Shame lies to you about who you are. It is a relentless abuser, telling you you're not fully loved by God. In this imaginative prayer experience from John 21, you'll engage all your senses to meet Jesus and Peter at the beach. As Jesus walks with Peter back to the scene of his betrayal, shame dissolves as love and grace break in. With Peter, you'll experience the healing work of love and the reminder of true self. Replay the podcast and return to this place on the beach with Jesus again and again. The story becomes richer with repetition.

Join the rooted community at susancarson.net. Find Susan's book there. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to speak or teach at your next event, blog or podcast.

Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." St. Ignatius of Loyola agreed, but probably for different reasons. Today's exercise is a Prayer of Examen, one of the pillars of Ignatian spirituality. Examen invites you to intentionally notice the moments when you are living in love and when you are not. (Every day is full of both for me.)

When you take silent time each day to reflect on these moments in the light of God's love, you will grow in both gratitude and repentance. Drink in this exercise today – and go back to it again if you find it helpful. It's a powerful tool to help you live more fully rooted and grounded in God's love. How is God inviting you to turn toward grace today?

Join the rooted community at susancarson.net. Find Susan's book there. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to speak or teach at your next event, blog or podcast.

As you go through life, you are constantly getting messages that more, bigger and faster are better. Perhaps even signs of God's love and approval. Jesus shows us another way. In this episode, Susan leads you in a practice centered on the self-emptying way of Jesus. As you contemplate the cross of Christ and meditate on the words of Philippians 2: 5-11 during this season of Lent, you'll encounter the transforming glory of Jesus. What if the way to freedom isn't more? What if it's less?

Join the rooted community at susancarson.net. Find Susan's book there. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to speak or teach at your next event, blog or podcast.

Life is loud. Chaotic. Stressful. How do we move through the noise to be still and know God? In this extended episode, Susan is joined by Matt Tebbe, a pastor, communicator and co-founder of Gravity Leadership. To normalize the practice of silence, Matt models practical tools you can use to move into and experience quiet. In the stillness of silence, you'll find a new pathway to know God and your true self. Connect with Matt and learn more about Gravity Leadership at gravityleadership.com.

Join the rooted community at susancarson.net. Find Susan's book there. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to speak or teach at your next event, blog or podcast.

Welcome to a new season of the rooted (IN).ten.tionally podcast! For many of you, 2020 was a year of lament. And then, just as you turned the corner to 2021, the violence and chaos in the U.S. Capitol amplified your shock, frustration and sorrow. How do you move through the pain of lament to a deep and lasting hope? I invite you to meditate with me through a scripture from Lamentations 3. Together, we'll embody a prayer that moves us from the honest recognition of pain to an experience of God's great love. As you wait quietly, you'll find your hope renewed.

Join the rooted community and find Susan's book at susancarson.net. Susan is also available to work with you as your personal spiritual coach or you can invite her to serve as a guest teacher for your next event, on your blog or your podcast.

Are you overwhelmed by the distress, disappointments, and divisions of these days? How can the wrongs be set right? How do you even begin to pray? Jesus understands. And he offers you the way and the words. In this episode, you're invited to personalize the Lord's Prayer. As you pray through each phrase of this prayer, you'll enter safe space to express your heart to a good Father who loves you deeply.

Join the rooted community and find Susan's book at susancarson.net. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to contribute to your next event, blog or podcast.

As we face together so much that threatens to divide us, I invite you to pray with Jesus for oneness. It can feel impossible, this ideal of unity. And yet, in this prayer, you will find a promise. Pray this prayer with Jesus and listen for the invitation. As you hold honestly the things that divide, let God reveal to you his heart of love and guidance for this season.

Join the rooted community at susancarson.net. Find Susan's book there. You can also work with Susan as your personal spiritual coach or invite her to speak or teach at your next event, blog or podcast.

As we seek to live rooted and grounded amidst all that's wrong in the world, we inevitably experience a mix of emotions--blessing, sorrow, and more. In today's episode, liturgist and author Aaron Niequist joins me to guide you through a practice that embraces both blessing and sorrow together. As you hold both the good and the bad in your life before God, you will enter the calming peace of God's presence no matter your circumstances.

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Purchase Susan's book rooted(IN).

Work with Susan as a your personal spiritual coach or to contribute to your next event, blog or podcast here.

Your rooted journey today will take you into a new and perhaps unexpected place: Lament. Prayers of lament are common in Scripture, particularly in the Psalms, and are a call for help in the midst of pain. Today I create safe space for you to bring the unedited cry of your heart honestly to God. As you reflect on the pain in your life and in the world– and then move back to a place trust - you will enter into a deeper experience of God's goodness. Join the rooted movement and find Susan's book at susancarson.net. Book Susan to contribute to your event, blog, podcast or retreat through the website or my emailing [email protected].

During your times of reflection on this rooted journey, you may have noticed your human tendency to give soul space to things that crowd out the life of the Spirit. In today's episode, pastor Mandy Smith joins me to guide you in a prayer of emptying and filling. Drawing upon the scriptural metaphor of the clay jar (2 Corinthians 4:7-9), you will identify and release the things you are carrying to open space for the light of God within you.

Join the rooted movement and find Susan's book at susancarson.net. Book Susan to contribute to your event, blog, podcast or retreat through the website or my emailing [email protected].