Looking Within - A Contemplative Podcast
138 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratingsLooking Within is a podcast to help you quiet your mind, settle your body, and see God’s presence in your everyday life. Julie Stevens leads this program with the hope your time together will help you to feel more grounded, whole, and filled with a growing desire to be a conduit of God’s love and presence to the world around you.
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Episodes
Goodbye for now, but hello as well!
June 07, 2021 10:00 - 11 minutes - 15.8 MBThis is the final episode for now of “Looking Within,” but we’re very excited to be offering a new Facebook page called the “Looking Within Collective” to help you on your inner journey!
Get on with doing what you’re meant to do!
May 31, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.1 MBThe pearls of wisdom of those who have gone before us would be many! But one pearl sure to make the list would be the reminder that life is short. Don’t waste time on inner offenses, or on inner upset over unfulfilled expectations for life and others. Just get on with doing what you’re meant to do!
Doesn’t Waiting Just Drive You Crazy?
May 24, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.2 MBWe are not always good at waiting, are we! It can be annoying to have to wait for things or people, seemingly taking up many moments of our life. But although we don’t like waiting, it is often the most important part of the spiritual journey.
Prayers in Real-Time
May 17, 2021 10:00 - 9 minutes - 13.7 MBJesus prays for you, in real time. Could there be a more comforting reality that's securely wrapped around your life? -- that you're loved and supported by wonderful people, but above all, by Jesus?
Chosen to Love
May 10, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBGod does not primarily choose any of us for a role or task. God is really choosing us to be God’s self in the world, in our own unique situations and settings. We are each a part of uniquely being the face of God, sharing divine love in a way that no one else can or will.
Have You Forgotten Your True Identity?
May 03, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBDo you ever have one of those days when you just need to be loved? Do you ever doubt that who you are, or what you have to offer to the world, is really all that valuable? It’s so easy to forget our true identity as beloveds of God. You are enough. You are just right!
Love Needs Only the Simplest of Moments
April 26, 2021 11:00 - 13 minutes - 19 MBToday may you be encouraged in the role you play in your corner of the world. As helpless as we might feel to make even a dent in humanity’s challenges, it is a first, wonderful step to let our hearts soften in love.
Contemplation: Your Life is Your Spiritual Practice
April 19, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBContemplation is really just another word for prayer. At its core is relationship, and not the saying of prayers or the making requests to God (which are good and important in their own right). Contemplation brings us into a life lived in constant union and relationship with God.
There Is Gold Inside of You
April 12, 2021 10:00 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBThere is gold inside of you, longing for your attention to see new possibilities, new things to explore or to do, new ways of being that allow your wonderful light to shine as a uniquely made child of God.
Dry and Crusty Becomes Fresh and New
April 05, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 20.2 MBIt’s time to shed the dry crustiness that’s clinging to us from the winter. And if you’re feeling a little lost, weakened, and parched from the year now past, then remember the Risen Christ is always present to guide and strengthen you.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 7, Episode C: Guided Meditation into: Death - The Ultimate Spiritual Practice
April 02, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MBToday, we conclude our seven week series entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of being fully present to death. What do we do when we face death or when things don’t work out the way we had hoped? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 7, Episode B: Death - The Ultimate Spiritual Practice, Jesus’ Example and Teaching
March 31, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBToday, we continue the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 7, Episode A: Death - The Ultimate Spiritual Practice
March 29, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.5 MBToday, we begin the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 6, Episode C: Guided Meditation into Taking the One Seat
March 26, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 16.7 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode is a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of taking the one seat: What do we do when life gives us a challenging situation and there is no way out? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 6, Episode B: Taking the One Seat - The Examples of the Disciples and Jesus
March 24, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBThis week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of “taking the one seat.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught and lived out this practice with his disciples.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 6, Episode A: Taking the One Seat - Joni Eareckson’s Story
March 22, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.9 MBToday, we begin week six of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider the very challenging practice of “taking the one seat,” when we have only one option in life and it is not a good option.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 5, Episode C: Guided Meditation
March 19, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 16.6 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to letting go of a life that no longer works for us, a life based on worthiness rather than the abundant love of God.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 5, Episode B: Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out
March 17, 2021 10:00 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MBToday, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” On Monday we heard the story of Oskar Schindler. Today we consider how Jesus practiced this in his life.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 5, Episode A: Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out
March 15, 2021 10:00 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBToday, we begin week five of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” We tell the story of Oskar Schindler.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 4, Episode C: Guided Meditation - Surrender
March 12, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of surrender. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to surrender, “not my will but yours be done, Lord.”
