It is the beginning of a new year, and I don’t know about you, but I am absolutely determined to spend more time with God in His Word—not just reading it and not just to check it off my to-do list, but to actually engage with Him and listen to see what He wants to share with me this year. Has He laid that desire on your heart, as well?

But I know that sometimes, I get stuck in what to actually do in my quiet time with Him. Sometimes I need something to help me do more than just read, but to engage with what I’m reading. To understand it. To reflect on it. To listen for His nudges and invitations to me as I read.

And so I wanted to kick off this year exploring 10 different ways to encounter God in His Word. These are practical, tangible things you can put into practice in your own time with the Lord.

I don’t recommend you do them all right away at the same time, but listen and see which ones pique your interest and then try them on and see how they work for you. I imagine you’ll gravitate toward two or three of them based on your personality, your schedule, and just how God has designed you to meet with Him.

Let’s dive in,

Kari

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES:

>> Soul Care Group: Monthly email with soul care practices

http://lovedoesthat.org/soulcaregroup

>> 3 Ways to Encounter God on the Pages of Your Journal Workshop: Tuesday, January 18th at 11:00am Eastern

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Online Retreats:

Email me at [email protected] to get on the waitlist

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Navigators
• Precepts Ministries International
• Horacio Printing SOAP Studies
• Daily Grace Co.
• Kelly Minter’s Bible studies
• Imagine Bible Study Devotional
• Scribe: Scripture Writing Class
• Bible Study Made Simple podcast with Eva Kubasiak

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD GOES SILENT?

As an introvert, silence is your strength. You cherish quiet moments. Time alone replenishes your soul like nothing else can.

But what happens when God goes silent? When you raise your questions of grief and hurt and doubt—and He doesn't answer?

Dear one, what if your very quietness has positioned you to experience the presence of God in a totally new way?

What if in these seasons of silence, God is actually speaking to you louder than He has ever spoken to you before?

If you ready to press into God in this season of silence, I invite you to fill out the form at lovedoesthat.org/apply. I use a modern-day letter writing style of spiritual direction perfect for Christian women drawn to quiet spaces and written words.

Throughout our correspondence, I will compassionately listen to your story, gently ask questions that point you to God, and help you discover personal spiritual practices that invite you to stay close to Him. Start now at lovedoesthat.org/apply.

https://lovedoesthat.org/apply

Can you believe we are just a few days away from the new year? It’s a time full of reflection and planning (both of which I love). It’s a time of identifying our word for the year or setting goals or intentions. And honestly, there’s a lot I enjoy about starting a new year or a new season.

So as we get ready to enter into 2022, I want to offer you some special encouragement. I know it’s so easy for me to hear what other people are doing and compare myself to them, often feeling like I don’t measure up. They’re doing this and they’re doing that, and they’re offering this, and they’re planning that. And the envy monster can wreak havoc on my heart and mind. Which is certainly not something that I want.

Then, I can get so many ideas of my own that I’m running around chasing them all and never really focus on what God has called me to do. And so being able to identify His calling for me, the mission that He has given me, has been super important so I can say “yes” to the things He desires for me and “no” to the things that are a hindrance.

That’s why today’s episode is just as much for me as it is for you. In fact, it’s something I shared with another group more than a year ago, and parts of it still speak to me so deeply that I can’t forget them.

Today, we’re going to look at a couple of Bible passages that speak to running our race well.

Kari

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD GOES SILENT?

As an introvert, silence is your strength. You cherish quiet moments. Time alone replenishes your soul like nothing else can.

But what happens when God goes silent? When you raise your questions of grief and hurt and doubt—and He doesn't answer?

Dear one, what if your very quietness has positioned you to experience the presence of God in a totally new way?

What if in these seasons of silence, God is actually speaking to you louder than He has ever spoken to you before?

If you ready to press into God in this season of silence, I invite you to fill out the form at lovedoesthat.org/apply. I use a modern-day letter writing style of spiritual direction perfect for Christian women drawn to quiet spaces and written words.

Throughout our correspondence, I will compassionately listen to your story, gently ask questions that point you to God, and help you discover personal spiritual practices that invite you to stay close to Him. Start now at lovedoesthat.org/apply.

https://lovedoesthat.org/apply

Today, I want to offer you some prompts that are especially for those seasons of grief and heartache.

Now, grief looks like a lot of different things, right? The death of a loved one. The loss of a friendship. The move from one town to another. Letting go of dreams or expectations. The heaviness that comes when we realize our life has just been radically changed.

Today, I want to share with you ten questions that you can use as journal prompts in these seasons of grief. Be sure to download the complete Grief Journal for all 30 questions, plus a daily and weekly spread.

Kari

Grab the free Grief Journal:

www.lovedoesthat.org/griefjournal

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD GOES SILENT?

