Sanctuary Stirrings

Do you long for a place to meet with God? A sacred space that feels like home to your soul? In this episode, we explore the significance of these personal havens with mentor and spiritual formation expert Linda Andersen. Linda shares her story of how God has led herto sacred spaces through the years and how He may be doing the same for you.   Join us for this heart-stirring conversation that will...

God is a firm believer in freedom of choice. As much as he wants us to receive all the gifts that he has for us, he leaves it up to us which ones we will receive and which ones, to our detriment, we leave in his outstretched hand. The same heavenly Father who created Adam and Eve on the sixth day and the very next morning declared their first day of existence a day of rest, delight, and worship of...

Have you ever felt weighed down, heavy-hearted, and a little distant from God even though, it seems, you have all your faith boxes checked? You’ve been attending church, having your daily time with Jesus and the Bible, and attending Bible study. Yet, somehow, you don’t feel as close to God as you usually do and don’t know why.   Join me for this delightful episode exploring the missing link right...

What are Christians supposed to do with New Year’s? Is it just another Hallmark holiday or an invitation from God? Join today’s conversation to flesh out this significant day on the calendar and receive the gifts God has waiting for you! The New Year Examen Worksheet The New Year Examen and Your Life’s Golden Thread with Chris Slabbekoorn  Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast Episode #19 The Sanctuary at B...

Here amid the Holiday season, with parties and events filling your days and New Year’s get-togethers just around the corner, do you ever find yourself hesitant to include the name of Jesus in conversation?   Me too.   If you have a passionate love for Jesus and a desire to share what he means to you as the Holy Spirit opens doors this season, join me for this episode.   To receive other great arti...

Children keep us humble, and a few years ago, my husband and I thought we had completely failed as parents when our daughter brought us an eye-opening question. But the pain was quickly replaced with joy as the Lord brought us back again to His wonderful gift.   If you haven’t been taught about the filling of the Holy Spirit, or if, like me, you’ve heard some confusing teaching through the years a...

“Pilgrimages rarely go as planned. They’re evolving journeys, not packaged holidays.” Ted Harro, Camino Pilgrim, Renovare As it is in pilgrimage, so it is in life. Just when you think you have everything planned to a “T,” a detour or a roadblock changes everything! What do you do now?  ⁠ Pilgrimages Rarely Go As Planned ⁠ Full Article You can read Perry’s full story in his book. Whether you go on...

Take this episode along as you sit at the beach or in a quiet spot with your early morning coffee. Drink of the Living Water as First Love Founder and author Linda Andersen leads us through this powerful practice of Soaking in the Psalms. Day 1 Pilgrimage Takes Patience Transcript Spiritual Retreat for Tired Souls: A Quiet Guide to Time Alone with God by Linda Andersen #abideinJesus #christianform...

Hearing from many of you, there’s been an interest in the topic of pilgrimage, and my recent trip to Italy on The Saint Francis Way. I hope you enjoy this series of short vignettes about pilgrimage and monthly soaking in Jesus’ prayer practices by First Love Founder, Linda Andersen. May these stirring topics, be little bite-size morsels to strengthen our lives with God as we travel through the sum...

“Pilgrimage,” not a word that comes into our 21st Century Christian vocabulary very often. Come along as I lead you through my recent experience traveling The Francis Way in Italy, An ancient spiritual practice that the Lord opened my eyes to nearly 10 years ago, and I have been fascinated with ever since. Hear a little bit about this practice and the gift that might be waiting for you through thi...

Whatever the Lord is asking of you today, I hope you enjoy this story of surrender and that it gives you the strength to say, “Yes!”  And in that “Yes!” you find the joy and satisfaction you were created for because it’s in dying that we truly live! Click on the link below to learn more about Autumn and this powerful movement of God that reached 37,000 young people on College Campuses last year. ...

With Easter being the most important day of the whole year for us as Christians, why does it so often catch us by surprise?  If you’re like me and want to fully savor this opportunity with the Savior instead of screeching into the Church parking lot on Easter morning, you’ll love this episode!   #christianformation #lifewithjesus #lovingjesus #easter2024 #heisrisen  To receive these and other grea...

Just as no two marriages are alike, no two couples’ spiritual relationship will be the same either. In celebration of Valentine’s month and the unique relationship we share with our spouse, get ready to free yourself from all the “should’s”, “ought to’s” and “gotta’s” and notice and celebrate your unique Spiritual Strengths instead. Couple’s Spiritual 💋  Strengths Survey    Solitude As a Spouse A...

So excited to share about our Good Shepherd’s faithfulness along my publishing path. Was it just a year ago I heard those dreaded words no author wants to hear, “I’m so sorry to say that your book project was not approved by our publishing committee.”?  When we go through our big and small valleys of the shadow of death, there’s nothing to fear. It’s not the end of the story. There is still more t...

I’ve got a special episode for you today! An interview with a dear friend and my spiritual director, Chris Slabbekoorn. I can’t wait for you to hear about Chris’ unique perspective on the Lord’s work in our lives through what she calls, The Golden Thread, and our conversation about setting apart a few quiet moments to hear the Lord’s still small voice and receive all he has for us in the year ahea...

“A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O Night when Christ was born.” Reading those words, just makes you happy, doesn’t it?? Are you humming along? Is there music playing in your head?   Are you smiling? I am! Why is it that people are happier at Christmas? I wonder if a lot of it has to d...

It’s here, the most delightful Church season of the year! A time to focus on all the glorious things God is ... Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace! Four weeks on the calendar when we schedule time to stop and think about, I mean REALLY think about, a love of God for us so great and his desire for an unhindered relationship with us so powerful that He sent J...

Woo-hoo! Thanksgiving is here!  It’s so exciting to think about all the friends and family gathering together and also terrifying.  What does the Lord have for us in these life-long relationships that can be so messy at times? Are our Norman Rockwell visions of the family sitting around the table just a fairy tale?   … or an invitation from God? And if they are an invitation, how in the world are...

Welcome to this episode, where we talk about the incomprehensible mystery that our God will speak when we humbly lean in, ask him, and listen! And the shocking things he revealed to me as I followed what I heard him say.  Other great Thanksgiving articles to listen to while you’re preparing your Thanksgiving feast,  Invitation to Holy Hospitality Welcoming the Stranger … and who could be “Strange-...

Have you ever been captivated by a hero of the faith from history? Is there someone outside the pages of the Bible whose life powerfully inspires you every time you hear about it? Someone who seems to be walking a somewhat similar path, and yet maybe lived centuries before you or in a completely different culture?   What if that burning inside you is God’s indication that he has special gifts wait...

Can you believe it’s been 6 weeks since Labor Day? It seems everyone I talk to has enjoyed a beautiful and bustling fall. Ours has been filled with people we love, travel, and festivities.  If your fall has been anything like ours, you may be ready to slow down for a bit.  Join us for this episode where we recognize the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death and the Brit’s fantastic custom....

Sometimes I wish God would just let me make the rules. Every living thing left on its own will die, even us. For some crazy reason, God made us divinely insufficient and desperately in need of each other. Just as we are physically dependent on each other to survive, so we are also spiritually. I couldn’t have been more ecstatic than when I first came to know Jesus. I went to church every chance I...

I couldn’t have been more shocked at the powerful principle that came from this innocent little question a few weeks ago. Hold on tight for what it reveals in you! Blog post: What is God Stirring in You this Season? Learning Humility , by Richard Foster First Nations Native American New Testament by Terry Wildman To receive these and other great articles to grow closer to Jesus in your email each...

We contemplatives love our time with the Lord. We love silence and solitude and have discovered a pearl of great price that many never do. There’s no greater calling than spending time just with God like a lover, in an indescribable relationship with Him.  But, there’s another side of that same coin.  Join us for this episode where we’re going to talk about our relationship with the Lord with a li...

A battle that’s been going on since the beginning of time, but possibly even more challenging in the 21st century. Here, at the beginning of Fall with more opportunities than our strength, finances, or spirits can handle, how do we wade through the choices, to make the ones closest to God’s will; the ones when our lives are all said and done, we will be happiest we did?   Join me today as we tap i...