Love this AI description, so I'm using it!  I've edited a bit, but enjoy it's take on this fourth and final episode of Season 4 of Welcoming God.

Some moments are revelatory. Walking into church decked in Christmas lights, I felt overcome with joy—and then a sudden inner tension, the old fear that joy requires certainty, rose up immediately after. That crack revealed a tender truth: many of us were taught that belonging depends on perfect belief, and our bodies still brace at the holidays as if doubt disqualifies us from the feast!

We walk through that tension with care as I trace the child part that heard faith as force-fed and the present day adult me who still longs to belong choose to reframe celebration as an act of welcome rather than a test. We widen the lens to include the nativity story, the cultural warmth of Christmas, and the cosmic rhythm of the winter solstice—the return of the light that gives everyone a way in. Instead of passing a theology exam, we practice curiosity: let the manger be beautiful even if you’re unsure of every detail, let candles and cookies sit beside carols and quiet prayers, and let nature’s turning seasons preach their own kind of gospel.

At the heart of this finale is a simple claim: inclusion is not a loophole, it’s the point. Drawing on Jesus’s open table, I invite you to show up as you are—full believer, partial believer, curious skeptic, or somewhere unnamed—and to welcome every part of yourself to the celebration. We explore practical steps for sensing the body’s “brake pedal,” making room for mixed feelings, and receiving the season’s gifts without pretending. The blessing stretches across hemispheres and traditions: may the growing light carry us into a year with more joy, less suffering, and a deeper sense of home.

If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs permission to belong before they believe. 

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, download the ebook companion to season one, and connect with Sarah directly through the contact form at the bottom of the web page.  

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

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This Christmas season, I was struck with a new awareness: that I could celebrate and honor the traditions of Christianity, Celtic celebrations and the natural rhythms of the seasons and solstice.  

What a revelation: to be able to celebrate and honor various traditions in the returning of the light, both the physical, natural light of the sun and days getting longer.  And, the celebration of the Christ Light that was emulated through Jesus.  

What do you think?  How do you celebrate this time of year?  What's special and sacred about it all for you?

Thank you for listening and please share this podcast with a friend!

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, download the ebook companion to season one, and connect with Sarah directly through the contact form at the bottom of the web page.  

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

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What do we do when God's call for us is to "wait."  How do we listen?  And, why?  What's truly important about heeding God's call?

In this episode of Welcoming God, I talk about this and share a funny story about ice cream that led to an important realization about accepting when "not much is going on" in my life as a source of peace instead of boredom and an attempt to escape from loneliness.  

Thank you for listening and please share this podcast with a friend!

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, download the ebook companion to season one, and connect with Sarah directly through the contact form at the bottom of the web page.  

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

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New Years rituals and reviewing our previous year can be game changers!  

In this episode, I share the importance of integrating past experiences and celebrating accomplishments, large and small, through a year in review practice. And, how one word can help guide us into co-creating a more intentional new year!

A "year in review" and new years intention setting ritual can be as simple or elaborate as you desire.  How will these two things support you to live a more God-led and God-centered life into the New Year?

Thank you for listening and please share this podcast with a friend!

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, download the ebook companion to season one, and connect with Sarah directly through the contact form at the bottom of the web page.  

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

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A flat tire becomes a gateway to a beautiful, miraculous moment when a group of strangers enthusiastically changes Sarah's tire without being asked. The experience sparks a beautiful exchange of kindness that continues when Sarah promises to bake them a cake as a thank you and then actually feels God's guidance to follow through and do it! Their mutual astonishment at each other's generosity creates a profound moment of human connection that transcends the ordinary!

This unexpected roadside encounter opens up deeper reflections on how God's love manifests through human kindness and the importance of discerning divine guidance in our daily lives. Sarah explores the nuanced difference between following social expectations to "be nice" versus responding to specific spiritual promptings. Through this simple yet profound exchange, she discovers that "we are God's Love in action!" – that divine intervention often wears human faces.

The story challenges listeners to slow down their awareness, notice what lies beneath surface reactions, and cultivate deeper discernment about when and how to respond to the presenting needs around them. Sarah shares how practices like centering prayer, meditation, and various forms of divine contemplation create internal space to hear God's guidance more clearly. The flat tire incident becomes a parable about the unexpected ways divine orchestration weaves through ordinary moments, revealing that "not everything is as it seems." When we remain open to these sacred surprises, we participate in creating ripples of goodness that extend far beyond what we initially perceive.

