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Sanctuary Stirrings
Lori G Melton
50 episodes
2 hours ago
Compelling conversations for passionate followers of Jesus, longing to stay open, unhindered, undistracted, and excited about the adventure of walking with Him. You’ll be inspired by each episode and leave with helpful practices to deepen your intimacy with God and others and take one more step in becoming all you were created to be.
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Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
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All content for Sanctuary Stirrings is the property of Lori G Melton and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Compelling conversations for passionate followers of Jesus, longing to stay open, unhindered, undistracted, and excited about the adventure of walking with Him. You’ll be inspired by each episode and leave with helpful practices to deepen your intimacy with God and others and take one more step in becoming all you were created to be.
Show more...
Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
Episodes (20/50)
Sanctuary Stirrings
Calling, Cost, & Joy–What Lori’s Story Can Teach Us About Our Own

In this episode of The Journey with a Giant podcast, Robert Prince interviews Lori G. Melton about her decade-long journey behind her book, Journey with a Giant. Lori shares how God rekindled her passion for writing during the COVID-19 lockdown and the pivotal moments and people who shaped her path.

Despite challenges and sacrifices, she remained faithful, stewarding her calling to write a book about spiritual growth and walking with spiritual giants. Her story highlights the importance of discerning one’s calling over time and staying committed through the highs and lows.

This episode encourages listeners to trust God’s timing and take one faithful step at a time in their own journeys.

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • Watch this Episode on YouTube.

Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit lorigmelton.com or thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.


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4 days ago
36 minutes 52 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#48 Shaping the Story--Behind the Scenes of Journey with a Giant with Editor Leslie Calhoun

In this special episode, co-host Robert Prince introduces a heartfelt conversation between Lori G. Melton and her editor, Leslie Calhoun of Waterbrook Books / Penguin Random House.

Together, Lori and Leslie pull back the curtain on the creative process behind Journey with a Giant—from the first spark of an idea to the final pages of the book, soon to be released. Leslie shares her journey into editing and her deep joy in helping faith-filled stories find their way into the world.

What emerges is more than a story about publishing—it’s a testimony of how God works behind the scenes, weaving together people, timing, and callings in miraculous ways.

For anyone who’s ever wondered if their quiet “yes” could really matter — May this episode speak to you —God is doing more behind the scenes than you can imagine!

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • Watch this Episode on YouTube.


Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025


For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit lorigmelton.com or thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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1 week ago
35 minutes 11 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
Your JWAG Questions, Answered!

In this special episode of The Journey with a Giant podcast, Lori G. Melton explores the most frequently asked questions from readers and those just discovering Journey with a Giant.

Before diving into the questions, Lori shares a moving story from her week that illustrates the reach and healing this practice can have. From a chance encounter to a heartfelt conversation with a woman searching for connection and comfort, Lori reflects on how Journey with a Giant can touch lives in unexpected and profound ways.

Then, she answers the questions that matter most like:

  • What is a “Giant” and who qualifies as one?

  • How do I find or choose my Giant?

  • Can I journey alone, or is it better in a group?

  • What if someone else chooses the same Giant I did?

  • How do I structure my journey and what resources should I use?

  • How long does it take, and what can I expect to experience?

If you’re curious about the practice and looking for clarity, encouragement, and practical guidance, this episode was created with you in mind!


📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • Downloadable Journey with a Giant Discussion Guide

  • Watch this Episode on YouTube.


Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025


For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit lorigmelton.com or thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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2 weeks ago
18 minutes 14 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
When Justice Becomes Worship: Kirstin Olson’s Journey with Fannie Lou Hamer

Through the courage and faithfulness of those who have gone before us, God calls us forward—to the steps of courage He is asking of us today.  

In this episode of 'The Journey with the Giant' podcast, Lori G. Melton and Robert Prince introduce fellow writer Kirstin Olson as she shares her transformative experience journeying with civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. 

