In this episode, we conclude season 18 by reflecting on the grace-filled moments this past season and the quiet ways the Lord continues to invite us into deeper communion with Him. We share who our favorite guests were, which episodes deeply ministered to us, and what we are hoping for in this next season.

Thank you for spending this season with us, friends. It has been such a gift to walk alongside you in every conversation, prayer, and story shared. We'll be holding you close in prayer over the summer and look forward to gathering with you again on July 6th, 2026 for our summer book study.

Heather's One Thing - Our Abiding Together Team: Kristina, Camille, and Kate!

Heather's Other One Thing - The team for a Healing the Whole Person Retreat in England

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Seeing Abiding Together listeners in the wild!

Sister Miriam's Other One Thing - The Dignity of Dependence by Lea Libresco Sargeant

Michelle's One Thing - Timothy Shriver's Laetare Address and Eric Church's Commencement Address

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Diane Keaton Because I Said So Clip
• The Ladies' Favorite S18 Episode: Prophetic Motherhood
• Sister's Other Favorite S18 Episode: Episode on Forgiveness

Announcement:

• Our summer book study on "Friendship in the Lord" by Fr. Hinnebusch begins July 6th! You can buy your copy from Ave Maria Press (or Amazon).

Journal Questions:

• How is God teaching me to love those around me differently?
• What risks have I been asked to take lately?
• What expectations is God inviting me to release?
• What is the pace of beauty in my life?
• What fears am I carrying below the surface today?

Discussion Questions:

• What struck you throughout this season?
• How has your life changed during this season?
• When have you been tempted to possess rather than receive?
• What gifts has God given you this year?
• Where is the Holy Spirit already moving in your life?

Quote to Ponder:

"Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are, quite naturally, impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—and that may take a very long time." (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

Scripture for Lectio:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Sponsor - BeeStill Design:

BeeStill Design is a handcrafted Catholic jewelry and art brand founded by Louisiana artist and entrepreneur Holly Klock. A wife and mom of three, Holly has built BeeStill from a small creative outlet into a growing brand known for pieces that are both beautiful and meaningful.

Her collections feature heirloom-quality jewelry, pressed flowers, and custom intaglios, along with enamel work and ornaments. From the very beginning, she has sought to bring the joy and beauty of our faith into each creation—always with the same vision: to design timeless pieces that tell stories of faith, love, and family.

Whether you are looking for a piece of jewelry to be a daily reminder of God, or would like to find a meaningful gift for someone in your life, we encourage you to head over to beestilldesign.com. Use the code "AbideinHim" for 25% off.

Timestamps:

00:00 BeeStill Design

01:00 Introduction

01:46 Welcome

02:40 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

03:38 Our Favorite Guests this Season

06:58 Our Favorite Episodes this Season

12:28 Receiving Good Gifts

16:58 Fruit Being Born in Our Lives

19:42 Hopes and Desires for the Next Season

26:28 Summer Book Study Announcement

28:26 One Things

In this episode, we reflect on how Pentecost is more than just an event of the past, but can be an ongoing outpouring of God's love and grace in our lives today. We discuss how the Holy Spirit helps heal our wounds, restores communion with God, and teaches us how to live with power and boldness, even in the places where we feel unable to love the Lord. As we prepare our hearts for Pentecost, we talk practically about cultivating a posture of receptivity, learning to invite the Holy Spirit more deeply into our hearts, and how to allow His fire to illuminate our identity and transform us from within. The Holy Spirit is alive within us, able to enter even the locked places of our hearts, and desires to help us bear much fruit in our lives.

Heather's One Thing - Pentecost | Holy Spirit Rest on Us Playlist

Heather's Other One Thing - Wild Goose Series with Fr. Dave Pivonka

Sister Miriam's One Thing - The Discerning Hearts Podcast App

Michelle's One Thing - College Graduations

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Be Transformed Book Study

Journal Questions:

• How can I make myself more open to encounter the Holy Spirit pirit this Pentecost?
• Where in my life do I feel powerless?
• Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus?
• How am I rationing the boldness of the Holy Spirit?
• Where do I need to unlock the doors of my heart?

Discussion Questions:

• How can you welcome the Holy Spirit into your life in a deeper way?
• What does it look like to experience the Holy Spirit in community?
• What gifts of the Holy Spirit do you desire to empower your work of building the Kingdom of God?
• How will you celebrate Pentecost?