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, download the ebook companion to season one, and connect with Sarah directly through the contact form. How might you recognize the divine guidance flowing through your everyday encounters today?

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

Thomas Hubl's Mystic Cafe

Feminine Power is a course I took many years ago and had a different set of teachers then.  But, this link goes to one of the main teachers info about the current version of this course, which I know nothing about!  

Lee Carroll's Kryon Parable, The Journey Home: Michael Thomas and the Seven Angels

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Have you ever wondered if spiritual connection could be simpler than we make it? What if the most profound practice required nothing more than your willingness to be present?

Sitting With God is a simple practice that offers restoration and joy without elaborate steps or rigid structures. Unlike many spiritual disciplines that demand specific techniques, this approach simply invites you to pause and acknowledge the divine presence that's already here, right here in this moment with you. Whether for a moment between meetings or during a quiet afternoon, this practice creates space for genuine connection with what I call "The One True Source."

I began this practice years ago when a spiritual coach encouraged me to spend daily time with God. Those late afternoon sessions felt like a simple gift to give myself after the workday – restorative moments of pure presence filled with joy. Now, after a year of practicing centering prayer, I've returned to Sitting With God for its beautiful simplicity and profound nourishment.

The practice is remarkably accessible: just stop whatever you're doing and give yourself the grace of time to be with God. There are no rules. Sometimes I even doze off, but mostly I remain in a relaxed state, simply enjoying divine presence. Before automatically reaching for the TV remote or comfort food at day's end, consider whether something deeper is calling you to this sacred pause instead.

Ready for a gentle challenge? Try Sitting With God daily for the next seven days, even if just for a moment. How will you remind yourself? Perhaps set an alarm, leave notes where you'll see them, or establish a specific time for this divine appointment. However you approach it, I'd love to hear how this practice unfolds for you.

Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free ebook that accompanies the first season of this podcast. Have questions? Reach out through the Get In Touch section on the website. Your journey of simply sitting with God might be the spiritual practice you've been seeking all along.

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

Go to WelcomingGod.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and receive updates about all things Welcoming God.  

Gerald G. May MD, The Awakened Heart: Living Beyond Addiction.

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Have you ever noticed something that instantly captures your attention—a phrase in a book, a striking image, an unexpected sound, or a moment in nature that makes you pause? That "shimmering" sensation might be more than coincidence; it could be an invitation to a deeper spiritual experience.

Drawing inspiration from Christine Valters Painter's book "Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art," I share a transformative practice that expands the ancient tradition of sacred reading into our multisensory daily lives. Lectio Divina traditionally involves allowing a word or phrase from sacred text to stand out—to "shimmer"—and become a focal point for meditation. But this approach extends beautifully beyond reading to visual experiences (Visio Divina), sounds (Audio Divina), and encounters with nature.

What makes this practice revolutionary is its embrace of both the beautiful and the challenging. That loud motorcycle disrupting your peace? The traffic jam making you late? These frustrations can become unexpected gateways to spiritual insight when approached with curiosity rather than resistance. I share my own experience with neighborhood noise disturbances and how viewing them through this contemplative lens offers new possibilities for processing difficult or annoying experiences and emotions.

The beauty of this practice lies in its simplicity and accessibility. You don't need special training, equipment, or even much time—just one to five minutes daily of noticing what shimmers at you and asking, "What is here for me?" This can happen during your commute, while washing dishes, or walking through your neighborhood. Sacred texts can come from any tradition that speaks to you, or even from poetry that feels meaningful.

Try this simple practice for the next seven days: Notice what shimmers at you daily—whether it feels good or not—and spend a few moments in contemplation with it. I'd love to hear how it goes! 

Contact me through WelcomingGod.com, where you can also sign up for our newsletter to receive a free companion ebook to the first season of this podcast.

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

Go to WelcomingGod.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and receive updates about all things Welcoming God.  

Lectio Divina -The Sacred Art by Christine Valters Paintner

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Have you ever found yourself shocked by the beliefs of people who follow the same faith as you? That jarring moment when you realize someone reading the same Bible has arrived at conclusions that seem completely foreign—or even extreme—to you?

