Abiding Together

Today's episode is Part 3 of our series on the women doctors of the Church, on the life of St. Teresa of Avila. We talk about the great gift of her spiritual writings, her humor, her practical wisdom and her reforming spirit. We talk about growing in self awareness and how we can move through spiritual pitfalls.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Song "Fear Not" by Kristene DiMarco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0GQp-vTqOw

Michelle's One Thing - Blessed Is She advent Journal https://blessedisshe.net/product/bearing-light-advent-devotional/

Also the new Ascension Series coming soon called "Rejoice" Heather's One Thing - The movie Les Miserable with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD53IYJlot8

Discussion Questions:

1) What struck you from the podcast this week? 2) What areas of comfort do you cling to that may be causing resistance in growing deeper in your relationship with God? 3) What is one practical "little by little" choice that you can make to grow this week? 4) In what places do you need more healing in your life? How can you open the door to healing in one practical way?

Journal Questions:

1) What are the areas that I tolerate and give in to sin in my life, instead of going deeper? 2) Think about your week. To grow in self awareness, journal about your reactions to a situation or person and why you responded the way you did? 3) What young parts of your own heart need to encounter the love of God? 4) Do you believe that God will be there, as your Healer, if you open the door to past wounds?

Quote to Ponder:

"Either we are brides of so great a King or we are not." - St. Teresa of Avila

Scripture for the Week - Zephaniah 3:16-20

In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: "Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp. "The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. "I will gather those who grieve about the appointed feasts—They came from you, O Zion; The reproach of exile is a burden on them. "Behold, I am going to deal at that time with all your oppressors, I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I will bring you in, even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes"

*Listen to our Doctors of the Church Spotify Worship Playlist *- https://open.spotify.com/user/12184473750/playlist/6uqQ8RwDh4xkDP0IxB9O65?si=GD4CrGUPTR2xbqDzA_ybTg

Reading Recommendations:

Interior Castle - St Teresa of Avila https://www.amazon.com/Interior-Castle-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486461459/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1540866080&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=interior+castle&psc=1

The Way of Perfection - St Teresa of Avila https://www.amazon.com/Way-Perfection-St-Teresa-Avila-ebook/dp/B07JKNDT67/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540866028&sr=8-1&keywords=the+way+of+perfection+by+st.+theresa+of+avila

The Four Teresas - Gina Loehr https://www.amazon.com/Four-Teresas-Gina-Loehr-ebook/dp/B004HKJ8PM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540865886&sr=8-1&keywords=Four+teresas

Today's episode we dive into the life of St. Hildegard of Bingen, part 2 of our series on the women doctors of the Church. We talk about how amazing this woman was, her many talents and how she used the power of her voice and influence to help restore the Church. We also discuss places that we have lost our voice, the trap of self doubt, and letting God be strong in our weakness.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Anonymous 4 album "The Origin of Fire" https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Fire-Visions-Hildegard-Bingen/dp/B00B3SPEQI/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1540407535&sr=8-20&keywords=anonymous+4

Michelle's One Thing - The Ministry of Ordinary Places - Shannan Martin https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Ordinary-Places-Waking-Goodness-ebook/dp/B07BB665J5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540413147&sr=8-1&keywords=shannan+martin

Heather's One Thing - The song "New Wine" by Hillsong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbJaM_EneMw

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever believed the lie that its too late for certain dreams or callings to come to fruition in your life?

2. In what ways do you diminish who you are and fall into self doubt?

3. How can you open the door wider to the Holy Spirit to use your gifts, not just as your own talents, but to help build his Kingdom of love?

4. How can we cultivate friendships that we feel free to be vulnerable without judgement?

Journal Questions:

1. How has self doubt crippled you in your story?

2. What is Christ calling me to for a time such as this?

3. How can you begin to accept your weakness as an opportunity to draw close to God and receive His strength?

4. Where in my life do I answer to others opinions instead of my identity in God?

Quote to Ponder:

"We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light." - St. Hildegard of Bingen

Scripture for the week - Proverbs 15:2,4-5,7

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouths of fools spout folly. A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit. A fool rejects his father's discipline, but he who regards reproof is sensible. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.