Quotes to Ponder:

"If there be among the gifts of God none greater than love, and there is no greater gift of God than the Holy Spirit, what follows more naturally than that He is Himself love…." (Saint Augustine)

"This great mystical tradition . . . shows how prayer can progress, as a genuine dialogue of love, to the point of rendering the person wholly possessed by the divine Beloved, vibrating at the Spirit's touch, resting filially within the Father's heart." (Pope Saint John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, Paragraph 33)

"A noble and delicate soul ... follows faithfully the faintest breath of the Holy Spirit; it rejoices in this Spiritual Guest and holds onto Him like a child to its mother." (The Diary of St. Faustina, Entry 148)

Scripture for Lectio:

"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." (Acts 1:4-9)

Sponsor - Mary's Meals:

Every mother knows what it's like to want to protect their child and provide for them, to make sure there's food on the table, to make sure her child is safe, cared for, and able to grow into who God created them to be. But for millions of mothers around the world, hunger stands in the way of that hope. Their children walk to school carrying empty bowls, wondering if today they'll have anything to eat. And that's where Mary's Meals steps in.

Mary's Meals provides one daily meal in a place of education for children living in some of the world's poorest communities. And that simple meal becomes the reason a child comes to school. Once they're there, everything can begin to change. Education can become a pathway out of poverty.

So a child who is hungry can focus.

A child who is vulnerable can dream.

And a mother who felt helpless can begin to hope again.

What we love most about Mary's Meals is how ordinary people get to become a part of that story.

We don't have to solve global hunger. We simply have to feed one child. And here's the beautiful thing. It only costs $25.20 to feed a child for an entire school year.

That's one child sitting in a classroom instead of sitting at home hungry.

One mother experiencing relief instead of worry.

One life changed through a simple act of love.

So if your hearts are moved to help, we invite you to join us in supporting Mary's Meals. You can head over to their website marysmealsusa.org (or marysmeals.ca for Canada) and together we can offer hope, dignity and a daily meal to a child who needs it most.

Timestamps:

00:00 Mary's Meals

01:39 Introduction

02:26 Welcome

03:24 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

04:39 Preparing Our Hearts

07:34 Healing the Wound of Powerlessness

09:26 The Holy Spirit Enables Us to Love

11:04 Inviting the Holy Spirit into Our Hearts

12:50 Our Advocate and the Forgiveness of Sins

15:10 "It is Better that I Go" 17:14 Baptized with Fire

19:15 Bearing Fruit in Our Lives

20:57 When We Restrict the Holy Spirit

22:50 Receiving the Holy Spirit within Community

28:08 Being Inspired by the Holy Spirit

31:04 One Things

In this episode, we reflect on the sacred wounds of Jesus, the reality of our own woundedness, and Jesus' invitation to make us well. We talk about how our wounds, so often hidden in shame or self-protection, when transformed, can actually become places of communion and grace. We also share about our personal experiences of facing fear or disappointment and how the slow, often painful, process of healing reminds us that God's ways are not our own. Jesus tenderly meets us in every broken place within our hearts and ardently desires to make all things new.

Heather's One Thing - Worship Session with Kory Miller

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Life Transitions Part One and Part Two with Chris Benzinger

Michelle's One Thing - The Kentucky Derby

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Glory: Women's Gathering
• The Restore the Glory Podcast
• The Anatomy of a Wound Series Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Journal Questions:

• Where am I self-protecting instead of bringing my wounds before the Lord?
• Do I think Jesus can make me well?
• How have my wounds impacted my outlook on life and perspectives on painful situations in my life?
• When have my own expectations of what Jesus should do gotten in the way of my own healing?

Discussion Questions:

• Are there areas that you have grown accustomed to your own pain?
• How have you equated healing with fixing?
• What has the Holy Spirit taught you about yourself through the healing journey?
• How has disappointment affected your trust in Jesus and His goodness?

Quotes to Ponder:

"Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not, 'How can we hide our wounds?' so we don't have to be embarrassed, but 'How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?' When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers." (Henri Nouwen)

"Our brokenness reveals not a failure but a doorway through which God's healing can enter." (Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love)

Scripture for Lectio:

"Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool, called in Hebrew Bethesda, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk." (John 5:2-9)

Sponsor - Seton Home Study School:

Since 1982, families have entrusted their students to Seton Home Study School. Seton is thoroughly Catholic, academically rigorous, and fully accredited with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Seton high school graduates have been admitted, and excelled, at virtually every college and university in the United States, including Ivy League Universities and military academies.

A Seton enrollment includes thoroughly Catholic books, detailed lesson plans, grading services, transcripts, and there is no extra charge for telephone counseling. Parents love Seton's "open and go" approach – everything you need is provided and can be trusted. You can even customize the program at no extra charge, enrolling a fourth grader in fifth grade reading, for example. For more information, visit their website.

