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Author: Laura Beach

Weekly Breather: Art Reflections

Stop. Breathe. Be. You are invited into a gentle rhythm of rest and refreshment every Friday with our Weekly Breather posts. This week, enjoy a mini-retreat involving art. Hint: Even though this is set up to be done in a museum, you can also use art you have at home.

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The Weekly Breather: Responding to Shame

“Shame always says that there is something wrong with what is inside of us. Shame says that at our core, we are to be condemned.” This Weekly Breather features a mini-retreat from Laura Beach, which helps us bring our shame to be healed at the feet of Jesus.

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The Weekly Breather: Running From Rest

“When we are perpetually tired, it is hard to find peace in our body, mind, and spirit. The longer we go without rest, the harder it is to enter into it. We can become like little children who, despite crankiness and fatigue, resist taking a nap.” This week, Laura Beach provides a mini-retreat to help us enter into that much-needed rest.

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Spiritual Direction is Like Jazz

What is Spiritual Direction like? What does it take to be a Spiritual Director? Laura Beach discusses how Spiritual Direction is like jazz: a holy version of controlled and trained improvisation in which the Spiritual Director listens and responds to the Spirit of God and the other.

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What is Spiritual Direction? A Training Opportunity!

Do you often experience people randomly telling you their entire life story? If there is an empty seat next to you, do people always seem to sit down and start talking? Do others often tell you their faith stories without necessarily being prompted? You may want to read this post! Laura Beach gives an explanation of what a Spiritual Director is and what they do, and she offers a great opportunity for training.

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Processing Grief through Lament in Worship Services

In a world that is increasingly loud and hard, ministers can lead worship experiences of quiet where we find a soft place to land in the love of God through Christ Jesus. Read more today from Laura Beach on the importance of guided times of lament and grief in worship.

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Processing Grief through Lament in Worship Services

In a world that is increasingly loud and hard, ministers can lead worship experiences of quiet where we find a soft place to land in the love of God through Christ Jesus. Read more today from Laura Beach on the importance of guided times of lament and grief in worship.

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A Guided Sabbath Prayer

Sabbath prayer is like a tree in winter, resting as it remains planted near streams of living water. Coming out of Sabbath prayer is like a tree in spring, at the weakest point of the branches emerge the miracle of the bud. Laura Beach leads us through a Sabbath prayer.

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3 Steps to Make “How Is It With Your Soul?” Work

You know that famous Wesleyan question, “how is it with your soul?” Does anyone else find it to be a daunting icebreaker? I have often heard from small group leaders that it can be a challenge to get their groups to go beyond surface conversations or fill in the blank Bible studies.

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