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 4, Episode B: Surrender - The Practice of Surrender in Jesus’ life and Teaching
March 10, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MBToday, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” in Jesus’ life and his teaching.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 4, Episode A: Surrender - The Importance of Surrender When Traveling on a Train
March 08, 2021 12:00 - 13 minutes - 18.4 MBToday, we begin week four of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” as seen in a story told by Charles of his train trip to Oregon.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 3, Episode C: Remembering the Poor - Guided Meditation
March 05, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with remembering the poor. He calls them blessed, having a different perspective on life. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let us open our hearts to the wisdom of the blessed poor.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 3, Episode B: Remembering the Poor - “Blessed are the Poor”
March 03, 2021 11:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBToday, we continue week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.” Jesus calls them blessed. They may have much to tell us.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 3, Episode A: Remembering the Poor - The Story of Helen Keller
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 20.3 MBToday, we begin week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.”
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 2, Episode C: Guided Meditation into Silence and Solitude
February 26, 2021 12:00 - 11 minutes - 16.5 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with a beginner’s mind where we learn to let go of our wisdom, what we want, what we like, and start to understand things from God’s perspective, telling a new story and living a new life.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 2, Episode B: The Gift of An Empty Mind - The Story of Nicodemus
February 24, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 19.6 MBThis week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught this to the disciples, particularly to Nicodemus.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 2, Episode A: The Gift of A Beginner’s Mind - The Story of AA
February 22, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21 MBToday, we begin week two of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life,giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.”
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 2, Episode A: The Gift of A Beginner’s Mind” - The Story of AA
February 22, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21 MBToday, we begin week two of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life,giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.”
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 1, Episode C: Guided Meditation into Silence and Solitude
February 19, 2021 11:00 - 11 minutes - 16.5 MBEach Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with silence and solitude where he heard not only the voice of scarcity and fear, but also the voice of abundance and love. He let the second voice silence the first and learned to tell a new story and live a new life.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 1, Episode B: The Gift of Solitude and Silence - Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness
February 17, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBWe are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. On Monday, we talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s time in prison that led to a new story. Today, we talk about Jesus in the silence and solitude of the desert, tempted by Satan, where he learns a new story and a new life.
Imagining a New Life and a New Story | Week 1, Episode A: The Gift of Solitude and Silence - the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Story
February 15, 2021 12:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBWe are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. In the story of Jesus, these are seen as gifts. This week, as we begin the season of Lent, we explore how Jesus’ story informs our story. We see things differently: new stories, new lives.
2021 - A New Year: Will we merely survive or can we actually thrive? Week 5: Holding on to the Bad Wolf
February 08, 2021 12:00 - 14 minutes - 20.6 MBAs we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. We’ve told the story of the two wolves. One afraid, living in scarcity. The other full of love, living in abundance. For many, the voice of the bad wolf still dominates our thinking. Recognizing that voice is the first step to silencing it.
2021 - A New Year: Will we merely survive or can we actually thrive? Week 4: Feeding the Good Wolf
February 01, 2021 12:00 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MBAs we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. By doing nothing, we often live in fear and scarcity. But by living consciously, paying attention to our choice, we can learn to feed that part of us that can thrive even in the most challenging time.
2021 - A New Year: Will we merely survive or can we actually thrive? Week 3: We have a choice. Which “wolf” will we feed?
January 25, 2021 12:00 - 16 minutes - 22.4 MBAs we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Should we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Last week, we heard the story of The Two Wolves. This week we consider, “Which wolf will we feed?”
2021 - A New Year: Will we merely survive or can we actually thrive? Week 2: We have a choice. The story of the two wolves.
January 18, 2021 12:00 - 15 minutes - 21.6 MBAs we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Will we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Today, let’s consider the choice that is ours in the story of the two wolves.
2021 - A New Year: Will we merely survive or can we actually thrive?