Parents of students with special needs can find help to develop a curriculum and workload suited to each individual child. Learn about Seton's special services department here.

In addition to books and lesson plans, high school students enjoy a host of other benefits and services. Click here to learn more.

Enrolled teens and Seton alumni can also join Catholic Harbor, a safe, online student-moderated community. There they can engage in debates, spiritual discussions, and discuss hobbies and other interests. For more information visit their website here.

Seton hosts a podcast directed at homeschooling moms. Podcasts hosts, Mary Ellen Barrett and Ginny Seuffert, both with decades of experience, offer practical tips and ideas to make home education accessible to all.

Timestamps: 00:00 Seton Home Study School

01:29 Intro

02:15 Welcome

05:32 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

06:50 "Do You Want to Be Made Well?"

10:22 Jesus is Drawn to Our Wounds

12:30 Exposed Wounds are Places of Grace

15:21 Awareness is Half the Battle

19:09 The Lord Knows what Our Healing Journey Should Look Like

24:09 All We Can Do is Take the Next Small Step

26:20 Suffering in Communion

29:12 Transforming Our Relationship with Our Wounds

32:37 The Parts of Us that don't Trust God

34:46 One Things

In this episode, we reflect on the beautiful call of women to prophetic motherhood. We talk about how Our Lady models for us a motherhood that speaks life and calls forth goodness to all those she encounters. We also ponder what it means to be a spiritual mother, how Mary can help heal our wounded experiences of motherhood, and the difference between affirmations and prophetic words. As Pentecost draws near, we invite you to ask for Our Lady's intercession to prepare your heart for a fresh outpouring of grace and to help you become a woman who brings life wherever she goes.

Heather's One Thing - A 24 Hour Time of Worship at Franciscan University

Heather's Other One Thing - St. Anne's Women's Conference in Dallas, TX and the WWP Flourish Conference in St. Louis

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Everyone Getting Married this Summer

Sister Miriam's Other One Thing - Pilgrimage to Medjugorje with the JPII Healing Center

Michelle's One Thing - NFL Draft

Michelle's Other One Thing - Franklin, TN and St. Philip's Parish

Michelle's Other Other One Thing - College Kids at NC State and Fr. Josh

Other Resources Mentioned:

• The Identity of a Woman Series
• The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast
• Make Sense of Your Story by Adam Young

Journal Questions:

• What does it mean for me to live into prophetic motherhood?
• What holds me back from speaking life into the people around me?
• When have I felt threatened or hurt by other women?
• What ache in your heart is God inviting you to bring before Mary?
• How can I offer prophetic motherhood to those in my life?
• How can I receive prophetic motherhood from those in my life?

Discussion Questions:

• When have you been prophetically mothered by another woman? How were you impacted by that experience?
• How do we cultivate a culture of women speaking life within our own community?
• How do you desire a different story of motherhood and femininity from what you have experienced in the past?
• How is God inviting you to embody hope right now?
• Who is in the periphery of my life that God is inviting me to offer my maternity to?

Quote to Ponder:

"She is the poetess and prophetess of redemption, and we hear from her pure lips the strongest and most original hymn ever uttered - the "Magnificat"! She reveals the transforming design of the Christian economy, the historical and social result that still draws its origin and strength from Christianity…At this point a second way is opened for us by Our Lady, so that we may reach our salvation in the Lord Christ: it is her protection. She is our ally, our advocate. She is the confidence of the poor, of the lowly, of the suffering. She is even the "refuge of sinners." She has a mission of pity, goodness, and intercession for all. She consoles every grief of ours. She teaches us to be good, to be strong, and to be compassionate toward all. She is the queen of peace. She is the Mother of the Church." (Pope St. Paul VI, Homily, April 24, 1970)

Scripture for Lectio:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (Proverbs 18:21)

Sponsor - Life Teen:

Life Teen is offering something really special this summer, especially if you are a parent of a teenager.

Years ago, Michelle and her husband Chris, began their ministry career working with Life Teen, and it has had a lasting impact on their lives as well as so many other families. Life Teen helps teens encounter Christ in a real and personal way, and it continues to bear fruit long after those experiences end.

This summer, they are launching their very first Parent / Teen Camp, called Frontier.

A frontier is the edge of what is known, where things are still being discovered and formed. If you are a parent of a teen, you know that is exactly what the teenage years feel like. A season that is constantly changing, where relationships are shifting, independence is growing, and both parents and teens are learning how to navigate something new together.

Life Teen Parent / Teen Camp is a six-day experience where you and your teen step away from the noise of everyday life and experience camp together.

It is a shared week of adventure and connection. You will experience things like ropes courses, hiking through the mountains, and white water rafting on the Chattooga River. But just as important as the adventure is what happens in the space between it all.

