We have discussed before that God is personally pursuing each of us. Through that pursuit, he invites us into relationship with him. How do we respond to that invitation? Prayer. If we desire to grow closer to God, a prayer life is non-negotiable. This week, I'm sharing wisdom I've received about cultivating a consistent prayer life and how we can persevere despite our inevitable failures.

Read:

Time for God (Fr. Jacques Philippe)

Listen:

Principium (The Arcadian Wild) (Listen on Spotify, Apple Music)

Quote: Holiness consists in enduring God's glance. (Hans Urs Von Balthasar)

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As much as we'd like to avoid suffering, we can't have Easter without Good Friday. This week, we're talking about how to grow closer to Jesus through our suffering, and I'm offering my perspective on this by reflecting on the suffering of childbirth and how the Lord prepared me for that experience. I still have a long way to go before suffering "well," but I hope this week's episode nonetheless encourages you as you abide with Jesus in the coming days.

Links:

Episode 006 | Living with Hope (even when life is hard) (Spotify, Apple)

Lamb of God by Rob Gardner (Spotify)

Scripture Mentioned:

Matthew 16:24

Mark 14:50

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Romans 8:18

Quote:

May the great mysteries of Gethsemane, the trial, and Calvary unfold in our hearts because of their intimate union with Jesus. And when our beloved has expired on the cross, may our hearts be his tomb, closed to everything else, until our eyes see his glorified wounds. (Venerable Mother Mary Magdalen of Jesus in the Eucharist)

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After encouraging you to see the true, good, and beautiful in the media you engage with, I wanted to share some of my favorites! This is another "list" episode that is fun and lighthearted and will hopefully make you smile. And I can guarantee you'll walk away with some new things to watch and read. Happy listening!

Want a list of everything mentioned in this episode? Here's a link to my website.

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Stop rejecting media without a "Christian" label on it. Fighting words, I know, but I feel strongly about this. Instead of rejecting the world we live in and the media in that world, we must learn how to navigate it. That's why we need to develop "virtue lenses." In this week's episode, I share why outright rejection of the world is unhelpful, my experience with finding the good in secular media, and how to develop (and help the next generation develop) the skills necessary to see the true, good, and beautiful in movies, books, and TV shows.

Read:

The Virtues (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1803-1845)

Parable of wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)

Listen:

Pints with Aquinas - Interview with Sarah Mackenzie (Spotify, Apple)

Read-Aloud Revival - Creativity (Spotify, Apple)

Read-Aloud Revival - Fairytales (Spotify, Apple)

Explore:

Fidelis

Fraternus

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When we think about giving alms, our minds most often go to "money." But almsgiving encapsulates much more than writing a check (though monetary giving is a good and important practice); it's about giving of ourselves. In this episode, I offer a few non-monetary almsgiving ideas that will hopefully inspire you to give in a new way and bless those around you.

Resources:

Corporal Works of Mercy

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Listen:

Spirituals Volume 2 (Barbara Hendricks, The Moses Hogan Singers)

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People often ask me why we chose a home birth, especially with our first birth. So I thought I'd share that with you! On this week's episode, I share why we chose this route and how that experience unfolded. Spoiler: it was amazing, and I will choose this every time if I can. Listen in!

Resources:

Baby Favorites Spreadsheet (my something beautiful!)

Built to Birth (the birth course we took)

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Let's just say I have a few opinions on the topic of birth. This week, I'm sharing some encouragement for women about birth, reminding them that they are made to do this and are worthy of knowledge, support, and the ability to make their own decisions. This is a topic I've become extremely passionate about because I believe women deserve better than what they usually receive during their birth experience. Buckle up, friends! It's a bit of a fiery ride this week.

Links:

Bridget Teyler's YouTube channel

Built to Birth - Bridget Teyler's online course

Down to Birth Podcast (Spotify, Apple)

Beautiful One Midwifery

At Home with Kelly + Tiffany (podcast from Beautiful One Midwifery - Spotify, Apple)

Made For This by Mary Haseltine

Cody Fry (Spotify)

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We often view clothing as a necessary annoyance or fashion as frivolous, but I would argue that what we wear matters more than we think. In this episode, I share about the personal impact of being more intentional in my wardrobe and invite you to consider a few questions about your own wardrobe. We'll discuss the importance of honesty, reality, self-awareness, and beauty, all of which pertain to the fact that what we wear really does matter.

Links:

Absolute Color System

Imogen's Blog (founder of the Absolute Color System)

Why Color Analysis Has Evolved Beyond the Seasons

Watch: Miss Scarlet and the Duke

(on PBS OR Amazon Prime + BBC Masterpiece Channel)

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New Year's resolutions not working out for you? Let's talk about a new approach to setting goals. Over the last several years, I've intentionally planned goals for the coming year, and this process has helped me uncover what truly matters and redirect my life accordingly. I'd love to help you do the same by sharing my favorite resources, a bit of my story, and some tips for helping you shift your mindset toward life-giving goal-setting.

SHOW NOTES:

Shop:

Cultivate What Matters

Powersheets

Listen:

Winter Spotify Playlist

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Have you ever chosen a word of the year? I've been choosing a word of the year for the last few years, and the process for choosing one has changed immensely. In this episode, I reflect on words from past years, share about my word for 2023, and give some ideas on how you can find your own word of the year. Choosing a word can be a fun and intentional way to cultivate the year ahead — let's explore the possibilities together.

Read:

The Lifegiving Home (Sally Clarkson)

These Beautiful Bones (Emily Stimpson Chapman)

I've mentioned Theology of the Body several times in my podcast, and would love to share my favorite beginner resources. I offer different ones for Catholics and Protestants because our churches often use different language or teaching methods, so these resources are designed to meet people where they're at:

Catholics: Theology of the Body for Beginners (Christopher West)

Protestants: Our Bodies Tell God's Story (Christopher West)

Watch:

Madisun Gray (YouTube Channel)

What is Slow Living?

Slow Living with Kids

Make: Italian Sausage White Bean Soup

Questions:

What is God trying to teach me in this current season?

What themes do I see in my life, perhaps themes surrounding change or areas of growth?

How is God calling me to encounter him, and is there anything I need to change to make room for that encounter?

What are some of my goals for the coming year, and is there a thread that ties them together?

Are there any words that keep standing out in books, podcasts, TV shows, articles or other content sources? Why are these words capturing my attention?

What is wearing me out right now, and what is an alternative way of living?

Quote:

“In things of beauty, he contemplated the One who is supremely beautiful, and, led by the footprints he found in creatures, he followed the Beloved everywhere.” (St. Bonaventure on St. Francis)

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