mysoulrefresh - reFresh: Recent Episodes
Paula Gamble-Grant
Paula Gamble-Grant, founder & president of reFresh offers short, weekly invitations to pause, consider and open your heart to living in love.
To grab 21 days to unhurryUp! your Hustle - go to http://mysoulrefresh.teachable.com
To grab Paula's Lenten devotional on Kindle - http://amzn.to/2C21UXS
To grab 21 days to unhurryUp! your Hustle - go to http://mysoulrefresh.teachable.com
To grab Paula's Lenten devotional on Kindle - http://amzn.to/2C21UXS
The gift of Ash Wednesday is that we are reminded that we are finite, limited and cannot do it all. The dust is to remind us that it's okay to be human. It's okay to stop. It's okay to let God love us as we are not as we think we should be.
To grab 21 days to unhurryUp! your Hustle - go to http://mysoulrefresh.teachable.com
To grab Paula's Lenten devotional on Kindle - http://amzn.to/2C21UXS
The original God-lovers were exhorted to "listen" and lean in to God's love in the midst of their ordinary every day life - as they were walking, sitting, and going through the doorways. How might you cultivate reminding yourself of God's Love in the midst of your ordinary daily activities?
for 21 days to unhurryUp! Your Hustle - go to http://mysoulrefresh.teachable.com
for Paula's Lenten devotional on Kindle - http://amzn.to/2C21UXS
Ever use a GPS app on your phone? When you zoom out and get too far ahead and can't see where you are on the map anymore, you can hit a "re-center" button to come back to the present moment. What pauses might you create in your day to "re-center" your soul and be attentive to the ways God is loving you in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Want more ideas on how to re-center your soul go to www.mysoulrefresh.teachable.com to get Paula's 21 days to unhurryUp! Your Hustle course
Why are you in such a hurry? What would it be like to live more present and fully alive? How do we learn to slow our souls, to grow our souls - to connect more deeply with God, ourselves and our life's purpose in loving others! Take a listen today as Paula talks about the disease of busyness. She'll also help you to not rush past "this" moment by teaching you how to pause and help yourself to breathe more deeply. Pick up Paula's free 21 days to unhurryUp! your Hustle at www.mysoulrefresh.teachable.com
The 'tiny' movement is really taking over - there are tiny homes, and tiny cars and now there are also tiny habits. Take a listen as Paula shares how you can integrate tiny habits into your spiritual formation to live more fully alive and grounded.
In this episode Paula shares a bit about how she made room for some new in her own life this last fall as well as invites you to consider what your own soul and God are inviting you toward.
Maya Angelou says there are 4 things we are unconsciously asking when we interact with others - take a listen and find out what those are and also find out how investing a few seconds a day can change your day, your interactions, and perhaps your way of being in the world. Go to www.mysoulrefresh.com/blog/5-seconds-that-will-change-your-day for more reflection questions and ideas for implementing this into your life.
It is amazing how often distractions keep us from what our heart really wants. Sometimes, the worst distraction is information about God rather than just being with God. If you'd like to unFrenzy and reFocus your soul - take a listen.
Dorothy Day said the greatest challenge of the day is to bring about a revolution of the heart which has to start with each one of us? How do you begin to change the world by caring for your own soul?
Do you feel inadequate in life? In relationships? At work? What invitations might that part of you have toward helping you intentionally attend to your own self care?
The self-help industry makes millions of dollars offering formulas to our problems - really to our inner angst. Yet, most of our deepest solutions come when we merely gather our own courage to pause and listen to our lives and the God-given wisdom within. Take a listen this week to how Paula helped another person pause to take a courageous look at her own God-given wisdom within.
Calling is less about task, geography or mission and more about an ever deepening, comfortable relationship with God, yourself and others. Take a listen to the three callings of Jesus...
Paula is in colorado speaking at Cru17 to ministers who minister to ministers and who are pretty amazing and pretty tired. How might pastors get more grounded in the Love of God vs the Work of the Ministry?
When I don't feel "tough enough" - do I heap shame on myself or tend to that part of me that is disappointed?
Do you ever feel caught living in the tension and messiness between grief and gratitude. Take a listen as Paula shares how she's processing that space in her own life.
Being "for and with" people is the highest of privilege...knowing God is the Ultimate One "for and with" us is sustaining.
What would it be like if your work was like play and your play was like love? What keeps you from living fully alive and fully free?
Does God ever show up in ways you don't expect? In what moments of your day have you seen the King? How are you opening your heart and eyes with expectancy to see God's Beauty and Love every day?
It's hard to say goodbye to people who've been so important in your life. My uncle Jim was one of them.
Do you ever feel tired? Or frustrated with yourself? or even guilty that you're not doing enough. How might you learn to companion yourself with kindness in the midst of the real struggles of your real life?