Time to talk.

Time to slow down.

Time to be present with each other.

And time to invite Christ into your relationship in a real and personal way.

Everything is rooted in the Catholic faith, with daily Mass, the Sacraments, and intentional moments built in to pause, reflect, and listen.

This experience is offered as a Mother and Daughter or Father and Son camp in Clayton,

Georgia. It is designed specifically for families in the middle of the teenage years who want to strengthen their relationship, deepen trust, and create meaningful memories during a season that often moves quickly.

This is not just a camp week. It is an intentional opportunity to invest in one of the most

important relationships in your life. If this sounds like something you have been needing, I would encourage you to take a closer look. Full details are available online, and an informational webinar is offered for those who want a closer look. The Life Teen team is also glad to walk with you as you discern whether this experience is right for your family.

This may be one of the most meaningful weeks you share with your teen during these years.

Timestamps:

00:00 Life Teen

01:32 Intro

02:19 Welcome

04:12 Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

05:45 The Prophetic Nature of Motherhood

08:05 Affirmations vs Prophetic Words

12:08 Calling Out the Goodness of Others

14:23 Wounds From A Mother

17:40 Embodying Hope

20:04 Mary Understands What You are Going Through

22:04 Having A Relationship with Our Mother Mary

25:09 Preparing to Receive the Holy Spirit

27:03 Motherhood is Not A Competition

30:20 One Things

In this episode, we welcome Arthur and Ester Brooks to talk about marriage, suffering, and the path to lasting love. Arthur and Ester share what it's like to minister together, revealing both the grace needed and the hard work it takes to love each other faithfully over decades. We also reflect on suffering as an invitation for growth, why pain is fruitful, and how the hardest places in life are where love is purified. Whether you are married, single, or in religious life, intimacy with God is our source of strength for every situation we encounter in life.

Heather's One Thing - Franciscan's Resurrection Party!

Heather's Other One Thing - 10 Day Pentecost Audio Prayer Plan

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Heather's Easter Spotify Playlist

Michelle's One Thing - Everyone who just came into the Catholic Church!

Ester's One Thing - Her husband Arthur!

Ester's Other One Thing - Professional Cycling

Arthur's One Thing - Opportunities to witness to the Catholic faith during The Meaning of Your Life book launch

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Arthur Brooks' Website
• Ester Brooks' Instagram
• The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness by Arthur Brooks
• Other Books by Arthur Brooks

Journal Questions:

• What does it look like to fight well?
• How have I witnessed or experienced a marriage that is an antenna to God?
• What suffering in my life am I resisting?
• What are the discomforts and sufferings I have experienced today that I can thank God for?

Discussion Questions:

• When are you tempted to be led by your feelings?
• When have you had to let go of resisting suffering in the past?
• Where in your life, marriage, or relationships do you feel stalled?
• How is God inviting you to prioritize Him over your marriage, relationships, and responsibilities?

Quotes to Ponder:

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal." (Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day, Rome, 2000)

Scripture for Lectio:

"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." (Romans 12:9-12)

Sponsor - The Inspired Living:

The Inspired Living is your one-stop shop for Mother's Day and Sacrament season! Whether you're shopping for the mother who inspired your faith, the child whose love for the Eucharist is flourishing, or the bride who is curating her Catholic home, we've sourced the best Catholic home decor, books, toys, and gifts to lift souls to God and inspire our hearts to ponder Heaven. Our unique array of handcrafted goods are made by artisans not only in the United States, but around the world who are committed to bringing eternal beauty into the home.

Abiding Together Listeners get an exclusive 20% off discount using the code ABIDE2026.

The Inspired living - bringing eternal beauty to the home

Timestamps: 00:00 The Inspired Living

00:44 Intro

01:54 Scripture Verse

06:06 Ministering as A Married Couple

10:03 How to Fight and Bring About Deeper Union

15:23 Suffering Helps Us Grow

26:12 Committing to A Prayer Life

32:22 Making Space to Become

36:06 Putting God First and Your Spouse Second

38:10 The Science of Being Happy

41:44 One Things

Happy Easter! In this episode, we conclude our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 6: Enduring Trials. We talk about how even in the light of Easter, we may still experience suffering and how we can choose to rejoice in God's goodness when His ways remain hidden. We also reflect on why trials are not signs of God's absence, how we learn to recognize God at work in the present moment, and how to embrace suffering as a necessary path to share in the fullness of Easter. Friends, in this Easter octave, we invite you to reflect on how God has transformed your heart this past Lent. Let us enter into this Easter season with renewed hope, gratitude, and a deeper surrender to God's unfailing love. We will see you in two weeks!

