Rhythms that Restore: Hope for the Busy Christian Woman Cherisse Hixson

In this BONUS episode of "Rhythms that Restore," host Cherisse and her guest Allison Bradsher, Cherisse's Spiritual Director, discuss the importance of Discovering Stability through Anchoring ourselves. Learning the "practice of subrtaction" and learning to "create a container" that can be filled only with the presence of the Lord.  Allison shares her story & journey into contemplative practices and the role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual direction and practice of retreat. They explore metaphors for finding clarity in God's presence and the need for a sustainable pace in life. The episode covers the offerings of The Retreat House Memphis, including an upcoming Pentecost retreat on May 19th, and concludes with a prayer and an invitation to engage with the podcast's community.
 
Welcome and Introduction (00:00:02) Cherisse introduces the podcast with Psalm 27:7-8 and sets the tone for the episode, inviting listeners to join in on the conversation.
Reading from Psalm 27 (00:01:24) Cherisse reads and reflects on Psalm 27:7-8, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's face and finding comfort in His presence.
The God Who Sees (00:02:33) Cherisse shares a reflection on the name "El Roi" meaning "the God who sees," emphasizing God's care and presence in our lives.
Introduction of Guest, Allison (00:05:02) Cherisse introduces Allison, a spiritual director, and shares her personal connection and experiences with her.
Allison's Introduction (00:05:41) Allison shares her role as a spiritual director and the importance of hospitality and welcome in her life.
Contemplative Practices Journey (00:07:58) Allison discusses her spiritual journey and how she was drawn to contemplative practices, specifically the impact of silence on her spiritual growth.
Spiritual Direction and Counseling (00:13:34) Allison explains the differences between spiritual direction and counseling, highlighting the prayerful and listening aspect of spiritual direction.
Practicing the Presence of God (00:15:46) Cherisse and Allison discuss the importance of being still and creating space for God's presence, using the analogy of settling sediment in water.
Embracing a Natural Pace (00:19:26) Allison shares the importance of finding one's natural pace in life and the impact of bringing a peaceful presence into daily activities.
Checking in with Pace (00:21:51) Allison discusses the importance of checking in with thoughts, emotions, and body to notice pace and avoid overwhelm.
Guardrails for Pace (00:23:15) Cherisse introduces the concept of setting guardrails to run at one's own pace and avoid falling off track.
The Role of the Holy Spirit (00:24:54) Allison explains how the Holy Spirit communicates with us through scripture and encourages attuning to the Spirit's presence.
Surrendering to the Holy Spirit (00:26:32) Allison discusses the challenge of surrendering personal plans to align with the powerful and beautiful plans of the Holy Spirit.
Opportunities for Connection (00:29:45) Allison shares local and remote opportunities for connecting with spiritual practices and offerings at The retreat house Memphis.
Final Thoughts and Prayer (00:32:02) Allison emphasizes the invitation to offer presence to God and closes with a prayer for settling and stillness.
Closing Remarks (00:35:13) Allison concludes the episode, inviting feedback and sharing ways to stay connected and support the podcast.
----------------------------------------------
"Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: A resource that provides information on various spiritual disciplines for the spiritual life."  "Silent Retreats: A practice of setting aside time for silence and solitude to create space for God to speak and impress."  "Counseling: A practice of seeking professional help to process and address personal and emotional challenges." "Spiritual Direction: A prayerful listening space where a spiritual director helps individuals attune to the presence of God and explore their spiri

In this episode of "Rhythms that Restore," I  emphasize the importance of "Remaining" in Jesus, drawing from John 15.
I want to encourage you all our community to prioritize our own time alone time with God amidst the busyness that can be the month of May and into the summer months. To embrace rest, and find our personal rhythm in our own walks with the Lord.
I shares insights from this new book I am reading from John Ortberg"Soul Keeping." All about the value of "abiding" in Jesus and bearing fruit in each season through this connection. And some practical tips we can use throughout our days to seek out His face even through days that may not be our normal routines. 
--------------------------------------
Join our "Rythms that Restore" Community: Click below and pull up a chair with us and walk through life IN COMMUNITY and beside others who are learning and putting these new Rhythms in place. Click: https://www.facebook.com/groups/339272845793051/
--------------------------------------
Follow "Rhythms that Restore Podcast" on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rhythmsthatrestorepodcast?igsh=Z3lmY2UzcXZzMTlq&utm_source=qr
--------------------------------------------
Tune In- Subscribe, Rate, and Share: If you found value in this episode, be be sure to subscribe, rate, and share with "Rhythms that Restore" Podcast with a friend who can be encouraged through the message. Help us share this incredible transformative message of Gods word through the beautiful act of "ceasing to strive" and learning to "simply BE".
------------------------------------
Connect more with me on Instagram, Facebook and Email:
Lets Chat: cherissehixson@hotmail.com 
Facebook: Cherisse Mathias Hixson 
DM on Instagram: @cherissehixson01
 https://www.instagram.com/cherissehixson01?igsh=dDY4ZWNrcWowb2Vx&utm_source=qr
 
