Quiet on Purpose

This episode is set to release after Christmas, but it is still the fourth week of Advent. We have reached the end of this season of waiting with hopeful anticipation for the birth of Jesus! During this season, we’ve been following along with the themes the church follows throughout the 4 weeks of Advent, preparing our hearts for the climactic celebration of Christmas with the birth of the Messiah!

The theme of the 4th week of Advent is Love, and so we complete our Advent series with the topic of God’s love, which ultimately is the whole point of Christmas! Our scripture today is Exodus 34:5-7: Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord.  And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” This is the word of the Lord. It is absolutely true and given to us in love. Thanks be to God.

Listen in and consider God's incredible love for you!

Questions from today's episode: Do I really believe in the compassionate and gracious love of God? Or do I believe something contradictory to how He has revealed Himself here? Am I ready to let go of the lies I’ve believed and embrace Him as He describes Himself? What is He saying to me today? What do I want to say to Him?

Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

This is the third week of Advent, a season of waiting with hopeful anticipation for the birth of Jesus. During this season, we are following along with the themes the church follows each of the 4 weeks of Advent, preparing our hearts for the climactic celebration of Christmas and the birth of the Messiah!
In most traditions, the theme of the 3rd week is Joy, so this week we are also focusing on joy. Our scripture in today's episode is 1 Chronicles 16:27: Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Listen in, as we contemplate the Joy that accompanies God's "dwelling place"!

Questions from today's episode: Am I a joyful person? If not, have I ever invited God to make his home in me through Jesus? Is this something I want to do today? If I have already invited God to make his home in me, am I also growing in the area of continually “abiding” in him? Making Jesus my “home” as well? Is there an invitation that God is extending to me today? How will I respond?

Did you invite God to dwell in you through Jesus? Click here, then select "Send voice message" and tell me about it! I'd love to connect with you!

Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

The second week of Advent traditionally focuses on the theme of "Peace". So, this week, our episode is taken from a quote of Jesus in the Gospel of John, "Peace I leave with you..." Jesus left his peace with us as a gift! It's ours to have, but we have to learn how to take hold of it! Listen in as we consider what that looks like!

Read John 14:27

Questions from today's episode: What is going on in my heart right now? What anxieties and fears are trying to take hold there? As I sit with Jesus in these next few moments, what invitation is He extending to me personally? And how will I respond?

Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

This is the first week of Advent, and our theme is Hope! In a world where life often fails to meet our expectations, Hope is something we all need, and struggle to take hold of. Listen in today for a little infusion of Hope into your life!

Today's verse: Isaiah 55:8

Another awesome message of Hope

Questions from today's episode: What would it look like for me to embrace “Hope” today? Is there an expectation I need to release my grip on so that I can be open to receive the good gift God is offering me in its place? What is God’s invitation to me today? What is my response?

Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Happy Thanksgiving! It's no secret that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I love to remind myself and you that the practice of gratitude is something that should extend way beyond one day! In preparation for your own celebration, or as a way to wrap it up, listen in to this short, fun episode about "Giving Thanks"!

Read Psalm 107 here!

For consideration, from this episode: “God, show me what I’ve been overlooking. Help me to see new evidence in my own life of your unfailing love and your wonderful deeds to me!” And then, let’s give him thanks for all that he reveals to us!

Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

There are times, circumstances in life, when the road God has put in front of us is painful, difficult, and we can't see how it could possibly be "good" for us! And yet, His word says that He is good and everything He does is good. So how do we reconcile what we're facing with that? Trust is a concept we understand easily, but an exercise we struggle to practice. We need His help. Listen in today as we take time to consider where we might be struggling to trust Him and ask for His help.

Read Psalm 119:68 here

Questions from today's episode: Is there some difficulty, some circumstance I’m facing today that is causing me to question God’s goodness? Is there some story in my life that I can draw on in the midst of this difficulty to remember His goodness in the past? Even if I can’t immediately see it, will I choose to trust Him today?

Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Sometimes what God offers us is incomprehensible. Or so contrary to the way we think that it's just impossible to wrap our heads around! In today's verse, we're being reminded of the fundamental truth that God has removed all our offenses and sins; they've disappeared the way morning fog burns off and the sun shines through! And on top of that, He invites us to return to Him, to enjoy the warmth of His love and the closeness of relationship with Him. What an incredible invitation! Listen in!

Read Isaiah 44:22 on Bible Gateway

Questions from today's episode: Have I been avoiding God in any area of my life, trying to manage my sin on my own? What is He saying to me today? What is my response?

Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

When it comes down to it, do I really trust God? When I desire to maintain control of situations, am I really relying on His wisdom, His ways, and His goodness, or am I relying on my own, finite, flawed understanding, my own limited ability to see into the future? Today's episode provides us with an opportunity to take a minute to consider ways that we're still relying on our own understanding. Listen in!

Read it here!

Questions from today's episode: Are there areas of my life that I am struggling to entrust to God, preferring to try to control them myself? Asking God for “holy imagination”, can I imagine ways in which the “undesirable outcomes” might in fact be God’s gift or protection in my life? Am I ready to surrender to Him?

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Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

The invitation to walk with God is a stunning one! But to truly walk with God also requires the characteristic of humility. In Matthew, Jesus describes himself as humble, which is shocking, really, when you consider that he also claims to be the Son of God! I don't know anyone who is naturally humble. It requires a work of God in our hearts, and a true journey with Him, for us to become humble people. Are you ready to consider responding to that invitation? Today's episode is here to help you take the first, or the next, step! Listen in!

Read it here!

Questions from today's episode: Am I able to see and admit my own pride and conceit? Am I ready to ask God to give me a heart of humility instead? What next step is God inviting me to take on my own journey of humility? How will I respond?

Scripture Journal on Humility

Music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Just like children, insisting that life feel "fair," we often approach God expecting Him to treat us "fairly," whether that means we think things ought to be better for us, or perhaps, we come with our tail between our legs, expecting to be punished. The beautiful truth, of course, is that God isn't always "fair." But He IS just. And He IS merciful. And He invites us into His justice and mercy, both to receive it and to give it away! I hope you'll listen in as we explore in this episode what it might mean for us to "love mercy"!