Quiet on Purpose

The second week of Advent traditionally focuses on the theme of "Peace". So, this week, our episode is taken from a quote of Jesus in the Gospel of John, "Peace I leave with you..." Jesus left his peace with us as a gift! It's ours to have, but we have to learn how to take hold of it! Listen in as we consider what that looks like! Read John 14:27 Questions from today's...

This is the first week of Advent, and our theme is Hope! In a world where life often fails to meet our expectations, Hope is something we all need, and struggle to take hold of. Listen in today for a little infusion of Hope into your life! Today's verse: Isaiah 55:8 Another awesome message of Hope Questions from today's episode: What would it look like for me to embrace “Hope” today? Is th...

Happy Thanksgiving! It's no secret that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I love to remind myself and you that the practice of gratitude is something that should extend way beyond one day! In preparation for your own celebration, or as a way to wrap it up, listen in to this short, fun episode about "Giving Thanks"! Read Psalm 107 here ! For consideration, from this episode: “G...

There are times, circumstances in life, when the road God has put in front of us is painful, difficult, and we can't see how it could possibly be "good" for us! And yet, His word says that He is good and everything He does is good. So how do we reconcile what we're facing with that? Trust is a concept we understand easily, but an exercise we struggle to practice. We need His help...

Sometimes what God offers us is incomprehensible. Or so contrary to the way we think that it's just impossible to wrap our heads around! In today's verse, we're being reminded of the fundamental truth that God has removed all our offenses and sins; they've disappeared the way morning fog burns off and the sun shines through! And on top of that, He invites us to return to Him, to en...

When it comes down to it, do I really trust God? When I desire to maintain control of situations, am I really relying on His wisdom, His ways, and His goodness, or am I relying on my own, finite, flawed understanding, my own limited ability to see into the future? Today's episode provides us with an opportunity to take a minute to consider ways that we're still relying on our own understan...

The invitation to walk with God is a stunning one! But to truly walk with God also requires the characteristic of humility. In Matthew, Jesus describes himself as humble, which is shocking, really, when you consider that he also claims to be the Son of God! I don't know anyone who is naturally humble. It requires a work of God in our hearts, and a true journey with Him, for us to become humble...

Just like children, insisting that life feel "fair," we often approach God expecting Him to treat us "fairly," whether that means we think things ought to be better for us, or perhaps, we come with our tail between our legs, expecting to be punished. The beautiful truth, of course, is that God isn't always "fair." But He IS just. And He IS merciful. And He invites...

While "justice" is a "hot topic" and a buzzword in our culture these days, I wonder how much of our time is honestly spent considering what lies within our realm of power, our own sphere of influence, that we could do something about, something to enact justice, but perhaps we're too busy casting blame on someone else, someone with more power, someone who ought to be behavi...

Sometimes our view of God seems to grow smaller, or be obscured by the mountainous problems or other demands of life. This week's verse invites us to "look to the heavens" and consider just how BIG and how GOOD God is! It's a refreshing, perhaps much needed, reset to our perspective! I hope you'll listen in! Read today's verse! Questions from today's episode: What thr...

We often ask God to "bless" others, or to "bless" us, or to "bless" our food. But have we considered that we are called to "bless" the Lord? How do we do that? The answer is "with all that is within you!" And, if we're honest, that feels about as impossible as leaping across The Grand Canyon! Is there a simple answer that can make it feel more...

What is one thing you know ? One thing you anchor your soul to, that keeps you from drifting, even in the tough times? In today's episode, we'll talk about one option. Perhaps you don't have an anchor like this. Or perhaps you need to be reminded what your anchor is. I hope you'll listen in today. I think you'll be encouraged and refreshed! Read today's verse! Questions fro...

Have you ever had one of those moments when God seems to speak to your soul by reminding you of a Bible verse you've memorized? Often those verses we've memorized come in the form of a song we've sung. I'm grateful for the many song writers who have put scripture to song. Among the oldest of these is the old hymn "I Know Whom I Have Believed". Check out the link below if...

