Raised Catholic

Today we're talking about what to do in our faith lives when our real lives get hard.  No answers or solutions here, but a few truths I've learned in my own deep water experiences. If you're in one right now, please know YOU ARE LOVED.

I hope these are helpful, friend.

1. The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis

2. Everything Happens for a Reason (and Other Lies I've Loved), by Kate Bowler

3. Podcast: Everything Happens, by Kate Bowler

4. Podcast: Terrible, Thanks for Asking, by Nora McInerny

5. A Grief Observed, by C.S. Lewis

6. When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner

7. Almost Everything (Notes on Hope), by Anne Lamott

8. Lyric video: Rescue, by Lauren Daigle

9. Lyric video: Sigh No More, by Mumford and Sons

10. Trusting Life, with Benedictine Brother David Stendl-Rast (& Oprah)

11. Song: Red Sea Road, by Ellie Holcomb

Today we're considering blooming in the frame of our vocational life and how the search for holy ground often begins right under our feet.

Here are some resources I hope will help you consider your own blooming life:

1. When it comes to our vocations, do we each have a destiny or are we all floating around accidental-like on a breeze? Spiritual teacher Forrest Gump reminds us: maybe it's both. (Each experience brings you to the next as you find and gather the work of your life.)

2. Conversations with God journal prompts:

        What work or activity is life-giving to me these days?

        What are my gifts?

        How might I use my experiences and talents to help someone else on their road?

3. Lyric Video: The Voyage, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

4. Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer

5. She's Still There: Rescuing the Girl In You, by Chrystal Hurst Evans

6. Devotional/Guided Journal: 100 Days to Brave: Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self, by Annie F. Downs

7. Song: This Little Light of Mine, by Sam Cooke

8. Song: Shine a Different Way, by Patty Griffin

9. Song: Stand, by R.E.M.

10: From the episode: My Brother's Keeper, CatholicMom.com, Cursillo at the Holy Cross Retreat House, the very best tomatoes (and other veg)!, my favorite coffee & lunch place

Today we're looking at Lenten disciplines with an eye toward the growth of what we want to see in the end - in ourselves, our families, our church, community, country and world.  And we're giving ourselves space for light and hope in this liturgical season which literally means 'springtime'. 

Here are some resources I hope will make your Lent more encouraging and fruitful:

1. Helpful, grounded (and often funny!) daily Lenten video reflections from author Kate Bowler - you can also find them on Kate's Instagram

2. Be Kind - a helpful Lenten practice video from Fr. James Martin

3. Best Lent Ever - daily videos from Dynamic Catholic

4. Song: Better Days by Ant Clemons, Justin Timberlake and Kirk Franklin

5. Song: Someday Soon, by Wilder Woods

6. Song: O My Soul, by Audrey Assad

7. Podcast: Abiding Together

8. Lenten Practice: Watch this tulip video, then: buy flowers for yourself (yes, for you!), put them in your kitchen, and let them be your teacher: spring is on the way, friend!

9: Instagram Account: Follow my friend The Bluebird of Happiness on Instagram for more hope and light in your feed!

10. My current favorite cover of Here Comes the Sun - search for more, they will make your heart happy! 

11. Lenten Practice: Conversations with God journal, start a new page and at the top write one or more of the following prompts, then just write until your hand is sore or you feel the loving voice of God creeping in and making Himself known to you: 

What habits or practices do I have today that are not serving me? How can I let them go? 

What do I want my life (or my family or community) to look and feel like on Easter weekend? How can I move in that direction now? 

How can I serve other people using my unique gifts? What would be a good first step today?

Today we're talking about what it means for Catholics to discover and cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus.  Here are some resources I hope will help you do just that! Thanks once again to my friend Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the beautiful harp music you'll hear in today's episode.

1. The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey

2. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion, by Sara Miles

3. The Shack, by William P. Young (also, this movie is beautifully done!)

4. Remember God, by Annie F. Downs

5. Podcast: Another Name for Everything, with Fr. Richard Rohr

6. Podcast: The Eternal Current Podcast, with Aaron Niequist

7. Song: What a Friend, by Sara Groves

8. Song: Prince of Peace, by Hillsong

9. Song: Brand New, by Matthew West

10. Lyric Video: Drawn to You, by Audrey Assad

11: Podcast: The Matthew West Podcast specifically his 'Blue Couch Moment' segments where he discusses with his guest their first time encountering Jesus

12. Retreat Experience: Cursillo. So many people experience Jesus for the first time during a weekend retreat called Cursillo.  If you live locally to me, ask me more! Our local retreat house is wonderful, but also, there are programs all around the world - just check with your local parish.  This weekend with Jesus would be a great gift to give yourself once the world opens up again! 

Today I'll tell the story of my loveably anxious pup, Bailey, and the many lessons we can learn from a recent walk she and I took together. 

