What would it have been like to hear God call you “highly favored” as a teenager? Today, we dive into Mary’s story and uncover what her courage reveals about our own calling. This Advent conversation invites you to embrace the truth that God has great things planned for you—right now, right where you are.

We’re reading through Kaley’s Advent devotional titled “This Will Be A Sign To You.” Follow along with us by grabbing a copy (or a few) on Amazon:

https://a.co/d/3iuXR1x

What if gratitude wasn’t just a polite response — but a powerful spiritual weapon?

In this episode, we talk about the kind of gratitude that doesn’t wait for perfect days — the kind that shows up in hospital rooms, sleepless nights, anxious thoughts, and seasons where faith feels thin. The kind that becomes worship when words feel heavy. The kind that pushes back fear, scarcity, and overwhelm.

We explore:

✨ Why thanksgiving is not fluff — it’s obedience

✨ How gratitude ushers us into God’s presence (Psalm 100:4)

✨ Real moments of worship and tears: motherhood, ministry, anxiety

✨ How thankfulness shifts spiritual atmospheres in our homes and hearts

Gratitude may not change our circumstances — but it absolutely changes our posture in them.

And at the end, I’ll guide you through this week’s practice:

💛 Speak three “thank-You” prayers out loud every morning — not because you always feel thankful, but because God is always worthy.

This Thanksgiving day, let’s rediscover gratitude — not as a feeling, but as worship. Not as a positive mindset, but as warfare.

Read more on today’s Hermana Blog.

This week, we’re talking about the kind of gratitude that doesn’t wait for a happy ending.

Last year, I found myself in a season of anxiety and overwhelm—stuck in fight-or-flight mode, unable to sleep, and barely able to sit still. Most nights I ended up beside the Christmas tree with my Bible and journal, whispering prayers until I finally drifted off. It became my waiting room… and strangely, my sanctuary.

If you’ve been praying for healing, waiting for breakthrough, or wondering if God hears you—this episode is for you.

We’re exploring:

• When prayers are still in process

• The “even if” faith of Daniel 3

• How grief and gratitude can live in the same room

• Trauma-informed permission to both mourn and give thanks

• A journal prompt to help you practice gratitude in the not-yet

This episode is an invitation:

Not to have it all figured out, but to trust that God is already near—even here, even now. You don’t need full resolution to offer real thanksgiving. The waiting room can still be holy ground.

So grab your journal, maybe a cup of something warm, and join me beside the Christmas tree… as we practice expectant gratitude—the kind that lives in the middle of the story.

Listen now and don’t forget to follow along on the Hermana Blog for the journal prompt and reflection guide. 💻

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Don’t forget— we’re jumping into “This Will Be A Sign To You,” Kaley’s Advent devotional, as soon as December starts. Grab your copy on Amazon and let’s bring heaven home this Christmas season. ✨

In a world that glorifies hustle, what if true gratitude asks us to slow down?

In this week’s episode of the Miracle in the Mess Podcast, Kaley Rivera Thompson shares how hurry can crowd out thankfulness — and how rest, Sabbath, and stillness make room for gratitude to grow. Through personal stories from motherhood, ministry, and her own healing journey, she invites listeners to rediscover what Psalm 23 really means when it says, “He makes me lie down.”

This episode is part of the Hermana Blog series on Gratitude & Rhythms of Rest. You can read the full post, “The Slow to Notice Kind of Gratitude — Thankfulness That Needs Space,” at www.kriverathompson.com.

✨ Want more weekly encouragement like this?

Subscribe to Kaley’s Newsletter for new blog posts, podcast episodes, and quiet reflections delivered straight to your inbox.

There’s a kind of gratitude you don’t post about — the kind that grows quietly in laundry rooms, carpool lines, and slow seasons when no one’s watching. 🌿

In this week’s episode, “The Quiet Kind of Gratitude,” we talk about what it means to build a thankful heart in private before it ever becomes public. Inspired by Matthew 6:4 — “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you” — this conversation invites you to slow down, notice the small mercies, and thank God for the quiet work He’s doing behind the scenes.