It's Holy Week. And long before Jesus goes to the cross there are incredible demonstrations of his love for us. How will you let Jesus minister to you in your places of sorrow this week?
As we walk through Holy Week - how will you encounter the "fickleness" of your own soul - one moment feeling deep faith and the next moment feeling full of doubt? There is plenty of both in the stories of this last week of Jesus life - from the crowds who "hallow him" on Palm Sunday and cry out to crucify him a few days later. How will you walk through this week?
Part of being formed spiritually is letting yourself be loved by God. Another part - is learning to love yourself - especially the parts that embarrass and frustrate you. How's your love life?
Do you ever long for God to "just show up" and fix messes? Or do you wonder why God doesn't fix messes? How might you open your heart to trust God to be with you in the midst of the myriad of messes that are a part of living life?
Where is the Word of God? And how might it have the deepest impact?
WW #77 - Lent is a season to celebrate our humanity - to look at the parts of us that frustrate us and open them to the love of God? Will you let yourself be loved - all of you - even the parts of you that frustrate you?
During this season of Lent we are considering "celebrating" our humanity - and part of that is actually becoming more aware of what we want. Sometimes this is hidden beneath our platitudes, disappointments and our restlessness. How would you answer Jesus' question?
Have you ever said, "I can't wait for heaven!" or "When Jesus comes, everything will be better?" The resurrection is NOT only about the future - it is about THIS present moment.
Most of us would not admit that we feel indispensable - until, out of choice or circumstance, we're not allowed to do what we've been doing. Facing that limitation is often a gift in the midst. What are you limitations revealing to you about you? About God?
The cult of busy demands more...so we must intention to "just be." How might you create some "being space" in your day?
Do you enter every day with a sense of wonder? When was the last time you "tasted" joy, wonder, delight, mystery, awe? What words describe YOUR daily spiritual journey?
Today is Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the season of Lent. Today is a day to remind ourselves to celebrate the fact that we are imperfect, cannot do it all, messy and limited human beings. How will you celebrate. Check out Paula's resources for Lent by going to www.mysoulrefresh.com - she has a book (Kindle) at Amazon called unhurryUp! Into Easter and a half day retreat guide available in her online store at www.mysoulrefresh.com/online-store/
Are you striving (and failing) at holiness? Do you even care? What is holiness anyway? How might you embrace the simple (but not easy) invitation to be and to live?
Are you gouging out the heart of Christianity?
Extending the rhythmic way of Lectio, Audio, and Visio Divina into everyday living helps expand our vision of God and ourselves.
Have you ever thought, "if they really knew me, they couldn't love me?" Well - then there's an "imposter" at work within you. If you'd like to see about ridding yourself of that - read on.
The past few weeks we've looked at a rhythmic way of interacting with Scripture, pictures or other everyday ordinary things. This week, Paula guides through a reflection on "audio" divina using an original song.
Do you steel away parts of your life in protection? What if that very act was also what was preventing you from being opened up to living out your destiny? Take a moment to reflect on this Frederick Buechner quote today and see what emerges within.
Paula continues her reflections on Brennan Manning's book, Abba's Child. In what ways do you reject yourself and how is it interfering with your spiritual growth?
Paula introduces the practice of Visio Divina. To see the picture on her website go to www.mysoulrefresh.com/sacred-seeing
Merely hoping for change will lead to a life lived in regrettable responses to the stresses and strains that come along with their taunting, devouring and cynical ways. How might you cultivate space for God in your own life and soul?
Do you believe God loves you - not because you've got it all together - but just because he cannot not love you? Join Paula on her reflections of Brennan Manning's classic book, Abba's Child. Will you let yourself be loved?
Before the 1500s most scripture was "listened" to. An ancient practice of Lectio divina is a creative way to encounter God in scripture today. Take a listen as paula both introduces this practice and leads you through a short passage. If you'd like the pdf handout she's referring to, please go to http://mysoulrefresh.com/spiritual-formation-resources/ and look for the pdf download.
Do you ever wonder if there's more to this spiritual life than you are now experiencing? Have you ever wondered what is wrong with you because you don't "get" this faith journey? Have you ever wondered if there was more than just going through the motions? If so - take heart.
Most ministry organizations try to be really effective and big - but what if less is more? Paula shares a few thoughts after her recent trip to Lithuania. In what ways are you being invited to embrace "small"?
As you enter into 2017, for what are you trusting God? In what ways is it easy? In what ways is it hard? How might you grow in your trust as you continue your journey of faith?
Do you have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility? I sure do. It's hard to embrace all that I am sometimes. Today's reflection invites you to embrace yourself - just as you are.
Burnout and busyness are increasingly epidemic. Most burnout comes when we violate our own God-given nature. How might you move toward greater authenticity?