There are abundant definitions for the word "redeem" but the one that I resonate most with is one of the simplest: "to buy back." I love that God promises to buy back the messes we make and the time that we have wasted when we turn our lives over to Him! Redemption is one of the most beautiful and most fundamental characteristics of God. We see it woven throughout the story of...

Waiting is hard! Whether we're waiting 2 minutes at a stoplight or months on end for something important, it's a given that we're inclined to treat the wait as though it were an unwelcome guest. But how we wait influences who we become on the other end. So, what might it look like to "wait on the Lord" in the waiting? To "hope in his word"? Today's episode takes...

We tend to hold onto the sins of the past for dear life. We keep a record of the wrongs done to us, thinking we have to hold people accountable. We keep a record of the wrongs we've done, thinking that somehow we will make them right. When all along, God extends a different invitation to us. One that offers more peace, freedom and joy than we can imagine! Listen in! Read it on Bible Gateway! Q...

Can you think of a time when you've cried to God "out of the depths?" Maybe you've found yourself in some dire situation, your life crumbling all around you, despair threatening? If you've made it even as far as Jr. High, this scenario has probably been true of you on at least one occasion! If so, listen in. You might find some comfort in today's episode! Read today's...

Sometimes life feels so complicated! It doesn't have to, but it does. It's part of the human experience. But, there is a way to experience life in a beautiful simplicity. And the more I live by the principles in Psalm 37:3, the more I experience it exactly that way! Listen in today, there's an invitation for you here. Read it! Questions from today's episode: As I listened in today,...

I don't think I'm alone in admitting that over the years, I've often thought that God went through some kind of metamorphosis between the Old Testament and the New Testament. We tend to think of "Old Testament God" as angry, vengeful, harsh and demanding, but "New Testament God" as soft, fluffy, and full of grace. In an astonishing account of God revealing himself and his character to Moses, today...

I admit, I've been spending a lot of time lately talking about how my own personal life has felt heavy, burdensome, and lacking in joy. I don't mean to be a downer, what I mean to be is authentic. If your struggle resonates with my own, maybe there's something for you here. One thing I deeply believe is that God intends for us to have joy. An authentic experience of a full, joyful life. So I'll ke...

We see some hard things in the Bible, including what kind of love we're called to if we want to follow Jesus. We're called to give up everything in our love for others, just like He did. But, just like so many other things, we're not asked to do this in our own strength. In today's episode, we're taking some time to remember what kind of love we're called to, and then to consider how we get there....

Continuing on from our previous episode, we're looking at Jesus' invitation to "take on" his "yoke" and his offer to provide rest for our souls. There are some super refreshing visuals in these two short verses that we might miss since most of us don't have much knowledge of historic farming practices. When it comes down to it, the kind of rest I'm looking for goes way beyond a spa day or even a t...

Sometimes life starts to feel heavy. When that happens, weariness sets in. But Jesus invites us to come to him for rest. It's such a beautiful invitation! Are you weary today? Listen in! Read it for yourself!  Questions from today's episode: What weariness or burdens am I carrying today? Am I trying to carry them alone? The invitation today is clear, "come to me, all you who are weary and bur...

As we step gingerly into the year 2023, we can't help but acknowledge that we've all been more than a little beat up over the past few years. All that we've experienced globally and nationally has had a very real personal impact on every single one of us. And that truth has implications. Our natural tendency when feeling beat up and wounded is to withdraw, to turn inward. I'd like to suggest that...

This is the final week before Christmas, and here at Quiet on Purpose, we're working to make it easy for you to continue the practice of intentional, purposeful quiet. Just a few minutes of intentional stillness and listening makes all the difference in the way we show up this Holiday season, so listen in today, to this, our final episode of Advent - focused on Love. Questions from today's episode...