Kirstin, a language teacher and recent empty nester, reflects on the profound impact this spiritual practice has had on her faith and personal life, revealing how Hamer's resilience and activism have inspired her to confront injustice in her community and embrace deeper worship. 

The discussion highlights the importance of walking with others in our spiritual lives and emphasizes the enduring wisdom gained from walking with giants of the faith. 

This enriching conversation encourages listeners to pursue a deeply intentional spiritual journey and honor the sacrifices of those who came before. Kirstin’s experience with Fannie Lou Hamer inspires us to step courageously into acts of justice, compassion, and worship in our own lives.

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  • Walk with Me: A Biography of Fannie Lou Hamer by Kate Clifford Larson

  • Fannie Lou Hamer Testimony Before the Credentials Committee (1964), YouTube recording, 8 min.

  • Precious Lord, Take My Hand Recording of Fannie Lou Hamer, YouTube Recording

Additional Links:

  • Watch on YouTube.

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • Journey with a Giant Discussion Guide

Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.

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3 weeks ago
41 minutes 39 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#45 Walking With Friends: Why Community Transforms the Journey

There is a beautiful grace when we include others on our spiritual journey. 

In this episode of Journey with a Giant, Lori G. Melton and co-host Robert Prince explore the transformative power of walking with a giant of the faith alongside friends.

They reflect on the spiritual growth, transformation, and joy that multiply when we share our spiritual life with others. Walking with a giant in community provides encouragement, accountability, and a safe space to explore faith, creating experiences that are richer and more rewarding than walking alone. 

Listeners will gain practical ideas for what it could look like to Journey with a Giant with friends and discover how shared reflection and companionship can multiply the understanding and transformation of all those in the group.

  

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  • Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  • Journey with a Giant Discussion Guide

Additional Links:

  • Watch this episode on YouTube.

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  •  The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center


Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025


For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.

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1 month ago
32 minutes 51 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#44 Friendship, Formation, and the Giants Who Guide Us with Julie Blakely & Sherri Willett

Some relationships don’t just enrich our lives—they shape our souls. In this episode of Journey with a Giant, Lori G. Melton sits down with longtime friends Julie Blakely and Sherri Willett to explore the gift of spiritual friendship and the transformative practice of walking with giants.

They share how their bond as “Abba Sisters” and the Celtic concept of Anam Cara (soul friendship) have deepened their spiritual journeys, offering guidance, encouragement, and accountability. Listen as they reflect on the influence of giants like Madeleine L’Engle, Evelyn Underhill, Henri Nouwen, Elizabeth Elliot, and Harriet Tubman, and how these figures have shaped their faith, personal growth, and the courage to live faithfully in community.

This conversation is a celebration of the profound impact of companionship on the spiritual life and the giant journey and a reminder that formation happens best when we journey together.

📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  • Anam Cara by John O’Donahue

  • Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith & Art by Madeleine L’Engle

  • The Ways of the Spirit by Evelyn Underhill and Grace Adolphsen Brame

Additional Links:

  • Click Here to watch on YouTube.

  •  Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.


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1 month ago
40 minutes 25 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#43 Passing on the Practice: Sister Diane Zerfas & Two Decades of Walking with Giants (Part 2!)

Some stories just don’t inform us; they shape us.

In this episode of Journey with a Giant, gifted storyteller Sister Diane Zerfas, the Spiritual Formations Director at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, shares the remarkable transformations she has witnessed in her students over more than two decades of guiding them in the practice of walking with spiritual giants.

You’ll hear how this practice provides a deep-rooted connection in a world that often feels untethered and isolated. Through walking with giants, we are reminded that we never walk alone.

The episode concludes with Sister Diane’s heartfelt prayer for the practice, an invitation to notice God’s presence in our own lives and the faithful examples around us. You won’t want to miss it! 

Resources:

  • Adam by Henri Nouwen.

  • The Dominican Center of Grand Rapids, MI

  • Click Here to watch on YouTube.

  •  Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  •  The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center

Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.

