Rev. Dr. Patrice Gerideau

e108 From the Page: Be Strong in the Lord

About five years ago, I found myself lying on the floor, unable to stand because the room was spinning. I remember thinking about my to-do list and the people who were depending on me. Yet, no amount of determination could get me off that floor.

That experience forced me to confront something I had spent years avoiding: my own strength has limits.

In this final episode of From the Page, I'm sharing a reflection on Ephesians 6:10 and what it means to be strong in the Lord rather than constantly relying upon ourselves.

Paul reminds us that our strength comes from God. We are not called to manufacture endless strength through determination or willpower. We are invited to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit.

I'm still learning what it means to live with that kind of dependence upon God. But one thing is becoming clearer: God never asked me to be my own source of strength.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–18

Reflection Question: Where have you been performing strength that God wants to give you?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Lord, You are my strength.

Exhale: I rest in Your power.

A reminder for the week:

Your strength has limits, but God's strength does not. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e107 From the Page: Walking by Faith

Over the years, I've watched people I love face serious health challenges. I've witnessed recoveries that felt nothing short of miraculous, but I've also experienced the worry and uncertainty that come with not knowing what will happen next.

One of the things that continues to amaze me is how the very people I'm worried about often demonstrate a level of faith and peace that I'm still learning to embrace.

In this episode of From the Page, I'm reflecting on those experiences and what they are teaching me about walking by faith and not by sight.

I'm learning that trusting God doesn't mean we'll always receive the answers or outcomes we're hoping for. Sometimes faith means surrendering what we cannot control and trusting that God is present, even when we cannot see the way forward.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6–7; Hebrews 11:1

Reflection Question: Where in your life is God drawing you to walk by faith and not by sight?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Lord, I trust You.

Exhale: Lead me by faith.

A reminder for the week:

You do not have to see the whole path to take the next step. Walk by faith, knowing that God is faithful.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e106 From the Page: Don’t Forget Your Pearls

In this episode of From the Page, I’m remembering my grandaunt, Lunetha “Helen” Gary, whom I knew as Aunt Helen and later came to call Auntie. She was one of three women who helped raise me, and she left me with memories, wisdom, and a few lessons I didn’t fully understand until I was older.

From her piercing “Jerido eyes” and her reputation as a Fussbox to her unforgettable banana pudding, Auntie had a way of making her presence known. One of the lessons she passed down was simple: “Don’t forget your pearls.” It was her way of reminding me to carry myself with dignity.

But this story is about more than the wisdom she shared. It’s also about how our relationship changed over time. Through conversations about childhood hurts and misunderstandings, we came to know one another differently. In our later years, I discovered a softer, more tender relationship with a woman who had helped shape me.

Join me as I reflect on the lessons we inherit, the people we come to understand differently with time, and the memories that remain long after they’re gone.

Reflection Question: As you think about the people who have helped shape your life, is there someone you have come to understand differently with time? What has changed in the way you see them?

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e105 From the Page: Let God Be the Shepherd

Episode Summary

This month, I’m sharing from some of the things I’ve been writing lately. In this episode, I’m sitting with Psalm 23 and the reminder that if the Lord is our Shepherd, then we are not.

For those of us who are accustomed to working, helping, solving problems, and carrying responsibility, that can be difficult to receive. Psalm 23 invites us to trust the Shepherd enough to rest, follow where God leads, and receive the restoration we need.

Scripture

Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: The Lord is my Shepherd.

Exhale: I do not have to carry it all.

SoulWork Invitation

What have I been carrying that belongs to the Shepherd?

Closing Blessing

May the Good Shepherd quiet the voice that tells you everything depends upon you. May God lead you toward still waters. May Christ free you from burdens you were never meant to carry. May the Spirit restore the tired and depleted places within you. May you have the courage to rest, the grace to follow, and the humility to receive. The Lord is your Shepherd. You do not have to carry it all. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e104: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Self-Control

Episode Summary

Creative discipline creates room for faithful writing. In this final episode, we reflect on protecting our attention, honoring our commitments, and stewarding the gifts God has entrusted to us.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

What practice would help your writing flourish?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God, strengthen my discipline.

Exhale: Help me create faithfully.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God strengthen your discipline and focus. May Christ free you from what keeps you from creating. May the Spirit guide your habits and commitments. May you find freedom through faithful practice. May your writing flourish through intentional care. May you become the writer God is forming you to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Closing Reflection

The fruit of the Spirit is not simply a list of qualities to achieve. It is evidence of a life being cultivated by God.

As writers of faith, we are invited to consider not only the stories we create but the person becoming capable of carrying those stories. Love teaches us to see. Joy teaches us to receive. Peace teaches us to listen. Patience teaches us to wait. Kindness teaches us to care. Goodness teaches us to offer. Faithfulness teaches us to remain. Gentleness teaches us to surrender. Self-control teaches us to steward. Before we write words, God is writing within us. May the Spirit continue cultivating the soul behind the story. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e103: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Gentleness

Episode Summary

Gentleness teaches us to carry our gifts with humility and grace. Together, we'll explore how a teachable spirit shapes both the writer and the writing.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

Where is God inviting greater humility in your writing?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Christ, make me gentle.

Exhale: Teach me humility.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God hold your gifts with tenderness. May Christ guide you in humility and confidence. May the Spirit soften your heart toward others. May you receive correction as an invitation to grow. May your creativity remain rooted in grace. May gentleness shape both your words and your witness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e102: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Faithfulness

Episode Summary

Faithfulness is the quiet discipline of returning to the work, even when no one is watching. In this episode, we reflect on remaining committed to the calling to write.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

What writing commitment are you being invited to keep?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God, strengthen my faithfulness.

Exhale: Help me remain with the work.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God sustain you in your calling. May Christ remind you that hidden work still matters. May the Spirit strengthen your commitment and courage. May you continue creating with faith and trust. May your perseverance become part of your testimony. May faithfulness shape the writer you are becoming. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e101: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Goodness

Episode Summary

What are we offering the world through our writing? This episode reflects on goodness as an invitation to create words that are shaped by truth, beauty, and love.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

What truth are you called to share?

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God, form goodness within me.

Exhale: May my words give life.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God guide your creative offerings. May Christ shape your words with goodness. May the Spirit give you discernment and courage. May your writing serve what is true and beautiful. May your stories bring encouragement and hope. May goodness flow through the work of your hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e100: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Kindness

Episode Summary

Words have the power to heal, encourage, and welcome. This episode explores how kindness shapes the way we tell stories and steward the gift of language.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

Write about words that gave you life.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God, cultivate kindness in me.

Exhale: Let my words bring life.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God guide your words with kindness. May Christ teach you to hold stories with care. May the Spirit give you wisdom in what you share. May your writing create spaces of healing and truth. May your voice become a gift to others. May kindness shape every story you tell. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e99: The Fruitful Writer: Cultivating Patience

Episode Summary

Writing and spiritual formation both require patience. Together, we'll consider how honoring the slow work of becoming shapes both our stories and our souls.

Scripture

Galatians 5:22–23 (NRSVUE)

Writing Invitation

Write about something beautiful that required waiting.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God, teach me patience.

Exhale: Help me trust the process.

Closing Reflection

Before we write words, God is writing within us.

Closing Blessing

May God give you patience for the journey. May Christ remind you that growth takes time. May the Spirit strengthen you in seasons of waiting. May you embrace the becoming behind the writing. May unfinished work become a place of formation. May patience deepen both your craft and your soul. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.