January 11, 2021 12:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBNo one likes the uncertainty of living in a Covid-19 world. We wish to return to a time when we had more control over life. Return is not always an option. Sometimes we must push through. In the story of John Newton, we learn that in such times as these we have a unique opportunity to not merely survive but to thrive.
Travel Can Change Us
January 04, 2021 12:00 - 13 minutes - 18.6 MBTravel can change us. If we pay attention, we gain new perspectives on life that are energizing. Our hearts and minds are opened to new possibilities. Recently, we’ve all been on a journey: December’s journey to our Christmas celebration, and of course, our year long journey with Covid. What changes have you noticed looking back on your journey?
One Last Story for Christmas
December 28, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 20.5 MBThis year during December we’ve told stories about people who have had challenges, disappointments, and suffering. Yet in the midst of all this, they have found hope, joy, peace and love, the “big four” of Christmas. Today, we turn to Mary, the mother of our Lord, for her story at the end of Christmas, how she might have processed Christ’s birth.
Advent Special - Week 4, Episode C: Where is God’s love this Christmas? - Our own lives
December 25, 2020 12:00 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MBHow do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? We’ve spent 4 weeks preparing for our celebration and now Christmas is here. So how will we do? From the stories of those who have gone before us in similarly trying times, let’s consider a new vision for our Christmas celebration.
Advent Special - Week 4, Episode B: Where is God’s love this Christmas? - The Christ Child
December 23, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MBHow do we find God’s love this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of love as we heard the story of the Spafford family. Today we continue our theme as we consider the story of Christ’s birth, looking for the love of God in this innocent little child.
Advent Special - Week 4, Episode A: Where is God’s love this Christmas? - The Spafford Family
December 21, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBHow do we experience God’s love at Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the story behind a well known hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” This hymn, though comforting to us, was written by a man deep in grief, yet somehow, he found God’s love in his suffering. His story speaks to us today in our Covid world.
Advent Special - Week 3, Episode C: Where is our peace this Christmas? - Our own lives
December 18, 2020 12:00 - 17 minutes - 23.5 MBHow do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we conclude our conversations about finding peace in times of uncertainty and unrest. On Monday, we talked about the Christmas truce during World War I. Wednesday we talked about Joseph in the Christmas story. Today, Julie and Charles tell us their stories of peace.
Advent Special - Week 3, Episode B: Where is our peace this Christmas? - Joseph
December 16, 2020 12:00 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBHow do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of peace as we heard the story of the Christmas truce in World War I. Today we continue our theme as we consider Joseph in the nativity story. He was a man of inner peace and outer gentleness.
Advent Special - Week 3, Episode A: Where is our peace this Christmas? - The Christmas Truce
December 14, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBHow do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we look at a Christmas miracle, soldiers on Christmas Eve stopped fighting and together celebrated Christ’s birth. Their story is a message for us on how to navigate through distressful externals of life and still maintain a peaceful inner life.
Advent Special - Week 2, Episode C: Where is our joy this Christmas? - Our own lives
December 11, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MBHow do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” As we watch our own lives unfold, we can be anxious about life’s uncertainties or we trust God’s tender and caring words to us: “all will be well.”
Advent Special - Week 2, Episode B: Where is our joy this Christmas? - The Shepherds
December 09, 2020 12:00 - 14 minutes - 20.1 MBHow do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” In the story of Jesus’ birth, we see the shepherds experience a deep joy that is not influenced by any externals of life, but this joy holds firm in all circumstances.
Advent Special - Week 2, Episode A: Where is our joy this Christmas? - Julian of Norwich
December 07, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 20.7 MBHow do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the advice of a wonderful woman from the middle ages. She counseled many who struggled with suffering just like us. She always had the last word: “And all will be well.” What joy can her message bring to us today?
Advent Special - Week 1, Episode C: Where is our hope this Christmas? - Our own lives
December 04, 2020 12:00 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MBHow do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear how Julie and Charles practice holding this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. We invite you to share this practice in your own Christmas preparations.
Advent Special - Week 1, Episode B: Where is our hope this Christmas? - Mary
December 02, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 20.8 MBHow do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear from Mary in the story of Jesus’ birth. She held on to this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. She has much to tell us.