Episode 33: MUSIC AS PRAYER — and a Spark for Creativity!

In this heartfelt episode, Christine shares how music can become prayer—a sacred conversation with God—and how inspired creativity in the image of the Creator can bring healing, worship, comfort, and joy. She also introduces her Heart Ablaze song and reflects on how the Holy Spirit often guides our creativity as well as our worship.  Free companion PDF: Heart Ablaze — Love Creatively → RadiantJoy.us/heart-ablaze  The “Heart Ablaze” song video is included in the episode notes — best experienced after you’ve heard the podcast. As she enters a slower, prayerful season, Christine expresses gratitude for all who join her in growing as faithful disciples of the Lord—reflecting His light and joy as we use our creative gifts and love one another.  More at RadiantJoy.us #RadiantJoy #MusicAsPrayer #FaithAndCreativity #HeartAblaze #SeasonOfRest #HealingInChrist

Productivity vs. Fruitfulness | A Biblical Perspective on Striving, Rest, & Abiding in Christ   Are you caught in the cycle of busyness, striving, and endless productivity? In this episode of Radiant Joy with Christine, we explore the difference between productivity that drains you and fruitfulness that flows from abiding in Jesus.Productivity measures output, accomplishments from your efforts. Fruitfulness yields eternal impact, as you partner with God.Join me as we look at what the Word of God says about: Why productivity can lead to burnout and self-reliance How to move from striving to cooperative yielding and surrender to God's ways What Jesus meant when he (who only did what the Father told him) said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5) Practical ways to rest and bear fruit that will last (including love, joy, and peace) FREE RESOURCE: Download "Let Go & Let God: Scriptures and Quotes on Trust, Surrender, and Fruitful Living, available at https://RadiantJoy.us/letgo. (It also include Christine's personal story that led to this podcast, which is also on her blog, RadiantJoy.us/blog.)   Watch more episodes at RadiantJoy.us Listen on Podbean or Apple PodcastsPlease don't forget to subscribe for encouragement to live a life of radiant joy in Christ.

In this heartfelt 5-minute reflection, Christine shares a powerful moment from her mother’s recent passing and an unexpected gift from "Gloribi" that showed up just when it was needed most. This brief story is a tender reminder of God’s timing, the legacy of faith-filled relationships, a marriage of nearly 78 years, and the beauty of tender moments with one another. For women of faith navigating the later seasons of life, this episode will stir your heart and encourage you to treasure the bonds that have shaped your journey. #JoyFullSeasonedWomen #ChristianRelationships #LegacyOfFaith #GriefAndGrace #RootBeerFloats

In this Spirit-led episode of Radiant Joy with Christine Boersma Smith, Christine welcomes her dear friend, faith speaker, and author Carmen Caldwell to explore what it truly means to hear and heed the voice of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives.   Together, they dive into Carmen’s powerful book, What’d He Say? and unpack how believers, especially seasoned women of faith, can cultivate a deeper divine dialogue. From learning to discern the three voices we often hear in our minds to setting aside intentional time for sacred stillness, this episode is both a heartfelt conversation and a guide for growing closer to God.   Christine also shares her own transformational testimony after completing the 31-day journey through Carmen’s book—including what happened when she ended on Pentecost and entered a Holy Spirit-filled retreat. You’ll hear about Carmen’s LOVE POWER framework, how to ask God better questions, and the beauty of hearing guidance that’s clear, timely, and full of purpose. Whether you’re new to listening for God’s voice or a longtime prayer warrior looking to go deeper, this episode will meet you where you are and call you higher.   Learn more about Carmen’s work at www.carmencaldwell.com Get Christine’s book Joy-Full Seasoned Women and learn more about her work and community at www.radiantjoy.us   May this conversation stir your spirit and help you recognize that the Holy Spirit always has more for you. #RadiantJoy #HolySpirit #DivineDialogue #HearingGod #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianWomen #SpiritLedLife #CarmenCaldwell #ChristineBoersmaSmith #GodsVoice #PrayerLife #ChristianAuthors

In this deeply personal episode, host Christine Boersma Smith shares her journey of recognizing the “God-winks” in her life—those sacred moments filled with grace, guidance, and spiritual symbolism, often manifesting as to her with wings. She looks at a few Biblical divine nudges and then at his signs that have illuminated her path, revealing radiant joy amidst in life's stresses and challenges. And she shares why she looks at these instances of God’s grace as “winks” or even as “love notes from God.”   The episode is enriched with vivid photographs and graphics, inviting you to embrace the beauty of the story visually and audibly.   Christine also warmly invites listeners to reflect on the beauty of divine messages or intervention in their own lives. Let this episode inspire you to recall God-winks of your own, whether you know them by this name or perhaps think of them as “synchronicities,” “signs,” or “God-incidences.” Christine suggests that you make it a point to share how God has worked in your life, and she provides avenues and places to do such sharing, which is likely to increase others’ faith and encourage all of us to pay close attention to the God-Winks we may have missed in the past.   #GodWinks #DivineMessages #angels #wings #radiantjoy #MichaelTheArchangel #lovenotes #Valentines

Welcome to Inspiring Friendships! In this special Throwback Thursday episode of the Radiant Joy with Christine Boersma Smith podcast, we honor the remarkable bonds that shape our spiritual journeys and celebrate the gift of sisterhood. Join us as we revisit illuminating moments shared with three incredible women whose stories not only inspire Christine but will resonate with you, too!   In this episode, prepare to be encouraged by:   Margaret Hart, a talented nature journaler whose artistic pursuits bring her and others a deeper connection to God. Listen as she shares how observing nature has become a pathway for her spirituality, urging us all to draw closer to the divine through our creative expressions. Margaret exemplifies the promise of James 4:8, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (ESV).   Beverly B. Gibson, a dear friend who embraces “girlfriend relationships” as sacred gifts reflects on our collaborative journey alongside our mutual mentor. Hear her insights on the importance of nurturing supportive networks and how these friendships flourish with intention and care.  Beverly epitomizes the truth of one of the wisdom books of Jesus’ day, Sirach 6:14-15 (NAB): “A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds.”    Bette Helaine Harrison, a longtime friend talks about some blessings of old friendships and her spiritual transformation, which she detailed in her book, “What’s a Nice Jewish Girl Like Me Doing in the Catholic Church?” Discover her journey of faith and some stories of God’s amazing timing. The longer episode with her also goes into amazing angel stories, so you may want to follow up by listening to that, Episode #11. Some stories about Bette are also in Christine’s book, JOY-FULL SEASONED WOMEN: A GUIDE TO BEARING FRUIT AND RADIATING JOY IN YOUR SECOND HALF OF LIFE. This episode is designed to inspire you to nurture the friendships that uplift, sustain, and encourage us all. Tune in for a heartfelt celebration of the profound impact that deep friendships among women have on our individual journeys and how these connections can lead to transformative experiences in our own lives!   May God’s peace be with you and may you radiate the joy of the Lord, which is your strength! 

Christine Smith welcomes award-winning watercolorist and workshop teacher Paula L. Moore, the author of HIS ART: God’s Messages of Truth to Us through the Elements and Principles of Design.   Based on her study, practice, scripture, and revelation, Paula says God’s provided all we need to know about art design. Her lessons bless seasoned artists & curious novices looking to explore their creative potential & deepen their understanding of art and faith.   Do you have areas of creative passion you long to improve—to internalize the elements and principles of design—such as line, shape, color, and balance—until there’s a breakthrough? Paula shares practical advice and good spiritual counsel. Pursuing art and faith with all her heart, Paula found they align, as do art theory and the foundations of design in Creation. She gratefully embraces her purpose: to help others see with eyes of faith the many-faceted layers and messages of God’s truth.   You can see Paula’s stunning work on her website. We offer gifts thru a download link, including a printable piece of Paula’s art and a visual summary connecting God’s Art and design, plus Christine's “Steps Along a Spiritual Creativity Path,” adapted REAP AS YOU SEW.   #FaithandArt #GodlyWisdom #MessagesofTruth #ElementsandPrinciplesofDesign #ArtandFaith #ArtTheory #Gifts #watercolor #PaulaLMoore #ChristineBoersmaSmith