There are so many journeys in the Christmas story...and in our own lives. How you walk makes a difference. Take a listen as Paula invites us to embrace the unexpected with an open heart and trust in God.
In what ways are your insecurities driving you to be busy? Re-center your soul with this morning's reFlections.
Do you ever feel a disappointment in yourself - like you're not enough? How do you let this part of you lead you to truth?
reFlecting on the story of Advent it is amazing how many people were welcomed at the Incarnation. How might that invite us to be more welcoming during this Advent and Christmas season?
On the anniversary of her sitting at the front of the bus, in what ways is God inviting you to live into and out of your authentic self?
Sometimes life gets so overwhelming it's easy to feel overwhelmed and overlooked. This week, how might you lean into your Advent season by waiting vulnerably with the Lord?
Do you ever feel alone on the journey? Misunderstood, overwhelmed, in need? Take a reflective look at Mary and Elizabeth as you walk into this first week of Advent.
Let your God love you - the hard part is to "let" - here's a poem to invite you to love.
Do you ever give thanks with a twinge of sarcasm? I hope so - I don't want to be alone. But our sarcastic thanks actually reveal something deeper within us. Take a listen this week as Paula shares a bit about the sarcastic thanks yous she has in her own life. For more on the Advent Guide mentioned go to http://mysoulrefresh.com/no-nonsense-advent
There's a lot of noise right now in the world. So much noise it's hard to hear any one thing. Like a good piece of music, our song might need some "rest notes." What are yours?
The world needs yours and my strength and beauty and truth now more than ever! What is the deepest vocational question and what can throw us off track? Paula continues her reFlections on Parker Palmer's book, "Let your life speak."
Today, Paula leads a guided reflection through St. Francis' great "Lord make me an instrument of Thy Peace" prayer. In what ways is God inviting you to sow love to the hatred that is very much present in our world today?
Too many of us have been taught to live our faith in the top 3 inches of our bodies. How might you deepen your faith by learning to engage all your senses in the midst of your everyday ordinary world?
What is your life saying to you about you? To others about you? To others about who God is? Paula is starting reflections on another one of her favorite books, "Let your Life Speak" by Parker Palmer.
In the aftermath of a peculiar and somewhat depressing election season - today is the day you need to hear and be reminded of who is really in charge.
Do you live life hypnotically and unaware? Do you want to live more rhythmically in gentle awareness? Paula introduces three movements toward living more attentively in life.
You know the story - Mary and Martha...whether you feel like a Martha and want to be a Mary - take a look at today's ponderments as Paula shares how Gerald May re-paradigms the parable for us.
Do you ever feel like you're backsliding? The things you think you're supposed to be doing to be a "good" Christian don't interest you anymore. Take a listen to a recent discussion Paula had with a friend - and take heart...perhaps God is inviting you to something more.
IN what ways would your life be different if you expectantly looked for God's love and beauty to chase after you?
What are the greatest anxiety "systems" for you? (family, politics, work, , church, friendships)
What are the activities, people, responsibilities and attitudes that contribute to lack of rest in your life? Click for deeper reFlection/suggestions on how to unFrenzy your life.
Do you feel burdened by what's on your plate? Or perhaps inauthentic - having to force "niceness" or making time happen to be with God? You might just be worshiping activity instead of God.
Do you say pious things about God but live as if you and your family's survival all depended upon you? Take a listen today as Paula shares a possible remedy to our temptation to trespass against God.
Do you ever catch yourself hypnotically moving through your day? Or perhaps you stay too much in your head. So how do you bring all of you to a moment?
Monday's unhurryUp! Moment - set aside a little time to consider Rhesa's words on the Theology of Sabbath which is posted on our blog today.
This is week 5 of Paula's musings with Gerald May's book, "The Awakened Heart." Have you ever heard or used the phrase, "God showed up"? The phrase betrays the reality that God is with us always. Take a deeper look into the ways that you are noticing God in the midst of your ordinary, every day life.
This is WW #60 - how do you balance or integrate your mission with enjoying the world. Paula reFlects on how the two might actually be more aligned than we think.
In the midst of the busy of our modern world, do you forget God is with you? Today, Paula introduces a breath prayer and practice that might help you remind your heart of God's presence in the midst of your ordinary activities.
Are you spending your day present or hypnotically going through the motions? The habits you practice now will be how you live out your days. In what ways is God inviting you toward spending your days more present to Love?
Do you feel like you're a victim to schedules? Do you wish for more time and less busy? How might you unFrenzy your Friday with different choices?
Do you ever get kidnapped by worries? I do - every day. How might we "return" to God's graces in the midst of our kidnapping. More musings on The Awakened Heart...
Take a listen this week as Paula helps you live unhurried for a moment...a moment where you have nothing to solve, fix or figure out.