Heather's One Thing - Fire 50 Challenge with Many Parts Ministries. It's a free 50-day spiritual journey designed to deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit!

Sister Miriam's One Thing - The Divine Mercy Novena and Divine Mercy Sunday

Michelle's One Thing - Join us in praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet

Resurrection Power

By: Michelle Benzinger

A crucible is the place where the refiner's fire is not your enemy, but your tender witness of integration.

It is where certainty melts,

where control dissolves,

where the identities you once clung to

lose their shape in the flame.

The crucible is where faith stops being an idea and melts into surrender,

where you no longer hold God at a distance,

but find Him somehow

in the very fire you once feared.

It is a holy undoing that makes space for a deeper yes.

It is an invitation into the Paschal Mystery.

It is the Holy Spirit's invitation into the Resurrection power.

Journal Questions:

• Where do I turn in my trials and disappointments?
• Where in my life have I been avoiding the fullness of the Paschal Mystery (suffering, waiting, and resurrection)?
• What renunciations and declarations do I need to make today?
• What are the questions on my heart? Do I absolutely need the answer to do God's Will today?

Discussion Questions:

• What has God revealed to you in your current trials?
• How are you choosing to intentionally feast during these 50 days?
• How has God called you to a mature and adult faith in this season of life?
• What does Resurrection power and glory look like in your life?

Quotes to Ponder:

"They" (her friends the saints) "want to see how far I am going to push my trust." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

"When we realize that's happening—that we're going round and round and getting nowhere, that our questions aren't producing light but only bitterness and blame—we must have the courage to put those questions aside and ask ourselves another. It's the only essential one, after all, and it will always be answered: What attitude does God want me to have toward this situation? The point is to move from "Why?" to "How?" The real question isn't "Why is this happening to me?" but "How should I live through these things?" How am I called to face this situation? What call to growth is being made to me through this? That question will always get an answer." (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 129)

Scripture for Lectio:

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)

Sponsor - Glory: Women's Gathering:

If you're ready to intentionally embrace a spirit of Resurrection in your life this year, we invite you to register for the Glory: Women's Gathering hosted by Steubenville Conferences in partnership with Heather Khym.

Join Heather, Michelle, and our dear friends Debbie Herbeck, Sarah Kaczmarek, Monica Richards, and Fr. Dave Pivonka TOR this coming June 5-7 in Steubenville, Ohio, as we gather with women across generations and seek God's restoration and healing. This gathering will include talks, worship, prayer experiences, and the opportunity to interact with fellow Abiding Together listeners and new friends from all over who will be flying in.

Heather and Michelle would absolutely love to meet you. Whether you come with your Abiding Together small group, with a close friend, or on your own, we can't wait to gather in fellowship with you.

Registration is still open for the Glory: Women's Gathering. Ticket prices go up after April 16 - grab your ticket today! Visit steubenvilleconferences.com/events/glory for more information or to register!

Timestamps: 00:00 Glory: Women's Gathering

01:23 Intro

02:09 Welcome

02:41 Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

03:18 Trusting Through Suffering

05:57 Trials of Faith, Hope, and Love

07:49 Will We Run to God?

08:46 Living the Resurrection as Women

11:34 Feeling Panic in the Trial

14:05 Declaring Our Belief

15:36 Setting Aside Our need for an Answer to "Why"

17:28 Resurrection Power

20:07 Trials Have the Power to Make Us More of Our True Selves

24:40 Help Me in My Unbelief

27:00 What Has God Done this Lent?

28:41 One Things

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 5: God's Infinite Mercy. We reflect on the paradox of true strength—how becoming little, dependent, and surrendered before the Lord is the very place where His strength takes root in us. We also talk about what it means to live with a pure heart, not by striving harder, but by bringing every part of ourselves into honest communion with Christ and allowing His kindness to call us higher. This week, as we wrestle with fear, worry, and the temptation to rely on ourselves, we encourage you to be reminded that it is God's love that heals, restores, and leads us to freedom.

Heather's One Thing - Dwelling Place by The Belonging Co.

Sister Miriam's One Thing - The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Michelle's One Thing - Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection by Laura Kelly Fanucci

Michelle's Other One Thing - March Madness!

Journal Questions:

• What has the Lord convicted me of this Lent?
• What is the Lord inviting me to abandon to His Divine Providence?
• How can I be more present to the present moment?
• What graces have I received this Lent?

Discussion Questions:

• How is the Lord inspiring you to change?
• Where in your life are you just surviving?
• When was a recent time you experienced discouragement? How were you placing trust in yourself?
• How have your eyes been opened this Lent?