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1 month ago
32 minutes 23 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#42 Passing on the Practice: Sr Diane Zerfas and Two Decades of Walking with Giants! (Part I)

Some conversations feel like opening a treasure chest and this week’s episode is one of them!

This week on Journey with a Giant, hosts Lori G. Melton and Robert Prince welcome Sister Diane Zerfas, the Spiritual Formations Director at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan— the one who first introduced Lori and hundreds of other students to the practice of walking with spiritual giants, for the first of a special two-part series.

Listen as Sister Diane opens up about her own path with spiritual giants, her story-driven approach to spiritual direction, and the biblical and practical significance of companioning with these mentors.

If you’ve enjoyed the previous episodes, you’re going to absolutely love this one!


📚 Resources:

  • Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction by David G. Benner—a great book if you are curious to learn more about spiritual direction.

  • The Dominican Center of Grand Rapids, MI

  •  Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  •  Click here to watch this episode on YouTube

  •  The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center


Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.

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1 month ago
31 minutes 34 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#41 Trusting the Spirit’s Call: Andy Rebollar’s Journey with Thomas Merton & Henri Nouwen

This week on Journey with a Giant, host Lori G. Melton and co-host Robert Prince welcome Andy Rebollar—a spiritual director, at-home dad, and facilitator at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids—for a deeply thoughtful conversation about his transformative experiences walking with Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton.

Andy shares how these spiritual giants invited him to a deeper trust in God’s guidance, to explore vulnerability and shadow with courage, and to live out his faith in a way that embraces both solitude and community. From Merton’s contemplative depth to Nouwen’s radical honesty and eventual home at L’Arche, Andy’s story reflects the beauty of letting God’s Spirit lead—even into unfamiliar or surprising places.

This conversation is a reminder that the giants God gives us are not simply teachers, but companions who help us, through their example, to become more fully ourselves in Christ. Andy’s reflections will encourage you to live with joyful curiosity and trust that God is directing every step of your journey — whether it appears that way in the moment or not.


📚Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

  •  Living with Wisdom: A Biography of Thomas Merton by Jim Forest

  •  Befriending Life: Encounters with Henri Nouwen by Michael Ford

  •  Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  •  Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  •  Click here to watch this episode on YouTube

  •  The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center

Have questions or thoughts about this episode? Email Lori at lori@thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com.

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend so they can be

inspired, too!

Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025

For encouragement and resources to grow in your walk with God, visit thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.


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2 months ago
36 minutes 40 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#40 A Pastor Pastored: Colin Tuggle's Journey with Eugene Peterson

This week on Journey with a Giant, host Lori G. Melton and co-host Robert Prince welcome pastor and nonprofit leader Colin Tuggle for a heartfelt conversation about his transformative experience walking with spiritual giant Eugene Peterson.


Through Peterson’s example, Colin found permission to slow down, embrace the long, hidden work of pastoring, and deepen his intimacy with Jesus. Peterson’s legacy—staying faithful in one place, resisting the lure of celebrity, and nurturing a local flock for decades—became a guiding light for Colin, both as a follower of Christ and a pastor.


This conversation reminds us that even those who shepherd others need to be shepherded themselves. And that sometimes, the most transformative companionship comes not from the stage, but from the quiet, ordinary faithfulness of those who finish the race well.


For more about Colin and his ministry, visit https://www.adkmission.org.


📚 Resources Mentioned in This Episode


  • A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson by Winn Collier

  • Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant

  • Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center

  • Click here to watch the episode on YouTube.


Music: The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.

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2 months ago
31 minutes 33 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#39 When Doctrine Meets Devotion: Stacy Holmes’ Journey with John Calvin

This week on Journey with a Giant, host Lori G. Melton and co-host Robert Prince sit down with guest Stacy Holmes—a wife, mom, homeschooler, podcaster, pastor, and spiritual director—for a thought-provoking conversation about her journey with the spiritual giant John Calvin.