Here's a worship playlist we created to go along with the Doctors Series. We pray it blesses you. https://open.spotify.com/user/12184473750/playlist/6uqQ8RwDh4xkDP0IxB9O65?si=qOkfzpk8SduajrCESN-LfQ

To order the prayer/study journal accompaniment for the Doctor series head over to Meaningful Market Shop - https://meaningfulmarketshop.com/collections/doctors

Reading Recommendations:

Secrets of God

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-God-Writings-Hildegard-Bingen-ebook/dp/B00HEN3IXW/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1540407704&sr=8-12&keywords=st+hildegard+of+bingen

Hildegard of Bingen-Doctor of the Church

https://www.amazon.com/Hildegard-Bingen-Doctor-Church-2013-01-02/dp/B01FIVV50O/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1540407917&sr=1-6&keywords=hildegard+of+bingen+doctor+of+the+church

Today we begin our 5 part series on the women Doctors of the Church by first exploring the life of St. Catherine of Siena. St. Catherine was a preacher, influencer, writer, miracle worker, and mystic. In this episode, we chat about Catherine's example of intimacy with God, her fiery heart and voice of conviction, how her hidden life fueled her passion for the Church and restoration, and how we can follow her example in specific ways.

One Thing We Love This Week:

• Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Divine Mercy Shrine in Poland
• Michelle's One Thing - Brother Isaiah's new song - https://aleteia.org/2018/10/17/brother-isaiahs-love-song-for-the-bride-is-balm-for-a-wounded-church/ and check out his album Poco a Poco
• Michelle's other one thing - Rosary bracelet - https://chewslife.com/new-siena-rosary-bracelet-dalmatian-jasper/
• Heather's One Thing - The St. Francis of Assisi Movie "A Sign of Contradiction" by Fr. Dave Pivonka and 4pm Media https://www.signofcontradiction.com/

Discussion Questions:

1. What does restored femininity look like in your life?

2. Where can you see God in your childhood? Where do you need to ask Him to reveal Himself?

3. What do you love? What burns your heart? Where is Christ calling you to true love that radiates from within?

Journal Questions:

1. How is God inviting you to bring your feminine genius to your world?

2. What suffering in your life is God asking you to unite with His, that He wants to restore and heal?

3. How has the enemy come into my life to seek, kill, and destroy things that God wants to use to bring life and glory to the world?

4. What areas in your hidden life within, need to experience mercy and transformation so that you can be a witness of restoration to the Church?

Quote to Ponder:

"I promise you, that, by this means, her beauty will be restored to her, not by the knife nor by cruelty, but peacefully, by humble and continued prayer, by the sweat and the tears shed by the fiery desire of My servants" - Jesus to St. Catherine of Siena

*Scripture for the week - Ezekiel 37:1-7 *

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know."Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

Learning how to pray is one of the topics Christians are continually striving to learn more about. In this episode we talk in depth about a couple of forms of prayer and also share some of our personal experiences and insights from our own prayer life. We hope that this conversation blesses you and encourages you to pray and encounter Christ more deeply.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Her best pals Heather and Michelle! Michelle's One Thing - The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today by Fr. Timothy Gallagher Heather's One Thing - Bishop Barron Video "Christ Call You To Mission." Also the song "Speak to Me" by Kari Jobe

Discussion Questions:

What tends to distract you from taking time to pray each day? How can you prevent it? What type of prayer do you find most fruitful in your life? What is your experience with Lectio Divina? Do you believe that God wants to speak to you, personally?

Journal Questions:

If you don't have one, make a prayer plan for each day of your week. Spend some time in the gaze of God, what do you believe He is speaking to your heart? Where have you seen God's truth today? Where did you see a lie?