Quotes to Ponder:

"Thérèse says to Jesus in one of her poems: "I want to love you like a little child, I want to battle like a warrior bold."" (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 90)

"Let's return to the subject of trust. We have seen how we should nurture our trust. It is fragile, but it can be increased and strengthened by listening to the Word, by prayer, by the acts of faith we make in difficult moments, and by the experience of God's faithfulness. Now I wish to make a point that is simple but has wide implications. I can put it in the form of a question: What is the basis for our trust? What does it actually rest on?" (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 92-93)

Scripture for Lectio:

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

Sponsor - Into the Deep:

This episode is sponsored by Into the Deep, a Catholic company creating beautiful faith formation resources for families.

One of the most powerful ways to help children grow in faith is through beauty. Sacred art has always been part of how the Church teaches the Faith by helping believers contemplate the life of Christ, the mysteries of the Rosary, and the stories of Scripture.

Into the Deep creates thoughtfully designed resources that help families rediscover this tradition at home.

Their Paintings + Prayers Cards pair classic sacred paintings with traditional Catholic prayers, inviting children to slow down, look closely, and enter into prayer through the beauty of art. It's a simple but powerful way to enrich your family's daily prayer rhythm.

They also offer several Catholic picture study resources perfect for families and homeschoolers:

• The Parables of Jesus - Children encounter Christ's teachings through sacred masterpieces depicting the Gospel parables.
• The Mysteries of the Rosary - A unique way to help children meditate on the rosary by contemplating sacred art presentations of each Mystery.
• Fra Angelico Artist Study - Discover the life and work of the Dominican friar whose paintings captivate the moral imagination.

These resources are designed especially for families who want to cultivate wonder, contemplation, and a deeper love for the Catholic Faith.

If you want to bring sacred art into your home and help your children encounter Christ through beauty, visit intothedeep.co.

Timestamps: 00:00 Into the Deep

01:20 Intro

02:07 Welcome

06:01 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

06:36 Being Little Yet Strong

09:25 Bringing Everything into Communion

13:06 Excavating Our Hearts

15:39 Transforming Fear into Love

19:57 Being Content with Today

22:04 God's Kindness Leads Us to Repentance

24:34 The Power of Gratitude

27:39 One Things

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 4: Trusting More and More. We reflect on the tender places where our trust in the Father has been wounded—especially in the disappointments we carry with ourselves, our children, and the circumstances in our lives—and how God gently invites us to bring those disappointments to Him. We also talk about the lies that quietly erode our trust in God, the temptation to carry life's burdens alone, and the way simple rhythms of prayer allow God to personally reveal to us His goodness. This week, we invite you to honestly bring your disappointments before God and ask Him to reveal to you His goodness.

Heather's One Thing - The Springtime!

Sister Miriam's One Thing - March Madness

Michelle's One Thing - Her floor to ceiling library!

Journal Questions:

• Where do I lack trust in the Father?
• When do I see God as my enemy?
• What narratives of your life are you seeking to control?
• What is bothering me most acutely right now?
• What am I carrying that I need to let go?

Discussion Questions:

• Where do you take your disappointment?
• Where are you experiencing agitation?
• How are you tempted to manage the Lord's revelations in your life?
• What might be an appropriate prayer prescription for your current agitations?
• How is God inviting you into the safety of the Holy Family this Lent?

Quotes to Ponder:

"This work of restoring trust in our hearts is an essential aspect of the spiritual life. Wounded by original sin, our hearts are riddled with fears and doubts. It takes time to be cured of them. Maybe that will never happen completely in this life, but we can nevertheless make great strides in trusting more." (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 69)

"Trust works miracles." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

Scripture for Lectio:

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15)

Sponsor - Rooted for Good:

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Timestamps: 00:00 Rooted for Good

01:22 Intro

02:08 Welcome

03:03 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

03:42 What to do with Our Disappointments

08:16 Honesty is Not Something to Fear

10:36 Nourishing Trust

12:56 Developing a Rhythm of Prayer

16:40 The Tender Touch of a Mother

19:32 Heaven is a Family

23:14 One Things

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 3: Being Reconciled to Our Weakness. We talk about how our struggles with ourselves often spill over into our relationships with others and how learning to accept our own weakness can soften our hearts towards the weakness we see in those around us. We also reflect on the tension between accepting our littleness and desiring real conversion, how we become more aware of our imperfections as we draw closer to the Lord, and the gift of community in helping us clearly see our lives. This week, we invite you to receive God's love, extend that love to yourself, and then offer it freely to others.