As an introvert, silence is your strength. You cherish quiet moments. Time alone replenishes your soul like nothing else can.

But what happens when God goes silent? When you raise your questions of grief and hurt and doubt—and He doesn't answer?

Dear one, what if your very quietness has positioned you to experience the presence of God in a totally new way?

What if in these seasons of silence, God is actually speaking to you louder than He has ever spoken to you before?

If you ready to press into God in this season of silence, I invite you to fill out the form at lovedoesthat.org/apply. I use a modern-day letter writing style of spiritual direction perfect for Christian women drawn to quiet spaces and written words.

Throughout our correspondence, I will compassionately listen to your story, gently ask questions that point you to God, and help you discover personal spiritual practices that invite you to stay close to Him. Start now at lovedoesthat.org/apply.

https://lovedoesthat.org/apply

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Episode 38: 3 Truths to Remember During a Difficult Holiday Season
• Advent Resource: When Your Silent Night Feels Empty

Guided Scripture reading has been powerful for me because it helps me engage with the story in a deeper way. It’s often combined with a practice called imaginative prayer, where you use all of your senses and imagination to enter into the story itself. What sounds do you hear? What does it smell like? Who is around you? And then God uses these details and stories to speak to you right where you are.

I’ll be honest: it might feel a little strange at first. We’ve been taught to use our reasoning and knowledge when we read the Bible, not our imaginations.

But, you see, God has given us a mind to both reason and imagine, and when we use that reasoning and imagination with God’s guidance, He will empower us to engage more deeply with His Word… and ultimately, engage more meaningfully with Him.

Join me as we enter into the story of choosing an apostle to replace Judas.

Kari

GRIEF IS HARD.

Whether you are reeling from the death of a loved one, struggling with loss of community, or feeling lost and unanchored, you are experiencing the truth that “this isn't how it was supposed to be.”

You can ignore the pain, pretending it doesn't hurt and letting it pull you away from God. Or you can actually lean into it, instead, and choose to press even closer to Him.

Hi, I'm Kari, and I help women become more aware of God's presence in their lives and discover signs of His care.

Learn more here:

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

Knowing the Stages of Change impacts our ability to help others, or even to understand our own healing journey.

Which stage are you in? Which stage is your friend in?

• Precontemplation
• Contemplation
• Preparation
• Action
• Maintenance

What are some important truths to keep in mind as we seek to support a friend through a major change?

Listen in to find out!

Kari

GRIEF IS HARD.

Whether you are reeling from the death of a loved one, struggling with loss of community, or feeling lost and unanchored, you are experiencing the truth that “this isn't how it was supposed to be.”

You can ignore the pain, pretending it doesn't hurt and letting it pull you away from God. Or you can actually lean into it, instead, and choose to press even closer to Him.

Hi, I'm Kari, and I help women become more aware of God's presence in their lives and discover signs of His care.

Learn more here:

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Episode 43: When Helping Hurts: Establishing Boundaries When Caring for Others with Counselor Nicole Fryling

Have you ever had a friend or family member who was going through a challenging situation and you wanted to help them, only to realize that your help wasn’t actually all that helpful?

Today, we are talking about those moments when we might be hurting or enabling someone through our actions, which doesn’t really lead to the help or healing they need in their lives. What does it look like to set healthy and God-honoring boundaries? How do we know the specific ways we can help someone through a season?

I just got off a call with counselor Nicole Fryling and we talked about this very topic of how to help others in a way that doesn’t hurt them—or you—in the process. There are so many practical tips and biblical truths packed in here, you are going to want to grab some paper and write them down.

Let’s dive into my conversation with Nicole.

Kari

ABOUT NICOLE:

Nicole Fryling is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Michigan and a graduate of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. She finds energy in her work as a counselor when she is journeying with women who feel anxious, stuck, overwhelmed and those wanting to restore hope for a better, more enriching life. She is also passionate about coming alongside those who want to incorporate their spirituality and relationship with God in their healing journey. Blending her passions for entrepreneurship and counseling, Nicole started Restorative Counseling Center where her team offers both in person and online counseling.

CONNECT WITH NICOLE:

• Website: restorativecc.com
• Circle of Control guide: restorativecc.com/free-resources  
• Facebook + Instagram

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Episode 2: Discerning Who to Encourage
• Galatians 6:2-5 (NIV)

INTERESTED IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?

I’d be honored to walk with you through a difficult season and help you discover God’s presence and work in your life.

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the tension of experiencing grief and heartache in a season of celebration, how it can be hard to hold those two things together in a way that feels authentic and true. And I gave you three truths to hold onto when it came to going through a difficult holiday season of your own. 

But today we’re talking about difficult holidays from a different angle, and that is, how do we support those in our churches and communities who are grieving this holiday season? How do we acknowledge their loss even amid the festivities?