Stacy shares about her unexpected journey with John Calvin, a theological giant she once thought she had little in common with. Yet during the difficult days of COVID-19, Calvin’s insatiable hunger for Scripture and his passion for reform became a surprising source of comfort, conviction, and guidance. Through his writings, Stacy discovered not only a deeper love for the Word of God but also the beauty of engaging voices across theological divides.


This conversation is both grounding and stretching, reminding us that God often meets us through unlikely companions. 


For more information about Stacy or her podcast, visit https://www.glordinary.com/


Resources Mentioned in This Episode:


  • The Piety of John Calvin: A Collection of His Spiritual Prose, Poems, and Hymns, translated by Ford Lewis Battles.  

  • Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with a Giant  

  • Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G. Melton

  • The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center


Music, The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025.


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek.


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2 months ago
41 minutes 6 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#38 From Curiosity to Communion—Robert Prince’s Journey with John O’Donohue & Thomas Merton

This week on Journey with a Giant, Lori turns the microphone towards her co-host, Pastor Robert Prince—and what a conversation it is! Robert opens up about his own season of spiritual apathy and the surprising ways God reawakened his heart through journeying with two remarkable spiritual giants.


His first giant, John O’Donohue, ushered him into the beauty and depth of Celtic Christianity, sparking a faith renewal that led to a life-changing pilgrimage to Ireland. His second, Thomas Merton, invited him into the gifts of solitude, silence, and experiencing God’s presence in creation. Together, these mentors—one a poet-philosopher, the other a contemplative monk—have shaped Robert’s spiritual life, creativity, and ministry in profound ways.


Along the way, Robert shares moments of awakening, the practices that keep him rooted, and how walking with giants can help each of us draw closer to Jesus. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the idea of spiritual giants or you’re already on the journey, this episode will leave you both inspired and eager to discover your own companions for the road.


Join us—and discover what might happen when curiosity leads you to communion.


----------

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:


  • Overcoming Spiritual Apathy poem PDF, Prayers of R.E.S.T. by Asheritah Ciuciu, pg 229

  • For more information on Robert or his ministry, visit recognizingthedivine.com

  • Click here⁠ to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with A Giant

  • ⁠Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God⁠ by Lori G Melton

  • ⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center⁠


Music, The Journey, ⁠Kevin Melton Productions, LLC⁠, Copyright 2025.


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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2 months ago
40 minutes 41 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#37 A Great Cloud of Witnesses--The Heart Behind Journey with a Giant

In the very first interview of the Journey with a Giant series, co-host Robert Prince turns the microphone toward author, retreat leader, and spiritual director Lori G. Melton to uncover the story and inspiration behind her upcoming book, Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God.


Lori shares how the practice of walking with spiritual giants—faithful men and women from history who point us toward Jesus—has shaped her own journey with God. Through personal stories, moments of challenge, and divine invitations, she reveals how this practice can become a powerful pathway for spiritual growth, clarity of calling, and deeper intimacy with God.


This heartfelt conversation sets the stage for an inspiring series, where you’ll hear from guests who have also walked with giants and discovered how their lives were transformed.


If you’re ready to strengthen your faith and step into your own lifelong adventure with God, join us for this exciting episode! 


—----


Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with A Giant


Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G Melton


The Sanctuary at Bear Creek


Sensible Shoes: A Story about the Spiritual Journey, by Sharon Garlough Brown


Music, The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025.


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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2 months ago
39 minutes 23 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#36 A New Invitation for Your Spirit—The Journey Begins

Are you ready for an adventure of faith? Reach out for the Savior’s hand. Today it begins!

 

You’ve been hearing about walking with spiritual Giants for years, a mysterious practice somewhere out in the distance. Today, we finally get to bring it to you.

 

Welcome to the Journey with a Giant series!

In this introductory episode, listen in as host Robert Prince and I introduce you to the concept of spiritual giants and the purpose behind this new podcast series. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look as I share my inspiration and the transformative experience I’ve had walking with spiritual giants.


