262 episodes

Providing a place of connection, rest and encouragement for women who are on the journey of living out their passion and purpose in Jesus Christ.

Abiding Together Heather Khym, Michelle Benzinger, Sister Miriam James Heidland

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.9 • 340 Ratings

Providing a place of connection, rest and encouragement for women who are on the journey of living out their passion and purpose in Jesus Christ.

    S14 E10 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 5: Scholarship)

    S14 E10 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 5: Scholarship)

    In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on how life is a continual process of refinement and how true learning comes through the healing found in suffering and communion. We also talk about the feelings of shame that accompany situations where we fall short, the importance of recognizing our limitations in humility, and how God desires to redeem our deepest wounds to help us grow in communion and love. 
     
    Heather’s One Thing -  Sarah Kroger’s new song No Filter 
    Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Heather Khym’s Lenten Playlist (AGAIN!!)
    Michelle’s One Thing - Floret Flowers
     
    Announcement:
    We will be taking a two week break for Easter beginning on 4/1/24. Season 14 will continue on 4/15/24!
     
    Journal Questions:
    What learning curves in my life do I react to with shame or fear? Where in my life do I feel like I need to figure it out? What are my most frequent complaints? How do they wound the Heart of Christ? How can I honor the Lord this upcoming Holy Week?
     
    Discussion Questions:
    What lessons are you learning this Lent? What blocks and walls do you experience when learning new lessons? How is the Lord inviting you to put in effort in learning the lessons of this season? How can you show loving and attentive devotion to the Lord in your daily life?  
    Quote to Ponder:
    “Let us think for a few minutes about the process of learning. All real learning requires a great effort….One could perhaps define the greatest scholars as those who have put forth the most effort with the equipment that God gave them. There is always some form of suffering in all learning because there must be patience, and patience is suffering. There is always humility in learning. It is the great scholars who realize how little they know…”
    (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 175)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “He said to his apostles, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”” (John 16:12)
     
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    • 27 min
    S14 E9 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 4: Filling Up the Sufferings of Christ)

    S14 E9 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 4: Filling Up the Sufferings of Christ)

    In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of “filling up the sufferings of Christ”. We reflect on the connection between repentance and love, recognizing how they complement each other, and the beauty of repentance as an intimate act of drawing nearer to God. We share our own struggles during this Lenten season, how others have helped keep us accountable, and the importance of helping others grow in holiness. Lastly, we chat about the significance of renouncing falsehoods about ourselves and embracing the truth about our identity that can only be found in God.
     
    Heather’s One Thing -The song Jesus is My Healer by Gateway Worship 
    Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Andrew Laubacher and his organization called Humanality
    Michelle’s One Thing - Fr. Mark Mary CFR new book The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God
     
    Journal Questions:
    Where is the ease of the Lord in my life? How can I turn back to the Lord in moments of hardship this Lent? In the people I struggle with most, how do I encounter the image of God in them? In my own self-righteousness, from whom do I withhold the kingdom of God?  
    Discussion Questions:
    Do you perceive repentance as an opportunity for intimacy or a response to punishment? How can you more urgently respond to God’s invitation of love? What accountability can you incorporate to be steadfast to your Lenten promises? How can you invite a culture of redemption into your life?  
    Quote to Ponder:
    “Our joy must be in him, where alone things have permanent depth and even eternality. The more earnestly we live our Lent, the more will we be finding our joy in Jesus.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 148)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “He delivered us from the dominion of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son.”  (Colossians 1:13)
     
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    • 30 min
    S14 E8 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 3: The Right Kind of Zeal)

    S14 E8 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 3: The Right Kind of Zeal)

    In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of the right kind of zeal. We chat about how we may be feeling tired and tempted to relax our Lenten penances and discuss the importance of taking time to reflect on why we felt called to take on a specific sacrifice and then recommitting ourselves with zeal to carry it out. We also talk about the joys of living in covenant with the Lord, the heartache we should experience when our hearts wander, and the beauty of giving ourselves totally to Him out of love.  
     
    Heather’s One Thing - Happy 80th birthday to her dad!
    Heather’s Other One Thing - Episode 5 of Fr. Dave’s series called: My father’s Father. Watch on Wildgoose TV here or Faith and Reason here.
    Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Heather Khym’s Lenten Playlist
    Michelle’s One Thing - The song Closing Distance by Seven Hills Worship (acoustic version here)
     
    Journal Questions:
    What do you need to fill your tank for the long spiritual roadtrip of Lent? What spiritual rest stops do I need to take to continue to go the distance with the Lord? How am I letting my emotions drive the bus? Do I treat my covenant with the Lord with the same respect as I show the covenants of marriage or religious life?  
    Discussion Questions:
    How do you need the Lord to love you this week? Have you been feeling empty, angsty, or frustrated this Lent? How is the Lord inviting you into deeper freedom through this experience? How can you suffer and fast with more joy?  
    Quotes to Ponder:
    “The ancient name for Lent is “the season of the battle”, agonia, which was the Greek word for the final testing of the athlete or the warrior, and has become the term for the Agony in the Garden.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 143)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17)
     
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    • 27 min
    S14 E7 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 2: In Conversation with Jesus)

    S14 E7 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 2: In Conversation with Jesus)

    In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of being in conversation with Jesus. We reflect on the importance of reserving space for dialogue with God, surrendering to Him our own plans and desires, and allowing Him to love us in our poverty. The process of dying to self is always accompanied with the hope in the promise of resurrection and new life that Jesus offers.  
     