Heather's One Thing - Attending the funeral of Francis Bergsma

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Stations of the Cross with Our Sister St. Thérèse from Little Way Books

Michelle's One Thing - The funness of our listeners!

Journal Questions:

• Where am I experiencing a lack of harmony in myself and in my relationships with others?
• Do I truly desire conversion? What parts of me are resistant to conversion?
• Where am I looking at the weaknesses of others instead of examining myself?
• When do I speak to myself with words of self-condemnation?

Discussion Questions:

• What weaknesses or defects are you wrestling with right now? How is God inviting you into deeper communion with Him in this weakness?
• How is the Lord inviting you to embrace littleness this Lent?
• Where is the Lord calling you to forgo constant management of your life and to embrace the mystery & trust of a life with Christ?
• How have you slowed down this Lent? How has this slower pace impacted your spiritual life?

Quotes to Ponder:

"If we accept ourselves as we are, we also accept God's love for us. But if we reject ourselves, if we despise ourselves, we shut ourselves off from the love God has for us, we deny that love. If we accept ourselves in our weakness, our limitations, it will also be easier for us to accept other people. Often, quite simply, we can't get along with other people because we can't get along with ourselves." (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 48-49)

"I am no longer surprised by anything, I am not sorry to see that I am weakness itself. On the contrary, I glory in it, and I expect to discover new imperfections in myself every day. (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

Scripture for Lectio:

"God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

Timestamps: 00:00 Morning Star Studio

00:56 Intro

01:42 Welcome

03:58 Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

04:45 Embracing Our Weaknesses First

9:00 Having a Real Desire for Conversion

13:55 Fearing Our Weakness

15:54 Desiring to be a Saint

18:55 Familial Living vs Transactional Living

22:21 One Things

Sponsor - Morning Star Studio:

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Instagram: @morningstar_studioart

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 2: An Elevator for Small Children. We talk about the quiet places of discouragement, and self-reliance that keep us striving instead of surrendering. We also reflect about how radical dependence on God is not laziness, the subtle ways we resist being little before a loving Father, and how our poverty is a doorway into deeper trust. This week, we invite you to fall into the Father's arms, allow Him to pick you up, and rest in the One who delights in you.

Heather's One Thing - The Prince of Egypt Movie

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Bishop Erik Varden's Lenten Reflections to Pope Leo (I especially recommend the reflections entitled: Bernard the Idealist, God's Help, Becoming Free, and Splendour of Truth)

Michelle's One Thing - Art Lectio Instagram Account

Journal Questions:

• Where are you feeling discouraged?
• Where do I experience self-reliance, codependency, or hypervigilance in my life?
• When in the past have I made agreements that I have to rely on myself and fix everything?
• Where am I living out a pattern of childhood wounds and identities?

Discussion Questions:

• How have you experienced failure this Lent?
• When do I grasp, kick, and flail like a child in my spiritual life?
• When did God last remind you that you are not God? How did your heart respond to it?
• Where is God inviting you to embrace your littleness rather than run from it?

Quote to Ponder:

"Being little means not attributing to ourselves the virtues we practice, or believing ourselves capable of anything, but recognizing that God places this treasure in the hands of His little child so that she can use it when she needs it; but the treasure is still God's." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

Scripture for Lectio:

"All you who labor, who are bent under the weight of your burden, who find the demands of the Law too heavy, come to me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28)

Sponsor - The JPII Healing Center:

Jesus longs to heal every hidden hurt in your heart—Do you want to be healed?

For the past 20 years, the John Paul II Healing Center, founded by Dr. Bob Schuchts, has offered healing retreats, trainings, and workshops to help people experience deeper intimacy and communion with the Blessed Trinity.

And now, you can experience our transformational teaching, Healing the Whole Person, right at home.

This 8-part video series expands on the teaching offered by Dr. Bob Schuchts and Sr. Miriam James Heidland at our Healing the Whole Person weekend retreats. For the past two years, this series has blessed thousands of groups and individuals across the world by drawing the brokenhearted close to the abiding love of the Blessed Trinity.

Through in-depth teachings, prayerful meditations, reflective journaling, and pre-recorded Q&A sessions, you are gently guided through your sorrowful mysteries into joyful restoration.

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Healing The Whole Person Series Link: https://virtual.jpiihealingcenter.org/start

Timestamps: 00:00 The JPII Healing Center

01:31 Intro

02:18 Guiding Quote

04:39 Discouragement is the Downfall of Souls

08:27 Subtle Agreements We Make Throughout Our Days

10:50 Surrender is Not Laziness

13:26 Illumination is Spiritual Progress

15:55 Being Curious About Our Own Heart

18:34 Becoming Little is Maturation

20:47 Suffering in Communion with the Father

23:53 The Father Cannot Resist His Children's Trust

27:14 Am I Still Lovable if I am Little and have Needs?

