I had a fun conversation with Claire McGarry, the author of Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary, published by Our Sunday Visitor. Her website is Shifting my Perspective and you can find links to her books and recent writing there.

Instagram                                                                                                                                                   Facebook Author Page

In her repeated readings of the story from Luke 10, Claire senses her own frustration with Martha and Mary, not understanding why she is in tension over someone else’s story. In prayer, God reveals to her a process to learn how to face the tension in our lives and use it to help us uncover what is going on within ourselves.

By using GIFT, we can have a choice in how we react to the tension around and in our life.

Claire invites you to try her G-I-F-T acronym in the midst of your stress and tension, it would naturally lead you to God and a life that is not lukewarm.

The post Grace in Tension: Discover Peace with Martha and Mary appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

I’m back home after two weeks away to finish my spiritual direction certificate. I graduated on January 30, 2022, and received my Spiritual Direction Certificate from the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction in association with the Franciscan University of Steubenville. It was a grace-filled time with lots to unpack and think about.

We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son. (St. John Paul II)

Kept coming up again and again. I tucked it away to think about later and now it’s later. so a few thoughts.

This quote is from Pope John Paul II’s homily at World Youth Day in Toronto, Canada in 2002. I read the homily here, it’s not very long. I also was struck by these words:

Jesus offers one thing, and the “spirit of the world” offers another.

The “spirit of the world” offers many false illusions and parodies of happiness.

The Lord is calling you to choose between these two voices competing for your souls.

All of this is very Ignatian, choosing between two worlds, one which wants your good the other, not really interested in you at all. I’ve been struck this week with feelings of total inadequacy, which I know is the world playing with my mind after being immersed in the Father’s love for weeks, attacks come. To sway us, to confuse us, to pull us away from the truth.

First, pray with scripture so you can hear God speak to you. Then, I offer this not lukewarm challenge: make a list of all that God has done for you that reminds you of his great love for you.

3 reasons to read The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila

You will grow in your spiritual life

It was written during a time of upheaval in the Church

St. Teresa gives practical ways to incorporate prayer in your daily life

We will begin on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 pm (EST) via Zoom. The cost is $8 for non-members (register here); LiveNotLukewarm members no need to register, but please email me that you will attend.

The post The Father’s Love appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

That phrase could be the answer to “how to strike fear in the heart of my husband?” But it isn’t. Honest. Dating your spouse and keeping your marriage at the forefront of your life can be difficult. What you might need is to take a look at this book from Dana Nygaard for 365 sets of questions to ask on a date.

At times, it is hard to think of what to talk about besides the necessary or tedious or mundane. Dana had put together questions that vary from fun to serious to silly that you can ask each other on your date. And “date” is loosely defined here. It can be a walk, a drive, dinner, or quiet time at home when the rest of the house is sleeping.

Each date has 3 questions: Ready, a warm-up; Set – while you are on your date, deep but can still be talked about in public and then Go – this is the time for privacy as you go into the topic more deeply. Prayer is also included, to be used individually and together.

Any couple who wants to know and learn more about each other.  You can purchase the book on Dana’s website, follow her on Facebook and Instagram too!

Dana has a great challenge for us this week. She says, “protect your marriage by intentionally pursuing your spouse on date nights.”

Stay in the Not Lukewarm loop by signing up for our newsletter.

The post 365 Dates to Renew your Christian Marriage appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

To me, it means being all in, first with my spiritual life so then, the rest of life will follow. Life will never be perfect, but when grounded in faith, especially prayer and scripture, we all stand a better chance of dealing with life.

“but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:6″The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” Luke 16:19

“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not incur condemnation.” James 5:12

As boring as it may sound, a plan helps. Commit to specific times to do certain things. And once you have made the commitment, stick with it. Don’t allow laziness or inertia to stop you. You have God on your side!

Make a plan for your spiritual life. Contact me if you’d like to discuss some ideas or have a conversation.

And don’t forget, sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date with Live NotLukewarm!.

The post All in with your spiritual life appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

New Year’s resolutions, goals, plans — good, especially if they work for you. What’s not good is coming away with the thought that you have to change because you are not enough or not quite up to the world’s standards. We are bombarded with messages of do it this way, be better, stronger, eat this, drink caffeine, don’t drink caffeine.  Every day it seems, what is the best way changes.

He does not change. And His word stays and is true. In Jeremiah 1:4-10, God speaks to Jeremiah and class him to be an oracle, a prophet. His prophet. God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…I dedicated you, a prophet…I appointed you.”

God does the same for each of us.

It can be easy to forget that our worth lies with Him who made us. God is calling us

Hold on to the truth that you are valuable to God because he created you!

Pray this week with Jeremiah 1:4-10. Ask God to reveal to you your value from His eyes.

And don’t forget, sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date with Live NotLukewarm!.

The post You are valuable appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Each year we have the opportunity to begin something new. And while many people take stock of their life in the new year, it can be done at any time. This episode is a fun one as my husband joins me in a conversation about our word for the year and goals.

