Quiet on Purpose

Recently, it has seemed like everyone I know and love is involved in some kind of battle. Battles with various health struggles, battles with addiction, battles with a multitude of unforeseen life circumstances that are completely out of our control. It’s not only the world around us that feels out of control, it’s our own daily, personal lives. Have you ever noticed that sometimes life can be flowing along nicely, with everything seemingly “under control,” and then in an instant, the illusion of control is exposed for just that - an illusion?! Some seasons just bring that more clearly into focus, and for me, and so many of my loved ones, this is one of those seasons! That's what makes the scripture in this episode so remarkable and comforting! I hope you'll listen in. Exodus 14.14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2014%3A14&version=NIV] Questions from today's episode: What season am I in today: one where everything seems under control? Or one in which I am painfully aware of my lack of control? Where am I in the trust cycle? Have I taken up my weapons? Am I overwhelmed, fearful and panicky? Or, have I chosen to lay down my weapons, be still, and trust God to fight for me? Is there an invitation or a comfort for me in this scripture today?

I think I’ve mentioned here and there over the years that I like to choose a word each year to represent where I see God at work in my heart as I step into a new year. In 2024, I chose the word Dwell. "Sitting quietly in the presence of God and my own soul" is one of the foundational purposes of this podcast, and spending an entire year dwelling on the word Dwell helped draw me back, and draw me deeper, into that practice. Throughout the year, I spent time searching the scriptures for verses with the word dwell in them. What I ended up discovering was this beautiful thread throughout scripture, which I believe is God’s foundational purpose for humanity. Listen in as I share some of what I found! Read Psalm 91:1-2 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2091%3A1-2&version=NIV] Question from today's episode: As you sit quietly in the presence of the Most High, ask Him to gently reveal to you any false shelters in which you are trusting for refuge today, anywhere you seek rest outside His shadow. If anything comes to mind, simply acknowledge and confess it, then walk away, allowing Him to lead you to His dwelling place instead. Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance What I'm listening [https://open.spotify.com/track/2gWojyoJYNmJ2MI7UVo6Pz?si=fe696d046d9c460e] to right now

I don’t have extensive experience on the sea, but I’ve spent a bit of time in and around the ocean and other large bodies of water; enough to know what I bet you know too: it doesn’t take much time out on a large body of water to be impressed by the immensity of it. When you’re out in the middle of the water on a vessel that seems large from land, you suddenly feel very small. Imagine being surrounded in that same way, by an overwhelming knowledge of the glory of the Lord! Listen in! Habakkuk 2:14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Habakkuk%202%3A14&version=NIV] Do I have a solid grasp of the reality that a day is coming in which the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, so much so that my heart can hold onto that hope, even in difficult times? Do I have a solid grasp of the reality that only the work that I do toward that end will endure beyond my lifetime? Is there a gentle invitation to my soul through this verse today? How will I respond?

Friends, there was an error in the original upload of this episode, so that the audio was a repeat of Episode 105! My apologies! This episode has been edited with the correct audio now added! Does your church, or maybe another church in your vicinity, have church bells? Do they ring out on Sunday mornings? Have you had the privilege of traveling abroad and been touring a city when you hear church bells ring, calling out to those within earshot that a worship service is about to begin? I think the sound of church bells is so joyful and sacred! But we don't have to wait for church bells in order to hear the joyful call to worship. If we tune our hearts to hear it, the call to worship can be heard all around us. Today's episode is one! Listen in. Read ⁠Psalm 89:15⁠ [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2089%3A15&version=NLT] Questions from today's episode: How quick, or slow, is my own heart to notice and respond to the joyful call of worship? Are there specific habits I can adopt that will help me to grow in this area? What are the joyful calls to worship in my life today? Psalm 89 set to ⁠music⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/track/2r3CggjwreBQkAdqaHRyYQ?si=df6ec76d85a24841] Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Does your church, or maybe another church in your vicinity, have church bells? Do they ring out on Sunday mornings? Have you had the privilege of traveling abroad and been touring a city when you hear church bells ring, calling out to those within earshot that a worship service is about to begin? I think the sound of church bells is so joyful and sacred! But we don't have to wait for church bells in order to hear the joyful call to worship. If we tune our hearts to hear it, the call to worship can be heard all around us. Today's episode is one! Listen in. Read Psalm 89:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2089%3A15&version=NLT] Questions from today's episode: How quick, or slow, is my own heart to notice and respond to the joyful call of worship? Are there specific habits I can adopt that will help me to grow in this area? What are the joyful calls to worship in my life today? Psalm 89 set to music [https://open.spotify.com/track/2r3CggjwreBQkAdqaHRyYQ?si=df6ec76d85a24841] Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance