Wholeness and Holiness Podcast

Parenting as God Parents Parenting as God Parents. Parenting is a tall order.  Not only does it mean forming little minds and souls while keeping little bodies protected and provided for but parents image God.  How we relate to little people as parents or in roles of authority becomes how they perceive the Lord.  Because […] The post Parenting as God Parents (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Episode #2 – Introduction to Trauma Series (Avoiding Spiritual Identity Theft!) Have you or someone you love endured sufferings in which you continue to feel stuck?  Does this leave you feeling confused or even fearful, perhaps even rejected or abandoned by God?  Unfortunately, there are so many types of trauma and such experiences are so […] The post Introduction to Trauma Series: Avoiding Spiritual Identity Theft appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Conclusion to the book Fearless Conclusion to the book Fearless. Establishing a foundation of peace and fulfillment in life, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, is a matter of delving more deeply into the reality of God’s connection to us. Fully receiving and being transformed by the indwelling presence of the Blessed Trinity is an ongoing process. […] The post Conclusion to the book Fearless appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Pseudo-Connection Since reciprocity between people in the areas of connection (boundaries, valued, known and openness) is essential for healthy and holy relationships, it stands to reason a lack of give and take in these areas leads to unhealthy and even abusive relationships. For example, in any type of abuse, there are boundary violations of a […] The post Pseudo Connection appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Navigating Relational Struggles As surely as we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity through baptism, we are meant to be occasions of grace for each other. Since it is our call to be incarnations of God, his hands and feet in the world at this time, even our simple interactions can minister his […] The post Navigating Relational Struggles appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Healthy Communication The fool takes no delight in understanding, but rather in displaying what he thinks.  – Proverbs 18:2 First, let’s sum up what we’ve learned about connection so far. We all need an authentic sense of safety, respect, and being known as good in order to facilitate openness. Putting this information to use, we […] The post Healthy Communication appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Knowing & Being Known In choosing how we relate to others, we start at the heart, that is, we start with believing the other to be very good and made in God’s image and likeness. This is a central tenet of our faith as Catholics and is the heart of our respect for human life. […] The post Knowing & Being Known appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Valuing & Being Valued To value another the way God values them means seeing them as they truly are, a treasure of immeasurable worth. People are not a means to an end. In other words, whether we agree or disagree with someone has nothing to do with their inherent value. I could disagree with someone’s […] The post Valuing and Being Valued appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Openness from Others A number of years ago, I was supervising a team of therapists, and at the end of the workday, I received a call from one of them wanting to consult about a teenager she was treating in a weeklong intensive program. The therapist said she didn’t think the child was appropriate for […] The post Openness from Others appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Openness with Others Being open with others is something that requires great courage. Hopefully, by this point, we can begin to put the pieces of connection together and see how they interplay. We have looked at how having a foundation of being known deeply and treasured dearly by God gives us the highest authority upon […] The post Openness With Others appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Respecting the Boundaries of Others Everyone is unique and has their own body, mind, and spirit. Each of us has the responsibility for setting our own boundaries in these areas. We all are required to obey the laws set out by rightful authority (not going against our informed consciences). Within those parameters, we are all […] The post Respecting the Boundaries of Others appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Boundaries for Others Good fences make good neighbors. – Robert Frost As a therapist, I’ve noticed that not many people, at least not many who come to therapy, have been taught good things about boundaries. In fact, some people have been directly or indirectly sent very negative messages about them. Many have been given the […] The post Boundaries for Others appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Connection to Others There can be an imbalance in parenting when a child is taught he’s very special, but isn’t taught everyone else is, too. This quickly plays itself out in behavioral issues and entitlement. There is a danger in connection to ourselves and the Lord without this third leg of connection to others to […] The post Connection to Others appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Body, Mind, Spirit God created man. He didn’t create spirit, soul, and body separately and then somehow weave them together. In the scripture quote above, St. Paul refers to all three of these aspects as what makes us an entire person. Because of the great expanse of knowledge regarding the different facets of the person, […] The post Body, Mind, Spirit appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Openness with Myself Like any relationship, your relationship to yourself is a process. When you look at a baby or small child, do you think they have a grasp on the fullness of who they are as an individual? No! Rather, it is through the process of being loved by their parents, discovering their strengths […] The post Openness with Myself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

