
Hosted by Anna Nash · EN

"Meditation" — Every time I hear my Mama, Jane Harris, say that word it makes me want to know more about what she means by this. I've gathered my questions and we sat down to have a conversation about meditation and its impact on how we spend time with God. Incidentally, this is her birthday weekend and her life's Scripture is Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple." I hope you will be as encouraged as I am after listening to this. I'd love to let you know when my children's book, You Can See Him, Little Eyes Looking at a Big God, is available. Visit annanash.net to be notified. The scriptures we mention: Psalm 27:4 (NASB) "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple." Psalm 1:2,3 (ESV) ...but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Romans 10:17 (NKJ) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Psalm 119:165 (NIV) Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

I'm really excited to share this Christmas Message with you—it's all about the incredible depth of the heartfelt message from God to us through His Son, Jesus. As I speak about Jesus being the ultimate representation of God's love, forgiveness, and hope, it's truly impactful to realize these teachings don't just apply in our darkest moments but also in our everyday lives. Just like those timeless Christmas carols that touch our hearts, reminding us of our value and the promise of peace, these truths resonate deeply with the warmth and hope of the season...that is Jesus, our Savior. HERE is the copy of Christmas in the book of Hebrews that I mentioned. Please print it out and be encouraged reading more about Jesus being the ultimate connection between God and people. Bible Verses in today's Christmas message: John 1:1-5 Hebrews 1:3 Personal Processing Questions: How can you actively seek and recognize Jesus' heartfelt messages of love, forgiveness, and hope in your daily life? Seek to remember that Jesus embodies God's ultimate message to you. In what ways can you draw strength and guidance from Jesus' teachings during challenging times, allowing his message of light in darkness to impact your thoughts and actions? Reflecting on the promise of peace and reconciliation highlighted in Christmas carols, how can you contribute to fostering peace and extending forgiveness in your relationships and communities this holiday season? P.S. A couple of years ago my dear friend Katy Shelton and I wrote an Advent Devotional called Christmas Matters. You can go HERE to order it. 🎄Please email me with any personal ways God is speaking to you this Christmas! annahnash@gmail.com

This was a talk that I gave at a monthly meeting called Coffee & Connection in Birmingham for our Non-Profit called Beacon People. (To learn more go to beaconpeople.org) You may or may not have heard the news that my husband, Tyler and I recently had to permanently close the coffee shop we owned and operated for almost seven years. We have poured our life into Innova Coffee and the experience has been indescribable! This was an unexpected turn in the path that God had planned for our future all along but the closing was extremely unexpected by us! Listen to the story and also hear the truths that have kept me feeling stable and secure throughout. I hope God's Word will encourage you today. HERE is the story video behind Innova Coffee. HERE is the announcement video we shared about the permanent closing. Reflection Scriptures: Isaiah 53:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 23:3b, Romans 8:28 John 10:27, Psalm 16:11, Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 26:3,4

I recently engaged in a heartfelt conversation with a close friend and precious believer in Jesus, D'Anna Lundstrom, who graciously shared her sacred encounters and wisdom about how she spends time with God. D'Anna's journey with God is guided by two words: desperation and dependence, propelling her to devote meaningful moments in solitude with God. Her sincere humility permeates her voice and her enthusiasm for Scripture and prayer shines brightly. You'll see evidence through her social media posts adorned with verses, sunsets, and butterflies. D'Anna embraces diverse approaches in her solitary moments with God using prayer, studying the Bible, worship, journaling, and communing with Him in nature. Let's embark on a journey into the captivating depths of D'Anna's inspiring testimony and, God willing, unearth how each of us can dig a little deeper as we connect with Him. Reflection Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3 And Deuteronomy 32:47 Mark 8:34 Psalm 51:10 Psalm 19:14 Books Mentioned:A Life of Prayer by Paul MillerFollow the Cloud by John Stickl D'Anna's Blog: A Blessed Brokenness https://blessedbrokenness.blog/

"I love reading my old Bible," Marnie shares tenderly with me. As I visit with her you can tell by the tone of her voice how deeply meaningful her alone time with God seems to be. Her favorite tool is journaling. Her favorite book of the Bible is Isaiah. In fact, she has created a podcast called, "Meet Me in Isaiah", where she helps her audience find Jesus in the book of Isaiah. You can connect with her on her website https://meetmeinisaiah.com/ . In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 Extra Resources: Christmas Matters by Anna Nash & Katy Shelton Easter Matters by Anna Nash & Katy Shelton You are Blessed in the Names of God by Sylvia Gunter 40 Days of Praise by Holly Berthiaume

At one point during our conversation Katy Shelton makes reference to Jesus by calling Him, "My Jesus". It reminded me of the hymn, "My Jesus, I Love Thee", a very endearing hymn and way to describe Him. Katy is my childhood and forever friend. We have been thankful to write devotional books together. In this episode you'll hear us both speak very personally about our own time spent with God. To find our devotional books you can go to our websites, katyshelton.com or annanash.net. You can also connect with Katy through her website and see a little more about her writing projects.

I always look forward to sitting down and visiting with my friend, Julie Sparkman. Julie is a counselor at Restore Ministries in Birmingham, AL. On this episode, she shares with us a practice she calls Spirit Guided Reflection. This is an opportunity to connect with God in the highs and lows of every day life. Julie uses this tool often with clients in her office. I hope you will learn as much as I did through this conversation. If you would like to connect with Julie you can do so by going to restore-ministries.org I also have the privilege of hosting Restore Ministries Podcast called "Head to Heart - Connecting What You Know With How You Live." You can hear many more conversations with Julie and me there.

Connecting with God - Let’s Talk About it. This is series of conversations I’ve had with people who long to deeply connect with God during their time alone with Him. As I visit with them, I learn how they spend time with God as well as some of the challenges and benefits. Each conversation is individual and unique. I pray that as you listen to these conversations you will find new ways to meet with God and feel Him touch your soul in the most personal way.

At the Seasons Refresh Day Retreat I had a chance to really dig in to discover what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 11:30 "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." For Reflection: 1. What holds you back from surrendering life’s difficulties to God? 2. Which of the characteristics of God mean the most to you presently? 3. What emotions come up within you when you remember the kind of God He is?

Why does this holiday often seem flat, falling on my deaf ears, ceasing to touch and ignite me with emotions of excitement to genuinely celebrate with joy? What has stolen the cheer in my heart? Why is true joy so hard to find or muster up? Listen as we discover together how to rekindle the meaningful emotions this Christmas.