Here are some resources I hope will help you to view your one beautiful life with the particular frame of a walk with your kind and faithful Companion:

1. Learning to Walk in the Dark, by Barbara Brown Taylor

2. Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard

3. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coehlo

4. The Seven Storey Mountain, by Thomas Merton

5. Podcast: On Being episode with Padraig O Tuama - listen through the end for his beautiful poem, Morning Prayer

6. Podcast: That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs - hear her guest, Kevin Queen's miraculous story of how he was led by God step-by-step to a new vocation

7. Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, by Lauren Daigle

8. Song: You'll Never Walk Alone, by Marcus Mumford

9. Song: Abide With Me, by Audrey Assad

10. Song: When It Don't Come Easy, by Patty Griffin

11. Song: Keep on the Sunny Side, by Elizabeth Mitchell

11. I'm curious if you got this far and also, if you enjoy smiling: Song: Movin' Right Along, from Muppet Movie

In today's episode we're talking about the seemingly opposite practices of being versus doing as it relates to our faith lives.  If you always thought Martha got a raw deal, this might be a great episode for you!  Here are a few ideas to help you find and gain stillness, pondering, and receptivity in your experience of faith. Thanks again to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the lovely harp music you hear in this episode, and thanks to all of you who are sharing, rating, reviewing, and subscribing to this podcast.  I appreciate you! <3

1. Present Over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist

2. Simply Tuesday, by Emily P. Freeman

3. Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer, by Fr. Richard Rohr

4. Headspace - a meditation app you can access on your phone or other device

5. Calm - a meditation app you can access on your phone or other device

6. A Beginner's Guide to Eucharistic Adoration from Busted Halo

7. A lovely ocean meditation on Be Still and Know That I am God, by Ang Jackson

Today we're talking about the relationship Catholics may have traditionally had with the Bible, and the many ways we can engage with it today.  Here are some resources I hope will help!  If you'd like to chat further on this topic, you can find me on Instagram or at my blog. I'd love to hear from you, and thanks again to my talented friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in today's episode. 

1. She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth, websites which offer themed reading plans and engaging online community.

2. Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of letting the Scriptures speak to you in prayer.  Here's a good video primer on Lectio Divina from Fr. James Martin and a great step-by-step outline on how to practice Lectio Divina from Conception Abbey.

3. The Bible In A Year Podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz featuring Jeff Cavins.

4. One Year Bible - lots of versions and translations available, this is just one of them.

5. Sacred Space - an online guided prayer website created by the Irish Jesuits which leads you step by step through a different scripture and reflections each day.

6. The Bible Jesus Read, a guide to understanding some of the Old Testament books and readings, by Phillip Yancey.

7. Beth Moore - Living Proof Ministries - Ms. Moore is a seasoned author and Bible teacher.  Her YouTube channel features her many live teachings on a variety of Scriptures.  (I have been moved to tears more than once watching Beth unlock the Bible and apply it to our everyday lives, and seeing her speak live a couple of years ago was a formative experience for me.)

8. Parish or online Bible study groups - check in with local parishes and churches, plus Catholic and Protestant colleges and universities for in-person or online Bible study group opportunities.  

In today's episode we talk about the need for quiet in developing our relationship with God.  Here are a few resources that might help you do just that.

1. Daily Devotionals, a great way to start the day in quiet: 

Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

Let Your Life Speak, by Parker Palmer

2. Quiet music to help you connect with God.  Choose what speaks to you, but here are a few of my favorites:

Appalachia Waltz, featuring Yo-Yo Ma

Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 2nd movement

Dona Nobis Pacem, featuring Yo-Yo Ma

The Clearing, by Amanda Lindsey Cook

Moving On, by Michael Giacchino

3. Change your scenery.  Sit in a church that's not your own, go for a drive, a walk, or a run.  Light a candle.  Walk a beach or walk in the woods.  Carve out the time to listen for God in the quiet.

4. Conversations with God journal: you might start a new page in your prayer notebook, and at the top, write: "God, what would you have me hear from you today?" Then, take a breath and start writing.  If you would benefit from a more structured journal, I highly recommend Emily P. Freeman's The Next Right Thing journal. 

5. The Examen, a prayer practice that helps you find God in your daily life.  Fr. James Martin has a wonderful podcast which will help orient you for a time of quiet discernment. 

Today we’re continuing the process of rebuilding our faith foundation by tackling the question of whether or when or how to question elements of our faith’s teachings, clergy, what we hear or see in Catholic media, and even God Himself. Is it okay to question? Here are some resources and practices I hope will help as you dig deeper into this topic: 

1. Open up that “Conversations with God” notebook we’ve talked about and write out your questions or concerns about our faith’s teachings, practices, and public personalities. You don’t have to tackle them all in one sitting (or ever) but getting them out there in writing is a good start. 

2. Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans 

3. The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri Nouwen 

4. Miracles and Other Reasonable Things, by Sarah Bessey 

5. Podcast: More Than Small Talk with Holley Gerth, Suzanne Eller, and Jennifer Watson 

6. Podcast: Evolving Faith with Sarah Bessey and Jeff Chu

Today we introduce the impossibly big question of Who God Is. I’m grateful to my friend Peter Vaughan-Vail for providing beautiful music for today and upcoming podcasts, and here are some resources I hope will help you explore today's topic. These are available everywhere including libraries and free streaming sources, but I've included a link from Amazon if that helps you find them. 

The Chronicles of Narnia 7 book set, by C.S. Lewis 

Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis 

House on a Hill, an album by Amanda Lindsey Cook