29:44 One Things

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 1: A Completely New Way. We reflect on the "little way" of St. Thérèse, the invitation to become spiritual children before the Father, and how weakness becomes the very place where Christ comes to meet us. We also talk about the difference between being childish and childlike, why true maturity in faith begins with admitting our own poverty, and how small acts of courage open the door to deep healing. This week, we invite you to name the desires stirring in your heart and let the Holy Spirit awaken a new song within you.

Heather's One Thing - Franciscan's Campus-wide "Behold" Retreat

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Healing Wounds by Bishop Erik Varden

Michelle's One Thing - The O' Grady's Beach House

Michelle's Other One Thing - Emily Lex Watercolor Workbooks

Journal Questions:

• How often do I accept the letter of God's adoption of me, and not the spirit of God's adoption?
• Where in my life do I need Mother Mary to smile upon me?
• How have I turned to self-reliance this Lent?
• Where is God inviting me to become more adult and free?
• What is the new song the Lord wants to put in my heart?

Discussion Questions:

• When do you notice orphanhood in your heart?
• What are you learning from St. Therese this Lent?
• When have you experienced the healing delight of a mother?
• Is it difficult for you to name your desires? What is one desire God has placed on your heart this Lent?
• What is the "yes" God is asking you to make today?

Quotes to Ponder:

"You know, Mother, that I have always desired to be a saint, but alas, I have always realized, when I compared myself to the saints, that there is between them and me the same difference as exists between a mountain whose summit is lost in the skies, and the obscure grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of getting discouraged, I said to myself: "God could not" "inspire us with desires that were unrealizable, so despite my littleness I can aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up, I must put up with myself as I am, with all my imperfections; but I want to find how to get to Heaven by a little way that is quite straight, quite short: a completely new little way." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

"Each of us has an absolute need for an inner transformation that makes us "as little as a child." What that means and how to put it into practice are exactly what Thérèse teaches in a simple, luminous way. That is why she was proclaimed a Doctor—that is, a teacher—of the Church." (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 6)

"The heart of Christian life is to receive and welcome God's tenderness and goodness, the revelation of his merciful love, and to let oneself be transformed interiorly by that love." (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 7)

Scripture for Lectio:

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Sponsor - Healed and Restored:

Healed and Restored is a non-profit organization located in the Charlotte, NC area that was created in 2020 to fill a void and respond to a need that has been long overlooked in our society. A program that is 100% dedicated to helping women heal in the aftermath of abuse, assault, and other traumatic experiences.

According to the United Nations, one in three girls and women around the world has been subjected to sexual and/or physical abuse at least once in their lives. Studies show that women who have been through abuse (of all types) have higher levels of fear, are more isolated, and face greater mental health problems.

In the aftermath of any of these traumatic events, women will sometimes resort to hurting themselves through cutting, eating disorders, and addictions. Without proper care and healing, these dark cycles can persist for years.

We help women and girls realize that God desires to heal every single one of His beloved children. We teach them that the enemy is a master manipulator. As soon as a person gets hurt, the devil begins to plant all kinds of lies in our hurting souls. Some of these lies are: God doesn't love you, everything that happened is your fault, you should be forever ashamed, and you will never find healing and peace.

The Mission

The Healed and Restored mission is to help women and girls who are survivors of abuse, assault, domestic violence, trafficking, and all other forms of trauma find healing and restoration. Grounded in Catholic teachings and through a combination of counseling, life coaching, intimate workshops, practical tools, spiritual mentoring, and community support we help women and girls transform pain into purpose— empowering them to not only survive, but thrive.

Since 2020, Healed and Restored has helped over 500 women and girls on their journey to process their unhealed wounds. Never could we have predicted how much God would bless our mission in such a short period of time.

All of this has us convinced that there are times when God uses our deepest pain to propel us on the path to our greatest calling!

If you or someone you know could use the assistance of our trained and compassionate Catholic Therapists/Counselors and money is an issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by emailing [email protected] for more information and guidance.

Or if you feel called to be part of this mission by volunteering your time, we would love to hear from you. Together and guided by the Holy Spirit, we can make a difference in the life of those around us who are suffering.

Timestamps:

00:00 Healed and Restored

01:31 Intro

02:17 Welcome

04:26 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder

05:35 Trusting in Our Creator

09:49 The Path of Spiritual Childhood

12:53 Healed by Delight

16:27 What is the "Little Way"?

19:36 Childlike vs Childish

24:05 The Role of Holy Scripture

30:10 One Things