 
 

In this episode of "Rhythms that Restore," host Cherisse Hixson and guest Britney Christie, co-founder of Be Free Revolution and The Retreat House Memphis, explore the significance of prioritizing "being with God" over "doing for Him". They emphasize the importance of self-awareness for personal growth, recognizing patterns of unhealth and health, and the cultural trap of busyness. Britney shares her practices for connecting with God, including setting appointments to show up in prayer and finding strategic places for reflection. The conversation covers soul care, the use of personality assessments, and the importance of community support. Britney also touches on coping with trauma and share some tools she has used through music and intentional time to heal with the Lord, the role of technology in providing care for clients, and the services offered by The Retreat House. The episode concludes with a breath prayer exercise and a message of restoration, inviting listeners to embrace daily peace and share the podcast with a friend.
The importance of being with God (00:01:13) Discussion on the struggle between being for God and doing for God, emphasizing the importance of being with God.
Jesus's boundaries and waiting on God (00:02:24) Exploration of Jesus's ministry and how he balanced action and contemplation, emphasizing the importance of waiting on God and respecting boundaries.
Awareness and boundaries in helping others (00:05:33) The importance of being aware of boundaries when helping others, avoiding circumventing the Holy Spirit's work in someone else's life.
Self-awareness and patterns (00:10:59) The catalyst for growth and change, focusing on self-awareness and recognizing helpful and hurtful patterns.
The value of inner work and soul care (00:14:01) The significance of inner work and soul care, emphasizing the need for time and energy, and the benefits of seeking guidance from coaches, spiritual directors, or counselors.
Recognizing unhealthy patterns and the ability to pause (00:17:09) Discussion on recognizing unhealthy patterns and the importance of pausing to assess the situation and make choices for personal growth.
Space for assessment and intentional time with God (00:20:45) Creating space for self-assessment and intentional time with God, emphasizing the need for appointments and consistency in seeking God's presence.
The value of consistency with other believers (00:21:57) The importance of consistency with other believers in nurturing one's spiritual journey and growth.
Setting Times for the Lord (00:23:03) Brittany discusses setting times for spiritual practices and the importance of having a community of believers.
Focusing on God's Affection (00:24:25) Brittany talks about focusing on things that stir affection for God and the impact of entertainment on her during a difficult season.
Strategic Withdrawal and Spiritual Growth (00:27:14) The speakers discuss the importance of strategic withdrawal to grow spiritually and emotionally, setting appointments with the Lord, and seeking wisdom from trusted sources.
Full Circle Care at The Retreat House (00:28:10) Brittany explains the full circle care offered at The Retreat House, including counseling, trauma work, coaching, and spiritual direction.
Breath Prayer and God's Presence (00:30:06) Brittany shares a breath prayer practice, emphasizing God's omnipresence and the importance of releasing worries and fears.
Closing Prayer and Gratitude (00:34:13) A closing prayer expressing gratitude for God's presence and guidance, followed by expressions of love and gratitude.
Setting times to be with the Lord, having a body of believers around, focusing on things that stir affection for God: "00:23:03" Spotify Playlist named Preachers Harvest and Song of the Lamb, Show: Downton Abbey: "00:24:25" Strategic withdrawal, setting an appointment with the Lord, silent retreat, counselor, spiritual director: "00:27:39" Breath prayer, Yahweh, breath

In this podcast episode of "Rhythms That Restore," host Cherisse and guest Britney Christie Missionary, Co Founder of Be Free Revolution & The Retreat House Memphis to discuss the spiritual journey of shifting from "doing" for God to learning to "be" with God. Britney shares her experiences of feeling burdened during missionary work and how she found peace in contemplative practices and learning from spiritual teachers. They explore the importance of slowing down, worship, and seeking God's perspective, especially during life's challenging times. The conversation touches on the biblical story of Mary and Martha and the balance of work, rest, and renewal that Jesus modeled. The episode concludes with plans for a part two and encourages listeners to embrace soul-care and share the podcast.
 
Welcome and Introduction (00:00:02) Cherisse welcomes the listeners and introduces the podcast episode.
Psalm 119 Reflection (00:01:16) Cherisse shares a reflection on Psalm 119 and the importance of meditating on God's word.
Introduction of Britney Christie (00:03:37) Cherisse introduces Britney Christie, highlighting her role and impact on the podcast.
Britney Christie's Missionary Work in Kenya (00:06:38) Britney shares her journey of starting Be Free Revolution and The Retreat House Memphis, and her mission work in Kenya.
Discipleship and Spiritual Journey (00:13:21) Cherisse and Britney discuss discipleship, spiritual growth, and the journey and growth of faith.
Transition to Spiritual Rhythms and Disciplines (00:22:28) Britney discusses the importance of prayer and spiritual disciplines during her mission work and spiritual journey.
Being with God (00:22:58) Britney discusses feeling burdened and seeking God's provision for strength and perspective.
Discovering Contemplative Practices (00:24:07) Britney shares how understanding her personality led her to embrace contemplative practices and learn from spiritual teachers.
Being for God vs. Doing for God (00:26:31) Britney contrasts being for God with doing for God, emphasizing the importance of slowing down and being with God and His people.
Rhythm of Work and Rest (00:30:08) The discussion focuses on the rhythm of work, rest, and renewal, comparing it to the example set by Jesus and the need to reset life rhythms.
Links and Mentions: Personality discovery and contemplative practices, "Worship and reading a psalm for strength":Spotify Song: Preachers Harvest Playlist, Song of the Lamb" "Being with God instead of doing for God": " "Slowing down and being with God's people": "Serving God as an offshoot of being with Him": "Jesus modeling going on mission and then coming away to rest and recharge." 
Authors: Ruth Haley Barton, Dallas Willard and John Ortberg 
Connect with Britney Christie via email: britney@befreerevolution.com for more information about Be Free Revolution & Global Missions in Kenya and The Retreat House Memphis how you can attend and what services offered: Inner Work Personal Coaching, Spiritual Direction, Relationship Coaching or even a curated Silent Retreat for yourself or group of friends. Also, find The Retreat House Memphis & Be Free Revolution on Instagram.
Connect with Cherisse on Instagram @cherissehixson01, Facebook or email cherissehixson@hotmail.com for any questions or advice on digging deeper. I would love to journey beside you and hear from you. 
If you loved this episode share it with a friend and then leave a 5 star review. Your reviews help us to share the word with other woman searching for a podcast like ours to refresh and renew their spirits. 

In this podcast episode, host Cherisse from "Rhythms that Restore" discusses the concept of strategic withdrawal - a military term. But likening it to turtles who must bask in the sun for survival. She emphasizes the need for humans to retreat and find stillness to restore themselves, addressing the societal pressures that lead to exhaustion and the performance mentality. Cherisse talks about the importance of setting boundaries, healing from unhealed wounds, and resolving toxic relationships. She offers practical advice for incorporating a "retreat rhythm" into their own life, such as scheduling downtime and creating their own a silent retreat time, urging listeners to listen to their authentic desires and find restoration.
The welcome (00:00:02) Cherisse welcomes the audience and sets the tone for the episode.
Gratitude and authenticity (00:01:17) Cherisse expresses gratitude and emphasizes her authenticity, encouraging listeners to embrace their imperfections.
Deep breath and pause (00:03:35) Encouragement to take a deep breath and pause, setting the intention for the episode's focus.
Reading from Isaiah (00:05:51) Cherisse reads from Isaiah 30, setting the stage for the topic of "invitation to retreat."
Visual of wilderness (00:10:21) Cherisse shares a personal visual metaphor of feeling exhausted and being guided through a wilderness, reflecting on her journey.
Strategic withdrawal (00:14:06) Discussion of the concept of strategic withdrawal and its relevance to personal retreat and healing.
Recognizing wounds (00:16:32) Exploration of the impact of unhealed wounds and the importance of strategic withdrawal for healing and growth.
Choice to fight or retreat (00:18:50) Reflection on the choice to stand firm or withdraw, emphasizing the importance of equipping oneself for life's battles.
Wisdom whispers (00:21:20) Emphasis on the gentle guidance of wisdom and the need to pull back, rest, and set new strategies for personal growth.
The importance of strategic withdrawal (00:22:33) Discussing the need for strategic withdrawal to restore the body and soul, using the example of turtles basking in the sun.
Recognizing the need for rest and retreat (00:23:37) Exploring the societal pressure to constantly be available and the importance of recognizing the need for rest and retreat for healing and restoration.
Challenges of living in a distracted society (00:25:05) Addressing the cultural norms around grieving and healing, highlighting the challenges of living in a constantly distracted society.
Operating out of an inordinate sense of ought and should (00:27:07) Examining the exhaustion stemming from operating under the pressure of "oughts" and "shoulds" and the impact on personal capacity and boundaries.
Struggling to receive help and setting boundaries (00:28:26) Discussing the difficulty in receiving help, the struggle to set boundaries, and the impact of living as a performer rather than an authentic self.
The impact of deriving self-worth from performance (00:33:46) Exploring the impact of deriving self-worth from performance and the struggle to pause, listen, and pay attention to authentic desires.
The need for boundaries and rest (00:40:45) Highlighting the importance of setting boundaries around availability and service to avoid burnout, along with the need for rest and retreat.
Addressing unhealed wounds and toxic relationships (00:43:54) Discussing the burden of unhealed wounds, unresolved tension, and toxic relationships, and the impact on overall well-being.
Release and Let Go (00:44:57) Discussion on the practice of releasing emotions and letting go of the need to control everything.
Healthy Boundaries (00:45:55) Importance of setting healthy boundaries around time and space for personal capacity and well-being.
Choice to Lean In (00:47:17) Reflecting on the choice to either avoid dealing with emotions or lean into God's rest and mercy.
Closing Remarks (00:48:43) Encouragement to

