Transition, stretching, flexibility, growth, trust, pain, anticipation, vulnerability and revelation… a handful of the key ingredients to a life of surrender. A wee bit of what is featured in today’s episode.

Raw emotion. Desperation. Angst. Cries for help. The depth of grief. Clinging to hope. Promises of rescue. Safety. Romance. Wonder. Delight. Knowing I am seen, and known, and loved. Today’s episode is a glimpse into where all of this is found. And more.

Sometimes I feel like the Israelites: rescued in so many miraculous ways, only to face a new difficulty and immediately begin to question and grumble and complain. So easily I forget. This episode is a pouring out, an overflow and a breaking open. A prayer, a confession, a commitment. The response to an invitation of Love from the One who has chosen me - the Lover of my soul.

Disclaimer: This episode really has nothing to do with the fact that it’s my birthday. It holds a creative piece I wrote a few years ago (the episode title hails from that), and there’s also a shameless plug for one of my favorite created things, ever. So, maybe have a listen ;)

I’m so thankful for YOU! Whatever your story, whatever your process; you are valued, you are loved, you are needed. I share about that. Oh and then I share some other thoughts from my heart ;)

Brother Andrew’s ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’ is the main inspiration for this episode. I share some things I felt the Lord speaking in response, and I pray it encourages you; some of it inspired some by scripture, some by Brother Andrew’s writings, and some simply coming straight from His heart.

New Years has become a time of reflection: looking back over the year now coming to a close - acknowledging, processing, celebrating, honoring, repenting, forgiving…and then looking ahead. What is to come? What do I want to take with me into the new year? What do I want to leave behind? This has been my January so far. Listen to this episode for more :)

Things rarely go the way we want them to. There seems to be an extra emphasis to this around the Christmas season. We end up far busier than we intended, we are facing our first holiday after losing a loved one, we have a broken relationship with a family member…the list goes on. I’m learning to embrace the season, even my life in general, regardless of disappointments or grief or any amount of mess. I’m learning to live my life from this place: to love my actual life. To love my actual Christmas.

Happy November, friends! This month has ushered in a thick fog in the region where I live, but I declare that this is a season of clarity and wide open space for you, and for me! This episode is a declaration of the song of the bride, as recorded in Song of Songs. I pray that you are encouraged and drawn deeper into the heart of Jesus as you listen, and receive, and respond. Blessings!

Life is full of ups, and downs. This isn’t news to anyone. Yet there is a promise - the pain and the disappointment is actually invitation into fullness. It defies logic. It requires faith. But anything worth having will always cost us something. And there is only one thing that truly matters. There is only one message I want my life to declare.