I recently experienced what I can only describe as a "veil-lifting moment" after attending a Bible study where I encountered perspectives that felt extreme compared to my understanding of Christianity. This led me down a rabbit hole of research where I discovered an even wider spectrum of interpretations than I could have imagined. The experience left me questioning not just others' beliefs, but my own approach to sharing my spiritual journey.

What struck me most was how we all engage in the same behavior—trying to convince others our interpretation is correct while dismissing views that don't align with ours. Yet Jesus's central message couldn't be clearer: love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. He even said people would recognize his followers by their love for one another. So why do we spend so much energy arguing and judging instead of understanding and loving?

This episode invites us to create space between receiving information that doesn't resonate and immediately reacting to it. I share my personal struggle with this challenge and invite you to consider how you might approach differences with curiosity rather than defensiveness. What might happen if, instead of jumping to correct others, we paused to invite divine guidance into our conversations?

Whether you identify as a Christian or follow another spiritual path, the question remains the same: How do we honor our own truth while making room for others to honor theirs? And, more importantly, how do we allow others viewpoints, those that resonate and those that don't, to continue to grow, heal, expand and mature on our own spiritual journey?

Join me as we explore these important inquiries together, seeking not to win arguments but to embody the love at the heart of Jesus's teachings. Subscribe to receive the free Welcoming God ebook at WelcomingGod.com and continue this journey of spiritual discovery together.

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

Go to WelcomingGod.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and receive updates about all things Welcoming God.  

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Join me for a continuation of this evolving spiritual journey in Season 3 of Welcoming God, which launches Tuesday, September 16th.

While we prepare for our return, we're excited to offer a special gift to you - a free companion ebook to Season 1. This thoughtful resource is designed to support your personal introspection and help you discover what you're truly seeking on your spiritual journey. The ebook serves as a practical guide to creating, cultivating, and co-creating a more spiritual life with God at the center of your life.

Welcoming God has always been a space where spiritual seekers can explore their relationship with the divine in an authentic and curious environment. So, join us and please spread the word by sharing this free resource with those who will benefit from it!

For both longtime listeners and those just discovering us, now is the perfect time to explore Seasons 1 and 2 while anticipating what's to come. Visit WelcomingGod.com to sign up for our newsletter, which will keep you updated on the Season 3 launch and provide you with your free ebook. Your subscription, reviews, and shares help this community of spiritual seekers continue to grow and thrive.

Ready to continue the journey together? Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.  See you September 16th!  

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Have you ever found yourself learning the same spiritual lesson over and over again, wondering why you keep forgetting what you thought you already knew? This fascinating exploration of our continuous learning journey reveals why repetition may be essential to spiritual growth.

At the heart of this episode lies a powerful metaphor: We are Mount Zion, not the weather that surrounds it. Drawing from Martin Laird's "Into the Silent Land," we examine how identifying with our thoughts and emotions (the weather) rather than our true, stable nature (the mountain) creates unnecessary suffering. This parallels Jesus's repeated instruction to his disciples to "stay awake" – a reminder of how easily we fall asleep to spiritual truth.

What makes this perspective particularly liberating is understanding that even our distractions and afflictive emotions are manifestations of divine presence. When we experience anger, fear, or jealousy, these aren't obstacles to overcome but expressions of the same "luminous vastness" that constitutes our essence. The challenge becomes integration – fully embodying these insights so they become part of who we are rather than concepts we occasionally remember.

How might you structure your life to support remembering your true nature? Whether through contemplative practice, physical reminders, or community support, finding practical ways to interrupt the forgetting pattern can transform your spiritual journey. Join us in exploring how we might participate in the evolutionary unfolding of consciousness itself by remembering who we truly are.

Don't miss our new ebook that guides you through season one with reflective questions – sign up at WelcomingGod.com to receive your copy and continue deepening your spiritual practice between episodes.

Music by Song Channel Music.  Listen at SongChannelMusic.com

Go to WelcomingGod.com to subscribe to our email newsletter and receive updates about all things Welcoming God.  

Find Martin Laird's book, Into The Silent Land, here.

Find Caroline Oaks book, Practice the Pause, here.

Find more about Keith Kristich's centering prayer community, Closer Than Breath, here.

Find The Cloud of Unknowing here.

Listen to Deepak Chopra on the podcast, Know Thyself here.

Find our more about Thomas Hubl's teachings and work here.

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