we letting the Prince of Peace take care of our difficult situations in life.

Visit www.ascensionpress.com/abidingtogether to subscribe to the shownotes and receive them in your email every Monday!

One Thing We Love This Week Sister Miriam's one thing - Bishop Barron Presents with Leah Libresco (Facebook link) Michelle's one thing - Think Like a Tree - Live Oaks Heather's one thing - Story behind the song "As You Find Me" by Hillsong United

Discussion Questions:

1. What makes me lose my peace?
2. What are the things that are keeping God from creating the house that he wants to build in us?
3. Is my interior house (in my heart) a place where other people can flourish in my presence?
4. Where am I not receptive? Where is there a block in my heart and why?

Journal Questions:

1. Am I really allowing Christ to be the Prince of Peace over the difficult situations or busyness in my life or am I trying to manage it all?
2. What are other people's experience of being around me? Do they feel safe? Do they feel loved and at peace? (Ask a close friend who loves you and then journal and pray about it.)
3. What are the ways that you self protect and why?

Quote to Ponder: "Keep your soul at peace" - St. François-Marie-Jacob Libermann

Scripture for Lectio Divina - John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."