You’ll learn about the theological foundation in Hebrews12:1-2, where we uncover the treasure chest of faithful believers who have lived before us and the influence that they are meant to have on our current faithjourneys.


You may even begin to identify your own spiritual mentors, as the Spirit brings this discipleship practice to life in you!  

 

Click here to download your free Sneak Peek of Journey with A Giant

Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G Melton

The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Abide Retreat Cabin


Music, The Journey, Kevin Melton Productions, LLC, Copyright 2025.


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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3 months ago
12 minutes 13 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
Ep #35 7 Simple Steps for Retreating with a Friend

As fall draws near, you may find yourself longing for time on retreat. For many of you who have reached out asking when our next Sanctuary group retreat will be, you don’t have to wait any longer! 

In today’s episode, we explore how you can create your own retreat experience in a simple and meaningful way with a friend! 

The episode begins with reflections on what God has been doing this summer, the Renovare conference, happenings at the Sanctuary, and exciting developments on the retreat barn. Plus, exciting updates about Journey with a Giant, including a special podcast series and how you can be a part of the Book Launch Team.

(To skip ahead to this month’s topic, go to 5:30)

______________________________________


7 Simple Steps for Retreating with a Friend


  1. Invite a Friend

  2. Find a Quiet Place

  3. Commute Together or Apart

  4. Set Intentions as You Begin

  5. Decide When You Will Meet for Spiritual Companioning

  6. Spiritual Companioning Sessions

  7. End with Prayer and Reflection

Resources Mentioned:


  • Our 7 Favorite Retreat Spaces - Free download 

  • Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God by Ruth Haley Barton

  • Journey with a Giant Book Launch Team  

  • Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G Melton

  • The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Abide Retreat Cabin


For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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3 months ago
16 minutes 56 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#34 Take a Pilgrimage this Summer—Without Leaving Home!

After a month away walking the Camino de Santiago, we’re back! Listen to this episode, for some of the most powerful moments of that sacred journey—and how you can enter into a spiritual pilgrimage of your own, even if you never leave your neighborhood.

Walking a pilgrimage stretches your faith, deepens your dependence on God, and reminds you of your true identity as pilgrims. Whether you’re planning a trip or simply longing for a closer walk with God, this episode is for you! 

Plus, exciting news about the Journey with a Giant book release and new tools coming your way soon!

Resources mentioned in this Episode:

Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. This classic was written in the 17th century by pastor John Bunyan while he was imprisoned for his faith. Like the apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament while imprisoned, John Bunyan wrote this classic while imprisoned for his faith. I bought a small copy to take on our trip but wasn’t able to fit it in my backpack. I think the Lord wanted me to have plenty of space to experience my own pilgrim journey while I was gone. Now that I’m home, I am reading it slowly. Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 1300s, is another pilgrim’s tale less dreamy than Pilgrim’s Progress. A fellow spiritual director recommended it to give even more perspective, with more real-life scenarios to our lives as a pilgrimage.


Camino Booklet: A Summer Pilgrimage Reflection by Lori G Melton. Free downloadable PDF recounting Lori and her husband’s 15-Day Camino pilgrimage; this guide will lead you on a sacred pilgrimage of your own. 


The Joy of Saying “Yes” to God’s Invitation: How God’s Invitations Lead to Abundant Life, Last month’s newsletter article

Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori G Melton

The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Abide Retreat Cabin

For more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.


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4 months ago
17 minutes 55 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#33 Finding Your Sacred Space--Where is Your NEST? A Conversation with Special Guest Linda Andersen

Do you long for a place to meet with God? A sacred space that feels like home to your soul?

In this episode, we explore the significance of these personal havens with mentor and spiritual formation expert Linda Andersen. Linda shares her story of how God has led herto sacred spaces through the years and how He may be doing the same for you.