Join us for an enlightening episode of Radiant Joy with Christine as we welcome Arabah Joy, a Jesus-loving mentor with 27 years of experience in guiding women in their walk with God. An accomplished author and online writer, “AJ” has a wealth of wisdom to share, particularly about the transformative power of intentional prayer.  In this episode, we dive into her newly released Prayer Resource, featuring The Prayer Mapping Blueprint, a framework designed to help you pray with purpose, consistency, confidence, and strategy. Christine recently began using this approach and was so captivated by its effectiveness that she couldn’t wait to share it with you!   Together, Christine and AJ walk through each step of the process in detail, presenting it both theoretically and with practical applications so you can implement it in your own life by the end of the conversation. Christine shares personal reflections, including her own confessions, to illustrate how this framework is making a significant impact in her life.   Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) comes to mind! “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” AJ and Christine offer additional prayer resources as gifts for listeners, so you won’t want to miss out! In less than an hour, you can create a clear and strategic prayer plan that requires only 2 to 3 minutes per day per request. Christine's results in just one or two weeks were nothing short of remarkable, so she truly believes every Christian can benefit from learning this powerful prayer method.   Don’t miss any of this longer-than-typical podcast episode filled with insight and encouragement! Be sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of Radiant Joy with Christine, and bless others by sharing it with them!  #strugglingwithprayer #strategicprayer #biblicallybased #prayerframework #prayermapping #prayerresources #powerfulprayer #arabahjoy #christineboersmasmith #radiantjoy

In this enlightening episode of Radiant Joy with Christine, we dive into the profound concept of rest as God intended, going far beyond mere sleep or breaks from our busy lives. Christine shares her personal journey of discovering God’s call to embrace His plans and directives during and after her recent, very productive, writing season. The same is true for many seasoned Christian women navigating the second half of life.    Join Christine as she invites you to take a moment and transition your focus inward, and to release tension and foster connection with God and fellow listeners. With relevant Biblical passages and heartfelt insights, this episode encourages you to shed your agenda, society’s productivity focus, and embrace God’s timelessness.    To continue the conversation, Christine invites you to a free Zoom gathering on February 11th and most second Tuesdays, where seasoned women share their experiences navigating life's challenges, surprises, and blessings. Sign up now at www.RadiantJoy.us/conversations/ and be part of this enriching community!   Christine mentions her book Joy-Full Seasoned Women published in December. She doesn’t mention her even newer book, published between the recording of this podcast and it’s release: The Radiant Joy Challenge: 21 Days to More Joy, Peace, and Intimacy of God. This podcast was definitely influenced by that book, especially when it comes to cultivating intimate presence and timelessness with God.   “Press play, relax, and reflect—join us in experiencing the joy that comes when we rest in God’s presence!” #RadiantJoyPodcast #ChristianWomen #FaithJourney #RestInGod #BiblicalRest #ChristianEncouragement

Join Christine for an uplifting and insightful episode as she explores the theme of taking a fresh look at the divine guidance available to us in the New Year. In this episode, we’ll reflect on how we can align our lives with the fruits of the Holy Spirit—especially radiant joy—as we embrace who we are as spiritual beings. Christine shares her thoughts on the importance of listening to God's voice, drawing wisdom from Scripture, and allowing our hearts to be open to God’s abundance, including His abundant surprises and love. Plus, Christine takes a moment to express her heartfelt gratitude to those who supported her book launch for "Joy-Full Seasoned Women: A Guide to Bearing Fruit and Radiating Joy in Your Second Half of Life." Tune in for a joyful message filled with hope and inspiration as we step into 2025 together!   #align  #fruitsoftheHolySpirit #radiantjoy #radiatingjoy #listeningtoGod #wisdomfromscripture #Godsabundance #booklaunch #joyful #Joy-FullSeasonedWomen #seasonedwomen #bearingfruit #secondhalfoflife #hopeandinspiration #stepinto2025together