    Heather’s One Thing - In thanksgiving for Deacon Bob and Fr Dave Pivonka letting her use their studio to record this episode and for being asked to be a guest on their podcast called They That Hope.
    Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The book How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks
    Michelle’s One Thing - Her household sisters at Francisan University
     
    Journal Questions:
    Am I in conversation with God or in a monologue with myself? How can I create more space for dialogue with God? What Isaacs (idols) do I have? How do I self-sabotage in order to confirm my deepest fears?  
    Discussion Questions:
    What does it look like for you to be a new creation in Christ? Have you ever felt like God contradicts Himself? How did He resolve that apparent contradiction? What littleness in your life do you tend to hide and run away from? How can you be more open with the Lord in your littleness? What holds me back from entering into prayer honestly or making a confession regularly?  
    Quotes to Ponder:
    “Then, a word about the Tabor Gospel. I was newly impressed by the fact that Moses and Elijah were in conversation with Jesus. Let us be occupied always in being in conversation with Jesus. We know the deepest conversations are the wordless ones. We love that simple and profound word of Pope Saint John Paul II, “Let Jesus be the one to whom you talk the most.””
    (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 76)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “Here am I, Lord!” (Genesis 22:1)
     
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    • 29 min
    S14 E6 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 1: True Self-Denial)

    S14 E6 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Week 1: True Self-Denial)

    In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of true self-denial. We reflect on the importance of recognizing our need for God’s love and allowing ourselves to be transformed by His grace. We also share personal experiences and insights on repentance, amendment, and trusting in God’s plan especially when the desires of our heart are not being fulfilled. We end by discussing the joys that can come from Lent when approached with a tender, sensitive, and alert heart. 
     
    Heather’s One Thing - Lenten Playlist
    Heather’s Other One Thing - The talk Joy, Hope, and the Way Around by Monsignor Shea
    Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The Pints with Aquinas episode on Transhumanism and Emerging Technologies w/ Fr. Michael Baggot (Watch on YouTube here)
    Michelle’s One Thing - The book A Grand Slam for God: A Journey from Baseball Star to Catholic Priest by Fr. Burke Masters
     
    Journal Questions:
    Have I ever approached Lent with a sense of wonder? How have I approached Lent with self hatred in the past? What parts of myself are the stranger I need to welcome home and allow the Father to love? How can I be more open to God as the Divine Interruptor?  
    Discussion Questions:
    Where are you hungry? Where are others in your life hungry? Who in your life is the stranger you need to welcome? Do you believe something wonderful can happen this Lent? Where have you become resigned and hard of heart instead of tender and sensitive?
     
    Quotes to Ponder: 
    We are called to a glorious festival of love—to be spiritually dizzied with the fact that this is how much God has loved us. Surely we shall all look at the crucifix with a new vision, a deepened understanding that he really.
    (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 37)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15)
     
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    • 32 min
    S14 E5 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Intro: A Time of Reflowering)

    S14 E5 - A Time of Renewal (Lent Intro: A Time of Reflowering)

    In this week's episode, we begin our seven week Lenten study of the book “A Time of Renewal” by Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. In this episode we cover the introduction and the sections on the first four days of Lent. We discuss how Lent is an opportunity for us to grow in intimacy with God and how viewing fasting as a time of renewal, not suffering, can help us encounter a deeper transformation. We also reflect on our ability to help others grow in holiness, why Lent is the Springtime of the liturgical year, and how we can allow ourselves to bloom this Lenten season. 
     
    Heather’s One Thing - Aspire to Live a Quiet Life by Francis Chan
    Sister Miriam’s One Thing - the women at the Trini-tea fundraiser (pictures here)
    Michelle’s One Thing - ABBA by Johnathan Helser and the people of Louisiana
     
    Journal Questions:
    Take inventory of your heart: where are you? Where do I need to reflower? What areas of my life does the Lord want to prune? Am I approaching this Lent like “just another Lent”? How can I accept this Lent as a unique season and invitation from the Lord? What practices put me back in the gaze of the Father? How can I incorporate them into my Lenten plan?  
    Discussion Questions:
    Which fruits in my life are good fruits? Which fruits are bad fruits? How can you be more conscious of your responsibility for one another’s holiness? Whose growth in holiness is God inviting you to be conscious of? Who can you offer your Lenten prayers and fasts up for? How close are you to the Lord today?  
    Quotes to Ponder:
    “I hope we will not allow ourselves to think of it as “just another Lent”. There is a very deep sense in which there is not another Lent and then another and another after that. This Lent is unlike any other. It is this acceptable time. We do not know if there will be another Lent for us, but we do know God has brought us to this acceptable time, to this prolonged day of salvation.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 19)
     
    Scripture for Lectio: 
    “Is not this the fast that I chose: to loose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)
     
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    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
340 Ratings

340 Ratings

cinnamam ,

So grateful

Sometimes I just need this. I have yet to hear an episode that I have skipped through or not genuinely been grateful for. Thank you for all the work you are doing ladies. I have been listening to this for 5 years and I appreciate the way this has helped me to grow. Blessings!!

mehlczak1 ,

Thank you

Thank you sister Miriam, Michelle and Heather for coming back into our lives! You were sorely missed. Your ministry blesses so many of us. Thank you for opening your hearts to the movements of the Holy Spirit and in turn showing us how to do it. Thank you and may God continue to bless your ministry.

Qodnsmxoxnx ,

Feminine Genius is God’s Gift to a Broken World

Praise God for this amazing, beautiful, and vulnerable podcast! It is so filled with the Holy Spirit, personality, and complete wonder. I’m so glad to journey with these fine women and become more of an authentic person God has created me to be. This podcast has brought my dry and lonely prayer life to a complete renewal, especially during this pandemic. Thank you so much ladies, for doing God’s Will in the creative ways He invites you to do it. AMDG

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