Quote to Ponder:

"For me, 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

In this episode we talk about how to begin dreaming about the things God is calling us to, which is very different than the cheesy instagram notion. We also share about dreams being deep desires that God places in our hearts to build up the kingdom and how to invite the Holy Spirit to restore the broken place so that new life can come forth.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Torin Wells "Known" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbQ6Lfh5L14

Michelle's One Thing - Reese Witherspoon's book "Whiskey in a Tea Cup https://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Teacup-Growing-Taught-Biscuits-ebook/dp/B07CL96ZWB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537585554&sr=8-1&keywords=reese+witherspoon+whiskey+in+a+tea+cup And the LIFEWATR video about art in schools - https://youtu.be/86Yr9rMV-GY

Heather's One Thing - My kids!

Discussion Questions:

1. What dreams do you believe that God has placed in your heart?
2. Do you trust that God has good things in store for your future or is this a place of doubt? What is the doubt tied to?
3. What are the little things that God is calling you to be faithful to right now?
4. How can your close friends encourage you to pursue your dreams and God's calling on your life?

Journal Questions:

1. What is lacking in the world around you that God could be calling you to respond to?
2. What dreams are lying dormant in your heart?
3. Invite the Holy Spirit to stir up dreams again in your heart. Write down what you think He is speaking to you.
4. What is something you sued to love when you were younger that God may want to redeem and restore?

Quote to Ponder:

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet" - Frederick Buechner

Extra scriptures for this episode

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" - Joel 2:28

"The LORD answered me: "Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end,and will not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and not delay. - Habakkuk 2:3

In this episode we talk about the scripture from John 15 where Jesus invites us to abide in Him and remain in His love. We discuss the importance of being rooted in Christ and the stumbling blocks that get in the way of that. We particularly explore the concept of littleness vs striving and self reliance.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - Working in her mom's garden!

Michelle's One Thing - Haley Stewart's new book "The Grace of Enough" - https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Enough-Pursuing-Throwaway-Culture-ebook/dp/B07CXFQQ3L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537561852&sr=8-1&keywords=the+grace+of+enough+haley+stewart

Heather's One Thing - "Late Have I Loved You" by Gungor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WoCwuPXhvM

Discussion Questions:

What holds you back from being vulnerable with people in your life? What might God be asking you to say no to so that you can be more present with those in front of you? Authentic Christianity is not lived in isolation. What is one way you can breakthrough the isolation and connect with your community more regularly?

Journal Questions:

Quote to Ponder:

"All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted" - St Teresa of Avila

In this episode we talk about the power of connection and the shared human desire to be connected to one another. We discuss how authentic Christianity is not lived in isolation, the importance of vulnerability, being present to the present moment, and learning to love well and grow out of unhealthy patterns of relating to others.

Welcome to Season 4! We are so excited to start our new season in collaboration with Ascension. In our first episode we talk about our summer, introduce ourselves to our new listeners, but most importantly we share our perspective and our journey through the ongoing news of the scandals within the Church.

One Thing We Love This Week:

Sr. Miriam's One Thing - The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast Michelle's One Thing - Blog post by Shannon Evans Heather's One Thing - Where You Are - Leeland with Bethel Music Extra Resources - Response by Fr. Mike Schmitz Extra Resources - Response by Bishop Robert Barron

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think is your role to play in restoring beauty in the Church?

1. In your stages of grieving the scandals in the Church, how can you invite Jesus in to heal and restore your heart?

2. What are some practical ways you can pray for the victims of abuse and the restoration of the Church?

Journal Questions:

1. What is holding you back from something that God is calling you to do?

1. Who is someone that you can encourage to offer their gifts in a specific way?

2. How is God calling you to be a part of the renewal of the Church?

Quote to Ponder:

"Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are." - St. Augustine

While the ladies are taking the summer off here is a bonus episode where we get the chance to get to know Michelle Benzinger a little better.

Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast | Android Phone | Spotify | RSS

Michelle Benzinger - Michelle Benzinger is a national women's speaker, creative entrepreneur, and advocate for marginalized women and children. She is the visionary leader of Greenhouse Collective and the creative director of Meaningful Market. She co-hosts a podcast, Abiding Together with Sr. Miriam Heidland and Heather Khym. Michelle and her husband, Chris, have served in global and domestic missions for the past 15 years with their six children (two adopted from Haiti) and now reside in Pensacola, Florida.

Greenhouse Collective: facebook | instagram | website Meaningful Market: facebook | instagram | website