My Boundaries for Myself Boundaries are protective limits to ensure safety, health, and right order. They aren’t just a right, but a responsibility, because they are an essential component of being good stewards of ourselves. We put gates up in homes with babies and toddlers to protect them from dangerous situations. They also protect caregivers […] The post My Boundaries for Myself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Valuing Myself How common is it for us to find value in our performance, talents, skills, physical appearance, wealth, or status? The scripture at the beginning of this section puts our value in right perspective because it reveals God’s perspective. Jonah was sent by God to preach repentance to the Ninevites and, when they did […] The post Valuing Myself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Connection to Self Healthy confidence and self-worth are fruits of personal integration. The same factors that are essential for connection to God are also essential for connection to self – being known, valued, and open, and having healthy boundaries. Ideally, a child experiences being known, valued, accepted, and protected by good and loving parents. When […] The post Connection to Self appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Going Deeper When we take a moment to look at nature, we find that life is always a process. Whether it is the acorn becoming a mighty oak, an egg hatching into a duckling, or a baby growing into an adult, life is a process. Since physical life is a process, why would emotional and […] The post Going Deeper appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Powerlessness The common denominator throughout almost every experience that causes us suffering is that of powerlessness.  As people, we have limited ability to affect change in situations that are difficult for us or for those we care about. This in no way diminishes our fundamental value; it simply part of the human condition. We come […] The post Powerlessness appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Knowing Myself What is the truth of who we are as God sees us? In creating us he made us in his own image and likeness and called us very good. (Genesis 1:31) He called us his own and bound himself in covenant with us. He has a plan for our good. He sent his […] The post Knowing Myself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Suffering There are times in all our lives when we go through trials: illness, rejection, abuse, death of a loved one, or loss of a dream, just to name a few. When such things happen, it can be difficult to stay rooted in the truth of God’s connection to us. Even if we’ve had mountaintop […] The post Suffering appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Embracing God’s Boundaries In our connection to God and fully seeking to respond to his love for us, we now come to the concept of embracing the boundaries he sets for us. We’ve discussed morality as God’s protection over us since he is our all-loving creator. The Ten Commandments are the starting point of these […] The post Embracing God’s Boundaries appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Valuing God In taking up this section on valuing God, something a friend of mine once said to me comes to mind, “God can’t be a priority.” Her point was that he is all; he is the only priority. Consider the passion of our Lord: if Jesus’ commitment to us wasn’t absolute, things could have […] The post Valuing God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Knowing God Knowing God is crucial.  We’ve already been discussing connection to God and mostly it’s been about who he is and how he is toward us. We see he is personal, knows us perfectly, desires for us to experience profound intimacy with him, cherishes us beyond measure, and operates in our best interest, (which […] The post Knowing God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Openness with God The human body is made up of about seventy percent water. Water is necessary for healthy energy levels and flushing toxins and plays a key role in the proper functioning of our whole system. We need it for refreshment on a hot day, for cleansing of dirt and sweat, and it is […] The post Openness with God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

God’s Openness The God of the entire universe, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, is open in relating to us. One of my favorite scripture verses is from the short little book Baruch, “Blessed are we, O Israel; for what pleases God is known to us!” (Baruch 4:4). How amazing it is that he chooses to […] The post God’s Openness appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

God Provides Boundaries The reason we started with the concept of connection to God was so we could have a clear understanding of the fact he is with us, knows us intimately, values us for who we are and sent his Son to save us by emptying himself on the Cross. He is continually emptying […] The post God Provides Boundaries appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Prayer Personal prayer is essential to internalizing the radical, profound intimacy the living God wants to experience with us. His love for us is infinite. It might be easy to read the last line and agree with it in our head, but in our heart still feel less than adequate, rejected, or forgotten. Our mind […] The post Prayer appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Valued by God God’s love for us is unlike any other. As covered in the previous section, God created us and so knows us and loves us intimately. Now consider he does so knowing he will always be giving to us far more than we could ever begin to repay, far more than we will […] The post Valued by God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Known by God As we begin to take a look at our connection to the Lord, we start with the fact that he deeply and personally knows us. Ideally, we would have had a sense of being known (seen and heard as an individual who is very good) by our parents and caregivers as children. […] The post Known by God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Chosen for Divine Intimacy It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you… – John 15:16 FEARLESS Chapter 3 Chosen for Divine Intimacy. God chose each of us individually out of all the possibilities of people to create, redeem, sanctify, and call into a relationship with himself for all eternity. I remember […] The post Chosen for Divine Intimacy appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Connection to God FEARLESS Chapter 2 Connection to God. Jesus is the bread of life.  He is the food for which we are made. What does food do? It nourishes us, gives us energy. Good food makes us healthy, bad food makes us sick, poisoned food can even kill us, but without food we would […] The post Connection to God appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Connection Overview FEARLESS: Chapter 1 Connection Overview. What is so important about connection and why pair it together with the concept of holiness? We don’t have to look far to see how God regards community. He models it for us in the Holy Trinity. We see their love, unity and order in relationship to each […] The post Connection Overview appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

