Jean Brender
Reading About Others' Spiritual Journeys: A Wellspring of Encouragement and Inspiration
If you were to write the story of your life, including the spiritual aspects, what would you include? We all have our own unique stories...
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JEAN BRENDER - SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Jean Brender
- Aug 15
- 4 min
Opening Up Space in Our Lives by Practicing Simplicity
Do you feel overwhelmed by an overscheduled calendar or the time and effort that it seems to require to take care of all your stuff?...
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Jean Brender
- Jun 15
- 4 min
Studying Scripture
Do you ever feel lost or wonder what direction would be best for you to go? The psalmist in Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible,...
6 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- May 27
- 3 min
Lectio Divina: Sensing God's Presence and Speaking in Reading the Bible
How might we engage in reading the Bible? We can read scripture in a variety of settings and ways, i.e., through individual study,...
5 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Apr 24
- 4 min
The Spiritual Discipline of Noticing
Have you noticed anything lately that has touched and inspired you? Or have you been surprised at what you missed noticing? Recently, I...
4 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Apr 4
- 3 min
The Examen: Reflecting on Your Day With God
Have you ever reviewed your day while mindful of the presence of God? In his book on You Are What You Love, James Smith emphasizes the...
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Jean Brender
- Mar 25
- 5 min
How Might We Pray to God?
Have you ever wondered about what you should be praying to God? Apparently concerned about this question, Jesus’s disciples requested of...
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Jean Brender
- Mar 7
- 3 min
Contemplative Prayer
In recent blogs, we have considered the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence. Both provide space for us to engage in prayer with...
7 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Feb 20
- 4 min
Silence: Making Room for Noticing God
Does silence make you uncomfortable? Do you feel the need to fill gaps in conversations? Or even share with others the first impression...
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Jean Brender
- Feb 7
- 3 min
Solitude: Opening Up Space for God in Our Lives
Are you finding it difficult to catch your breath and to have a quiet space to think? Many of us are bombarded with noise, interruptions,...
3 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Jan 24
- 2 min
Deepening our Relationship with God Through the Spiritual Disciplines
What has helped you sense God’s presence in your life? For the past couple of months, we have considered how various practices and...
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Jean Brender
- Jan 14
- 2 min
Sensing the Presence of God in the Seasons of Life
How would you describe the season of life that you are currently in? If asked that question, some might describe their respective season...
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Jean Brender
- Dec 17, 2022
- 2 min
Sensing the Presence and Majesty of God in Music and Song
Have you ever sung a song or listened to one that uplifted your spirits and gave you a sense of transcendence? Music and song have the...
6 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Dec 9, 2022
- 2 min
Sensing God’s Presence and Friendship Through Prayer
Since the beginning of time, people have prayed – in many ways and for many things. What is prayer? Ruth Haley Barton defines it in...
7 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Nov 27, 2022
- 3 min
Sensing the Presence of God in Fellowship with Friends
Have you ever experienced a sense of God’s presence while you were enjoying time with your friends? C.S. Lewis, one of the most...
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Jean Brender
- Nov 23, 2022
- 2 min
Sensing God's Presence in Gratitude and Giving Thanks
What are you thankful for today? I find that I frequently plow through the day without reflecting on that question. In her book Spiritual...
9 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Nov 19, 2022
- 3 min
Sensing God's Presence and Speaking in Reading Scripture
Have you ever read something that changed your life? Engaging our mind and heart in reading the Bible has the power to transform our...
7 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Nov 12, 2022
- 2 min
Sensing God's Presence in Solitude and Silence
Do you feel defined by your accomplishments and by how productive you are? Do you ever experience anxiety about how much you need to do...
15 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Nov 5, 2022
- 2 min
Sensing God's Presence in Nature
Beholding the beauty of nature can awaken our sense of something greater than ourselves. Taking in the splendor of a fall day with its...
14 views0 comments
Jean Brender
- Oct 26, 2022
- 1 min
Are You Ready to Open the Door?
Have you ever found yourself reluctant to open a door because you were concerned what might be on the other side? It can be like that...
18 views0 comments
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