Two joyful women—second half of life host and author Christine Boersma Smith and Katelyn Silva interview each other about writing books as prompted by the Holy Spirit and radiating joy!  They discuss the writing journey, the inner work that takes place even while writing, and communicating Biblical principles. The importance of connecting with a community for seasoned women of faith, which Christine facilitates, or with a community for writers is also stressed. Christine’s new book, “Joy-Full Seasoned Women: A Guide to Bearing Fruit and Radiating Joy in Your Second Half” was going to print as this episode was released, and Katelyn has provided much appreciated mentorship and publishing expertise.    Katelyn Silva is the 6x bestselling author of thirteen books, some under a pen name. She is a God-fearing devoted wife and homeschooling mother of four. She is the founder of We Write Books, Coffee Date with Jesus, and is the host of the 1 Minute Writing Tip podcast. She works with Holy Spirit-led women to get clarity on their book idea, confidently write and publish a bestseller, and use it as a tool for impact, authority, and accomplishing their God-given purpose. She believes every person has a unique story worth telling and that your book can change a life.   Christine encourages Christian women in their second half of life to live with more inner joy, holy boldness, and fruitfulness so they may embrace the blessings, surprises, and challenges of this season of life with grace and confidence. She’s a ray of sunshine for those navigating the fog and late afternoon of their lives. A Benedictine-trained spiritual director and transformational coach with twelve years of experience in healing and cleansing prayer ministry, Christine’s passion is to partner with the Holy Spirit and encourage seasoned women to connect with one another and share meaningfully. She loves to help women be more joyful and fruitful: aligned with God, being who we really are, with holy and loving hearts.   #connectwithoneanother #seasonedwomen #radiatingjoy #innerjoy #secondhalfoflife #joyfulwomen #HolySpirit #healing #writing #publishing #writingjourney #holyboldness #bestseller #booklaunch

This series encourages you to spend a few minutes a day for 21 days to experience more joy of the Lord! Each day has a theme, a graphic reminder, and an activity to help you experience more joy. To join in on the challenge and receive a gift at the end, click on the link below. To participate online, see my social media pages for daily themes and a reminder to experience the post. Comments are encouraged as well as spreading the challenge. Go to https://radiantjoy.org/joy-challenge for a free copy of Joy-Full Seasoned Women: A Guide to Bearing Fruit and Radiating Joy in Your Second Half, scheduled for December 2024 release.

Join host Christine Boersma Smith, a vibrant Baby Boomer and Spirit-loving disciple, as she explores how the first half of life may not have prepared us for the second half. Learn from her insights about shifting from a life of striving, perfectionism, and DOing to self-discovery, spiritual growth, navigating unexpected challenges, and BEing.   She shares about connecting with like-minded women as well as embracing creativity during a period of newfound solitude, as she also did “inner work” and created her dream studio. She speaks of how the second half of life offers us wisdom and nudges us to ponder key questions, and nothing is wasted for those faithful to Jesus, who works everything out for our good!   She mentions Wisdom Circles, where seasoned women can veer from uncertainty to finding a blessed, purposeful, joy-filled second half of life in a supportive community of other seasoned Christian women.   Christine also offers a Questions to Ponder PDF, which provides inquiries for reflection, prayer, journaling, or dialoguing with God. You can visit her website at https://radiantjoy.us/.

Milestone birthdays, even more than other birthdays, are apropo for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a time to pursue a new vision with new goals, and even to make lifestyle changes. As podcast host Christine Smith shares, she’s looking forward with faith, trust, love, hope, and joy. Her attitude is that a birthday isn‘t just a reminder of how old you are but a celebration of how far you have come and the journey that still lies ahead. She’s focusing on growing wiser, intentional, more fruitful, and very grateful.    She also sees this big 75th birthday as one to embrace moments and people that have brought her joy in the past as well as those circumstances that taught her important lessons, especially spiritual lessons, healing, and preparation for how she will continue to serve other seasoned women (especially those women over 50 or over 55). Christine’s motto is that it’s never too late to walk by the Spirit, to be the REAL YOU, and to fulfill your sacred calling. If you live aiming for that, or making progress towards that little by little, she’s confident that the rewards will bless you! She shares some of her heartwarming memories and encourages you to reflect on yours. She asks for prayers as she’s currently writing a book on joy. She includes family photos, some that are humorous: her worst hair day, and her most uplifting day ever! Christine’s cherished moments, friendships, and desire to bless those who watch, reflect her hope to continue in a faithful life, lived with purpose, love, grace, and kindred spirits.    She invites women of faith over 50 or 55 to join an upcoming 8-week FREE TO BE HOLY Workshop starting in September, discussing the book of that name by Matt Lozano, and reflecting on what a holiness lifestyle looks like and discovering more about our identity in Christ. You can expect the community experience to add to your enjoyment of the book and its topics. Visit and sign up at: https://radiantjoy.us/freetobeholy/.   At the end of the podcast, Christine offers as a “birthday party favor” a compilation of 75 Pearls of Wisdom about Joy, downloadable on her website, https://radiantjoy.us/podcast/. She also invites you to follow her on Linked In at https://www.linkedin.com/christine-boersma-smith-16b09179 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/radiantjoychristine.