in this podcast episode, Cherisse discusses the transformative experience of her first silent retreat and the lessons from "Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton. Initially resistant to stillness, she learns the value of silence and solitude for restoring one's spirit. Cherisse explores the concept of prioritizing life's "big rocks" and the countercultural call to retreat for self-care and spiritual replenishment. She shares personal stories and invites listeners to embrace the peace offered by Jesus, emphasizing the importance of rest and reflection in a busy world.
Introduction (00:00:02) Cherisse introduces the podcast and its purpose, inviting listeners to join her on a journey of restoration.
Gratitude and Recap (00:00:27) Cherisse expresses gratitude for listeners and recaps previous episodes, highlighting key moments and guest appearances.
Silent Retreat Invitation (00:02:27) Cherisse shares her experience of being invited to a silent retreat by a friend and the initial challenges she faced.
Struggle with Silence (00:06:46) Cherisse describes her internal struggle with embracing silence and stillness during the silent retreat.
Discovering Inner Longings (00:11:09) Cherisse reflects on her longing for retreats and the deeper questions it raised about her own heart and life.
Impact of Busyness (00:13:21) Cherisse discusses the impact of busyness and compulsive behaviors on her well-being and spiritual journey.
Prioritizing Rest and Replenishment (00:16:03) Cherisse explores the importance of prioritizing rest, self-care, and replenishment in the context of spiritual life.
Invitation to Retreat (00:19:20) Cherisse delves into the significance of Jesus' invitation to retreat and the value of creating space for quiet and solitude.
Silence and Solitude (00:21:54) Cherisse discusses the impact of silence and solitude on her relationship with God and the importance of intentional time alone with Him.
Intentional Time with God (00:23:56) Cherisse compares intentional time with friends to intentional time with God, emphasizing the depth of conversation and relationship building.
Invitation to Wilderness (00:26:03) Cherisse explores the significance of Jesus inviting us to the wilderness as a place of rest, intimacy, and restoration.
Rest and Sabbath (00:29:19) Cherisse emphasizes the importance of prioritizing rest and taking a Sabbath, drawing from the example set by God and Jesus.
Reflection and Surrender (00:31:42) Cherisse leaves the audience with questions about recognizing God's stirring in their hearts and surrendering to His invitation to rest.
Resources and Retreats (00:32:38) Cherisse recommends a book and retreat experiences for those interested in exploring the themes discussed in the episode.
Closing Thoughts (00:33:45) Cherisse concludes the episode with a reminder of God's willingness to meet us with an open heart.
"Invitation to Retreat" by Ruth Haley Barton" "00:02:27" Enneagram: "00:09:03" Quote by Dallas Willard: "00:13:21" Concept of "Big Rocks" by the Pastor: "00:16:03" Spiritual Retreat and Self-Care: "00:19:20" God's Economy vs. Our Economy: "00:20:46" The Retreat House Memphis on Instagram.
Follow the podcast and leave a 5 Star review. Then share this episode with a friend who can be encouraged from todays message. 
Lets connect on www.instagram.com/cherissehixson or email me at cherissehixson@hotmail.com