And one thing that I have seen to be so incredibly helpful is offering a Blue Christmas service, or sometimes called the Longest Night Worship Service.

A Blue Christmas service offers people a sacred space to not only remember their loved ones who have passed, but also to name their losses and griefs from the previous year. It is a refuge, of sorts. A way to acknowledge that they are not alone in the midst of their hurt. That others are hurting, too.

It’s about making space for the sadness that is already there. Naming it. Honoring it, even. Taking it to Christ. And yes, remembering the hope we have in Him.

It can be so incredibly powerful for someone who is grieving or going through a difficult season.

So in today’s episode, I want to walk you through some basic parts of a Blue Christmas service and then offer you a free resource to help you plan your own.

Kari

GET THE BLUE CHRISTMAS PLANNING GUIDE:

www.lovedoesthat.org/bluechristmas

SHOP OUR THANKSGIVING FUNDRAISER (November 15-30, 2021)

We’ll donate 15% of all sales to local non-profit, Love INC. Plus, you’ll be entered to win our digital prize pack.

www.lovedoesthat.org/shop

DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS ALONE?

I’d be honored to walk with you through a difficult holiday season and help you attune yourself to God’s presence and work in your life.

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Advent Resource: When Your Silent Night Feels Empty
• Creative Little Church: Blue Christmas Pack
• Episode 9: Supporting a Friend Through Grief (And Walking Through It Yourself) with Karen Altizer
• Episode 38: 3 Truths to Remember During a Difficult Holiday Season

Imagine this scenario with me… someone from church is going through a difficult time. Maybe they have a surgery coming up this week, and you want to send them a card to let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them as their big day comes up.

So you go to your desk to grab some cards, but they’re not where you thought you had them. You dig around in your drawers and files, but still can’t find them. That’s okay, you’ll just use computer paper instead.

So you open your printer to find some, but discover the cartridge empty. Well, you guess you’ll just grab some notebook paper, then. But you scour the house and can’t find a single notebook page without some sort of writing or scribble on it.

Your intention to send a note was sincere, but without anything to send, it quickly leaves your mind and you’re on to other things.

But I’ve found that if God put an inkling on your heart to reach out to someone, you should probably follow through.

So what we’re setting out to do today is to make it as easy as possible to send out cards, to remove the obstacles that get in our way. Are you in? Let’s get started.

Kari

SHOP OUR THANKSGIVING FUNDRAISER (Nov. 15-30)

We’ll donate 15% of all sales to local non-profit, Love INC. Plus, you’ll be entered to win our digital prize pack.

www.lovedoesthat.org/shop

DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS ALONE?

I’d be honored to walk with you through a difficult holiday season and help you attune yourself to God’s presence and work in your life.

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

I have a something so incredibly special to share with you today. I actually hinted at it in my last episode, but I want to take some time and explain it more fully so you can join me in this.

For those of you who don’t know, in addition to working as a spiritual director for women who are experiencing depression or grief or any sort of difficult season in their life, I also own a gift shop where I make encouragement and sympathy gifts like our Tear Bottles and Mini Tear Bottle Necklaces.

And as a gift shop owner, I have had to think about the holidays and if I wanted to create a sale or a discount or something to offer to you, my customers. This is something all business owners have to decide. Will they offer sales or not? Will they have any sort of promotion? Bonuses? Free gifts?

And for me, giving a discount seemed nice, but it just didn’t seem to perfectly align with what we do here at Love Does That, which is walking with those who are hurting.

I brainstormed and prayed about how to handle holiday seasons and last year, came up with the idea to do a fundraiser instead of a sale. Listen in to see how it works.

Kari

SHOP FOR THE THANKSGIVING FUNDRAISER

www.lovedoesthat.org

DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS ALONE?

I’d be honored to walk with you through a difficult holiday season and help you attune yourself to God’s presence and work in your life.

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

I have such a special episode for you today. I know that you are here listening to this podcast because you care so very much for those around you. God has given you a heart for those who are hurting.

And so when it comes to the holiday season, you want to find not just a gift off the shelf, but a truly meaningful gift, something that will comfort and encourage your friend and let her know that she is not alone in her hurt and grief.

Today, I am going to highlight four shops that are perfect for helping you find just the right gift. You will be able to find links to all of these shops in the show notes below, and be sure to follow and support them on social media, too, because they are on the same mission: to show love and care to those who are hurting.

Okay, are you ready? Here we go!

Kari

DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS ALONE?

I’d be honored to walk with you through a difficult holiday season and help you attune yourself to God’s presence and work in your life.

www.lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection/

SHOP LINKS:

• Love Well Collective: https://www.lovewellcollective.com/
• Because Love: https://www.itsbecauselove.com/
• Purpose + Grit: https://www.purposegrit.com/
• Love Does That: https://lovedoesthat.org