 

Join us for this heart-stirring conversation that will leave you inspired to seek out (or rediscover) the NESTs God is calling you to, and with a prayer of love to your Abba Father who is, and always will long, for time alone with you.  

 

Resources mentioned in this Episode:

 

Three Questions to Ask Yourself During Lent, Podcast with Bishop Barron
Blaise Pascal, Scientific and Spiritual Prodigy, Christianity Today
Spiritual Retreat for Tired Souls: A Quiet Guide for Time Alone with God by Linda Andersen
Journey with a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God by Lori GMelton

The Abide Retreat CabinFor more encouragement and resources to grow in your relationship with God and others, visit our website ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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7 months ago
20 minutes 24 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#32 Children of God or Slaves? Receive the Gift of the Sabbath

God is a firm believer in freedom of choice. As much as he wants us to receive all the gifts that he has for us, he leaves it up to us which ones we will receive and which ones, to our detriment, we leave in his outstretched hand. The same heavenly Father who created Adam and Eve on the sixth day and the very next morning declared their first day of existence a day of rest, delight, and worship offers the same gift to us today.

 

But in the world that we live in, Sabbath can be a tough thing to hold onto, even for those of us who run sabbath-based ministries.

 

Join us for this episode as we discuss this glorious gift and how to receive it.

 

---

 

Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting by Marva J. Dawn, one of Eugene Petersen’s favorites!

 

Chariots of Fire movie is the story of an Olympic athlete, missionary, and devoted Christian Eric Liddell and his commitment to the Sabbath and the miraculous things God did.

 

The Good for Nothing Sabbathby Eugene Petersen, Christianity Today Magazine.

 

Practicing the Sabbath, by John Mark Comer, a 4 week small group study with accompanying free video series

 

The Abide Retreat Cabin


To receive other great articles about how to grow closer to Jesus and others and information about The Sanctuary's upcoming events in your email, go to ⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠ and sign up for our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

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8 months ago
14 minutes 1 second

Sanctuary Stirrings
#31 Feeling a Little Distant from God? Stop Thinking. Start Singing!

Have you ever felt weighed down, heavy-hearted, and a little distant from God even though, it seems, you have all your faith boxes checked? You’ve been attending church, having your daily time with Jesus and the Bible, and attending Bible study.


Yet, somehow, you don’t feel as close to God as you usually do and don’t know why.

 

Join me for this delightful episode exploring the missing link right at your fingertips!

 

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Reawaken Hymns on YouTube. A beautiful contemporary playlist of hymns to open your heart to worship!

 

Spotify or Pandora apps, to have worship playlists at your fingertips

 

Amazing Love! How Can It Be: Studies on the Hymns of Charles Wesley by Chris Fenner. Current book about the life and hymns of Charles and what they mean to our lives today.

 

To receive other great articles, information about The Sanctuary, and other resources to grow closer to Jesus and each other in your email, go to ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠ and sign up for our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.


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9 months ago
8 minutes 34 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
#30 New Year's Resolution or Sacred Stewardship? A Fresh Perspective on 2025

What are Christians supposed to do with New Year’s? Is it just another Hallmark holiday or an invitation from God? Join today’s conversation to flesh out this significant day on the calendar and receive the gifts God has waiting for you!


The New Year Examen Worksheet

The New Year Examen and Your Life’s Golden Thread with Chris Slabbekoorn Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast Episode #19
The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Prayer Cabin 


To receive other great articles, information about Sanctuary events, and other resources to grow closer to Jesus and each other in your email, go to ⁠⁠thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com⁠⁠ and sign up for our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram at ⁠⁠The Sanctuary at Bear Creek⁠⁠.

Show more...
10 months ago
10 minutes 21 seconds

Sanctuary Stirrings
Compelling conversations for passionate followers of Jesus, longing to stay open, unhindered, undistracted, and excited about the adventure of walking with Him. You’ll be inspired by each episode and leave with helpful practices to deepen your intimacy with God and others and take one more step in becoming all you were created to be.