There are different sites where you can randomly pick a word for the year. This one does not require any login or email from you, so give it a try. Or, as you make your goals for the year and pray, a word may come to you. That is usually my method, though I use the website one for fun! Our word for this year is “Prioritize.”

We both want to read the Bible in a year. Deacon John will also read 15 minutes a day and I want to read 1 business book a month.

A goal that has been in the works since 2020 for me is to complete my spiritual direction training. God willing, that will be done by the end of January! Writing another book is on my list again. A new one is to have a reactive day once a month where I can spend time sewing, crafting or some other creative work.

Why not come with a word for yourself and/or set some goals for 2022? I’d love to hear your words and why/how you’ll apply it in your life.

And don’t forget, sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date with Live NotLukewarm!.

The post Prioritize, 2022 appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

“Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give” (Mark 10:8b).

Gratitude. Humility. Thankful. Sacrifice. Share.  These are all words that come to my mind as I read those verses, Mark 10:6-8. And I ponder what I have received without cost. And then it hits me, everything I have I have received without cost. How can I say that? On the surface it does not seem to make sense. I, like most people, regularly trade my time and talents for money; it is called work, career, or ministry. Our talents and time though, are gifts that we received from God Most High.

We can choose to put those at His service and for the good of others. I often find myself at odds with the second part of the verse, “without cost you are to give.” In fact, I can spend lots of time thinking about how much it costs me to give. How much does it cost me to give love, care, concern, kindness, mercy? It costs as much as I want to believe it costs. When I remember that all I have received has been without cost then I can give without counting the cost. But when I start to tally up when I have given and what I want in return, I am not the person God created me to be or the person I want to be. Does that ever happen to you?

Make a list of all that you have received from God! It can include intangibles like faith and hope, people you love, your talents, material goods, where you live. Try not to judge your list. Then, each day, pray for a few people from your list, ask God to help you grow in talent or use material things for His glory.

It is not easy to give without cost but that is what we are asked to do. The Incarnation is the beginning of Jesus giving to us. By virtue of that gift, we receive salvation. My prayer is for us to embrace the gift of salvation that we have received and share it with others by the way we live our lives without counting the cost.

The post What does it cost? appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

“Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

And at that moment the Incarnation began. Mary did not hesitate.

In The Reed of God, Caryll Houselander describes that trust of Mary’s yes.

We too can have that trust which will free us of so many worldly concerns and distractions.

To stop hesitating. I find myself questioning, wondering, are you sure God, do you really mean me, Lord?  I don’t want to change my plans or look foolish. Does my to-do list control my day or does God? When God asks, when I make a promise – I want to follow through, all the time. I want to stop hesitating.

This week, when you feel the prompting of God, do it. Don’t hesitate. And if you have made a decision to do something specific every day, do it. Don’t put it off. Honor your promise, made to yourself or others or  God.

The post Say Yes, Don’t Hesitate with God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

“Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.” 

It’s so easy when we are feeling all of our weaknesses that we dwell there and go down a rabbit hole of all the things we don’t have. Catherine suggests we drive out darkness and spread light. To me, it means shifting our focus from self to others. Spread the light of Jesus that is within you by virtue of your baptism.

Turn to Jesus when you need to be brave. He wants to help us.

This week, consider spreading light. Each day, do some small task that will help someone else. Be an inspiration with a kind word, a song, an action that you can share with another person.

Sign up to join our Advent Book club. Or join the Live NotLukewarm email list for a new prayer series on praying with scripture.

The post Be Brave, Spread Light appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

This post and podcast was done in collaboration with my husband, Deacon John; hope you enjoy it.

God the Father in heaven sent His Son to us here on earth as a manifestation of His merciful love for us. By the Holy Spirit, Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary. He left actual footprints where He walked here on earth because he was a physical being.

God the Father, on the other hand, is our spiritual Father in heaven and does not make footprints. Or does He?

An online dictionary has a few definitions of footprint, one of which is: “a unique set of characteristics, actions, etc. that leave a trace and serve as a means of identification.” So this made me think that WE are God’s footprint. All of us. In everything we do or say we leave a trace. And this trace is visible and seen by those we meet in our everyday life. People are watching. People are listening. And I don’t mean in a spy sort of way. But people just can’t help seeing and hearing others as they act and talk.

And since people do watch and listen we must be great examples of Christians living the Christian way of life. That is why we are here. We are made in the image and likeness of God and we need to be shining examples of that to everyone. My favorite gospel verse is the quote in John 2:5. The Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus along with many others are at the wedding feast in Cana. Mary notices the wine is running out and suggests Jesus can help. She tells the servers to “do whatever he tells you.” This is great advice to us as to how to live our lives. Do whatever Jesus tells us to do. And Jesus speaks to us the Gospels. He is the greatest example as to how to live for the glory of God.

We do well to live our life as an example to others as Jesus Christ is an example to us. And that will be our challenge this week!

The post Does God have footprints? appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.