Read the full reflection on The Hermana Blog at kriverathompson.com 💻

And if you haven’t yet — sign up for my monthly newsletter while you’re there to receive encouragement, behind-the-scenes updates, and faith-filled resources straight to your inbox.

🎧 Tune in now and let’s practice the kind of gratitude that doesn’t need an audience.

#MiracleInTheMessPodcast #HermanaBlog #FaithInTheEveryday #QuietGratitude #WomenOfFaith #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianPodcast

This week on the Miracle in the Mess Podcast, we’re pulling up a chair and having the kind of honest, heart-level conversations that lead to real healing.

In this episode, Kaley shares her personal journey with mental health, faith, forgiveness, and what it really means to become whole in Christ—even when the process feels slow or incomplete. From learning to rest instead of push through, to recognizing God’s presence in pain, this episode invites you to pause and ask deeper questions—of yourself, of others, and of God.

💛 Read the full version of this conversation on the Hermana Blog at www.kriverathompson.com.

Pull up a chair. Pour the coffee. Let’s talk about the healing that happens when we finally get honest—At the Table.

Do you love people but still find yourself craving quiet after hosting? You’re not alone.

In this episode of the Miracle in the Mess Podcast, Kaley opens up about discovering her own introverted heart — and how she’s learned to practice hospitality in gentle, sustainable ways. From setting clear boundaries to finding small pockets of rest in the middle of the chaos, this episode is full of encouragement for anyone who wants to love others well without burning out.

You’ll hear real stories, biblical reflections, and practical rhythms that make hospitality both holy and human. Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner or just trying to be present for your people, this conversation will remind you: hospitality doesn’t have to be loud to be sacred.

✨ Listen in and learn how to love people — and yourself — better.

There’s something sacred about the kitchen table.

It’s where coffee is poured, crumbs are scattered, laughter fills the air — and faith quietly takes root. ☕️🍽️

This week on Miracle in the Mess, I’m sharing how our family has learned (and is still learning!) to disciple our kids in the middle of real life — between dinner dishes and dance parties. From our “Brownies and Frownies” routine to a simple prayer wall by the garage door, it’s all about weaving faith into the ordinary.

You don’t have to be perfect to train up your children in the way they should go — you just have to be present. 💛

✨ Read the full story on the Hermana Blog at kriverathompson.com.

📬 And don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter — I’d love to stay connected with you there.

#MiracleInTheMessPodcast

In a world that often pushes us toward isolation and perfection, the simple act of sharing a meal can remind us of what really matters—community. In this episode, I share the story of our family’s tradition of a “Rehearsal Dinner” potluck and how it’s become a space where everyone brings what they have, and together it always turns into more than enough.

We’ll look at the example of the early church in Acts 2:46–47, explore practical tips for hosting a potluck without stress, and talk about why participation matters more than perfection.

✨ Want to read more? Visit the full post on the Hermana Blog: www.kriverathompson.com

👉 Plus, grab your free potluck sign-up sheet here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GPxGTJhfXlrvWfiElEUt5Cf0j_-e3tJpzL5kxK2v8ug/edit?usp=drivesdk

In a time when division fills our news feeds and even our family group texts, what if unity doesn’t start in Washington but around our kitchen tables? In this episode of the Miracle in the Mess Podcast, Kaley shares how simple acts of hospitality—like chili and cornbread or taco night—can create space for reconciliation, empathy, and hope.

Drawing from Romans 12:13 and the example of Jesus, this conversation invites you to slow down, put away the screens, and make room at your table for connection. You’ll also hear three easy meal ideas to help you start practicing hospitality right where you are.

✨ Read the companion blog at www.kriverathompson.com for a One-Minute Reflection Guide and practical next steps.

Because sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is open our door and pull up another chair.