If you feel like you’re in survival mode and white knuckling your way through life, then this episode and this book are for you. It was a joy to have Sarah Pascual on the podcast today to talk with me about a book that we both recently read called, Try Softer, by Aundi Kolber, MA, LPC.

On a previous episode, Sarah and I discussed the book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest, and we had so much fun, I invited her back to discuss another book. Sarah is in the process of becoming a spiritual director, and also works on staff at Resonate Church in Atlanta. So, as we discuss Try Softer, she gives her perspective from a spiritual standpoint, and I give mine from a therapeutic background.

Spoiler: we both highly recommend this book! It is a gentle companion to anyone’s healing journey.

If you enjoy hearing from Sarah, you may want to check out an interview I had with her about soul-care and missional living on a previous episode. She is a gem!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Today, we’re continuing our series of being in process by exploring the five grief stages. Loss is a normal part of the human journey, and it’s helpful and empowering to understand the ways in which we may experience it. Although when we think about grief, often sadness is what comes to mind, there is actually so much more to the grief process.

I hope that as you listen, you’ll take time to reflect and notice when you’ve experienced each of the stages described. It may also help you better understand and have empathy for those in your life who are grieving.

We’ll start our episode with a grounding exercise and end with a benediction.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

This week we’re talking about a subject that is an integral part of the human condition, grief. It’s a pretty important topic to start with, when it comes to being a human in process, because to be human, means to face loss: loss of dreams, expectations, people, and relationships.

Although this episode is definitely not exhaustive when it comes to tackling such a nuanced and complicated subject, I hope it does serve as a gentle starting place for us to begin noticing and attending to the places in our own lives that we need to lament.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

In this short reflection episode, we’re diving into the theme of Season 7: being a human who is in process. You’ll hear how I arrived at this theme and some of the things that you can expect throughout the coming months on the podcast.

We’ll begin our time together with a slow-down exercise and end our time together with some Scripture reading and a benediction. I hope you’ll come away from this episode encouraged and excited about exploring this theme further with me this season!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Welcome to Season 7 of the PRN Podcast! I’m so excited to kick of this new season with a fantastic guest, Sarah Westfall. Sarah recently wrote a book called, The Way of Belonging: Reimagining Who We Are and How We Relate. I loved getting to dive into deep conversation with her about such an important topic.

This season on the podcast, our theme is “in process.” We, as humans, are all in process, most of us finding ourselves in the messy middle, navigating our way. Belonging and community is an important aspect of the human experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore with Sarah how the “welcome of God,” changes our understanding of belonging.

If you enjoy this conversation, and would like to hear more from Sarah, you can visit her website: sarahewestfall.com. There you can find information about her podcast, book, and more!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Do you need a gentle invitation to exhale? If so, then this conversation is really going to minister to you. This is the last episode of Season 6, and I am so happy that we could end the season with this conversation about slow-living. My guest today is author and podcaster, Jodi Grubbs. She and I have been friends online for a few years, and it was such a joy to get to talk with her! I think you’re really going to enjoy this conversation as well.

Jodi recently published her first book: Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale. In today’s episode, we talk about parts of Jodi’s story that helped her to learn to live at a slower pace. We also talk about her formative years of island living, about themes of soul-care, about being an HSP (highly sensitive person), and more!

If you enjoy this conversation, I encourage you to check out Jodi’s book and podcast. You can find both at her website: jodigrubbs.com.

Well friends, I’ll be taking off the month of July, but you can look forward to Season 7 coming in August!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

As we wrap up Season 6 about telling our stories, I want to leave you with some practical places to begin your own story work. In this reflection episode, I’m laying out four integral parts of story work: reflection, writing, telling, and listening. I hope you’ll come away from this episode with good ideas, practical tips, and inspiration to begin your own journey of storytelling.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Join me for this 12 minute Scripture meditation episode as we reflect on the imagery of Christ as our Good Shepherd. We’ll be spending time in both Psalm 23 as well as in John 10 if you’d like to read along.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hike the Appalachian Trail? It sounds epic, right? Well, today’s guest, Julie Long, is here to talk about her family’s Appalachian Trail adventure. Her husband and son are currently hiking it, and are nearing the end. She talks about what their experience has been like, as well as what it has been like for her to support them on their journey.

In this episode, Julie shares fun facts about the AT, things that her family is learning, challenges that they are overcoming, as well as ways that they are growing through this experience.

Julie is an old friend of the podcast! She was on a few years ago to talk about foster care. You can find that episode here: The Fostering Journey.

If you’d like to follow along with Jeff and Gavin’s adventure, I encourage you to check out their YouTube channel: Step Into Hiking. You can also find Julie’s store and blog on her website: Misty Creek Acres.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

In today’s reflection episode, I’m exploring an existential spiritual question: Are we supposed to bear fruit in every season? This question relates to both soul care and our stories, because the truth is, we all experience different and unique seasons of life.

Join me for 11 minutes as we do a slow-down and centering exercise and then reflect together. I’ll be sharing some of what the Lord is showing me about resting this year. I am also releasing this episode in blog form, so if you’d like to read along or go reflect by reading later, you can access the transcript here: In Season and Out of Season.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus!