Summertime comes with a vengeance this year across much of our world. Sustained high temperatures can have broad impact like damaging crops, illness or death for livestock, widespread power outages, and severe risk of wildfires. Several fires are blazing across the globe today. Sometimes our spiritual lives can feel scorched by heat, dried in the…

There is no shame in being thankful for one’s blessings, especially as they relate to one’s country of origin or residence…. as long as the gratitude is grounded in an understanding that God doesn’t favor any one nation over another. After all, God is God of all the nations. It’s important to remember that people…

In 1964, Julie Andrews, playing the role of Mary Poppins sang the song “My Favorite Things.” In today’s episode of Awaken to God’s Presence, host and spiritual director Tyler Marz focuses the listener’s attention on wonderful things. Using Howard Thurman’s poem How Wonderful as a starting point, Tyler encourages us to celebrate the wonderful things found in life ……

In this episode of “Awaken to God’s Presence,” host Blake Smith guides listeners through a spiritual practice in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The episode features a poem entitled “Communi-tea: Our Stories” by Prasanta Verma, which celebrates the diversity and unity within the Asian American community. It encourages solidarity, inclusion, and…

From its very beginning, Community of Christ has looked to continuing revelation for guidance and direction for the path ahead.  And, we have not been disappointed.  Surprised at times…yes. Disappointed … no. As those called to be a prophetic people, it is important for us to discern … to patiently listen to God’s leadings as…

We all have a calling.  Some are called to serve in ordained ministry, but calling is so much more. Join host Wendy Brian as she leads listeners through a meditation intended to “Open Our Hearts” to see, hear, and know that to which God is calling us. Bring your creative imagination, and a willingness to…

Unity in Diversity feels like an oxymoron.  How can it be?  How can we maintain our own uniqueness in the presence of those who think and believe and live differently than us? The key may just lie in finding a way to see the value in the other, separate and apart from the ways in…

Can you imagine what true peace would look like in your life?  Would it be connected to a physical place or a quiet place in your soul? In this month’s episode of Awaken to God’s Presence, host Wendy Brian encourages us to join her in an imaginative meditation … creating for ourselves a “Shalom space”…

When we consider the deeper meaning of grace (beyond the prayer that one says before a meal), we cannot help but think of generosity. Grace is a gift from God offered without condition and without end. God’s generous gift of grace in our lives, in turn, evokes a deep sense of gratitude. In this episode…