FEARLESS Preface FEARLESS Preface & Intro. Many years ago, I noticed that healthy connections to God, self, and others are the foundation of peace and fulfillment in life. Without these connections, we perpetuate lies in our minds that become the basis for our self-talk and how we relate to others. These lies chip away at […] The post FEARLESS appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Vocations and Integration Vocations and Integration with Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR. Margaret:  Do/how do you see a lack of human and spiritual integration in people today? Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR:  People are afraid to make mistakes. At times, I’ve seen people confuse their vocation with their salvation. Vocation is tied to our mission, our path […] The post Vocations and Integration appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Teaching Self-Talk to Children Teaching Self-Talk to Children. Positive self-talk is one of the most important interior skills a person can have.  Unfortunately, it rarely, if ever, gets taught.  Since we listen to ourselves far more than we listen to anyone else, it’s an essential skill to have.  When we have positive self-talk, almost any […] The post Teaching Self-Talk to Children appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Interconnected Psychology & Spirituality Have you ever wondered if psychology and spirituality are interconnected?  I hope so!  Sadly, some people actually think that they are at odds with each other.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  The Lord made us body, mind, and spirit.  He made us as a whole person.  We are the […] The post Interconnected Psychology & Spirituality appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

How to Talk to Mean Voices In the last episode, we discussed the importance of compassionate self-talk.  So, what do we do with that pesky self-commentary that can be mean or discouraging?  Should I ignore it and think happy thoughts?  NO!  That voice will fester like a splinter, getting more painful.  Ignoring it won’t solve […] The post How to Talk to Mean Voices appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

How to Talk to Yourself How to Talk to Yourself. When most of us hear about communication workshops and the like, we immediately think of how to relate to others peacefully and effectively.  Would you believe that is actually the end point of communication, not the beginning?  Two critical steps come before speaking with others.  […] The post How to Talk to Yourself appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

The Struggle is Real! I grew up in the Deep South and learned to drive a stick shift when I was eight years old; for those under 50, some cars had manual transmissions, meaning that the driver had to change the gears.  In most cars nowadays, that happens automatically.  It was on old, unmarked dirt […] The post The Struggle is Real! appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

A Ministry Mindset Having a Ministry Mindset. In Genesis, God put a man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it.  That was not a result of the fall of man.  It was laboring that resulted from man’s transgression.  God worked for 6 days as He created for six days, contrasting with Him resting on […] The post Having a Ministry Mindset appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Does Anyone Get It? Does Anyone Get It? I want to share with you a devotion that I didn’t come to easily.  Because of my own relationship with my mother, I didn’t want a mother.  And I certainly didn’t want a sorrowful one!  Yet, that was this title of Our Blessed Mother I was forced […] The post Does Anyone Get It? appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Interventions to Cope with Stress Interventions to Cope with Stress. At one time or another, we all experience stress in our lives.  Whether from anxiety and apprehension about the future or pain over hurtful things from the past, we can feel like our emotions hijack our brain and our ability to maintain that gift of […] The post Interventions to Cope with Stress appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Greater Peace, Joy, and Freedom! Greater Peace, Joy, and freedom! Below is a Self-Evaluation regarding the pillars of connection.  I share this tool with you to help you find the areas where the Lord may have even more profound peace, joy, and freedom for you.  This is not a weapon to use to beat yourself […] The post Greater Peace, Joy, & Freedom! appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Discipline and Discipleship Why does discipleship conjure up such a beautiful sentiment for most of us, but discipline not so much?  If you’re like me, you might feel like discipline is about how you are not good enough, that something more is going to be required from you, and you already feel like you’re at […] The post Discipline and Discipleship appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships. We all share a call to holiness, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church points out, and the Scriptural basis for this comes from Ephesians 1:4, where we hear that we were chosen in Jesus by the Father before the world […] The post Finding Healing for Holiness and Healthy Relationships appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Parenting as God Parents Parenting as God Parents. Parenting is a tall order.  Not only does it mean forming little minds and souls while keeping little bodies protected and provided for but parents image God.  How we relate to little people as parents or in roles of authority becomes how they perceive the Lord.  Because […] The post Parenting as God Parents appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Tips for Connection Tips for Connection. Following are some very practical ways you can approach parenting to give both you and your child a sense of predictability and peace.  Know that if you are a new parent, these will be easier than if you have not been parenting in this way and make the switch […] The post Tips for Connection appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.

Parenting for Connection Parenting for Connection. Connection to God, self, and others is fundamentally important to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being.  Without it, we seek to self-medicate the emptiness through all sorts of things that will never satisfy and will only further the disconnection.  So, when we consider the task of parenting […] The post Parenting for Connection appeared first on Ultimate Christian Podcast Radio Network.