Among The Lilies

Are you having a Lenty Lent? It may feel like your failing or things are going wrong, but maybe you are right where the Lord wants you. Its just a bit of pain from the composting process of our souls.  Lent is not a gloomy interruption of life. It is the Church handing us winter on purpose.   In the garden, winter strips everything down. The bright flowers are gone. The branches look skeletal. You walk outside and think, Nothing is happening here.   But beneath the surface, roots are deepening. The soil is being replenished. Worms are turning what fell and died into nourishment. What looks like stillness is actually preparation.   Lent does the same.   It takes away the noise. It asks us to fast. To sit in silence. To feel our hunger instead of numbing it. To look honestly at what needs pruning in our lives. And at first it feels like a loss. Like grey skies feel to me today. Like not being able to see more than a few feet in front of you.   But Lent is not about deprivation for its own sake. It is about increasing capacity. Uniting ourselves to Christ in his passion. Praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Facing Calvery.    When you prune a plant, you cut away what once looked fruitful. You remove even good branches so that better fruit can grow. That is uncomfortable. It feels like diminishment. But the gardener is thinking ahead to spring.   And the compost pile is not a symbol of failure. It is where the old life breaks down so it can become nourishment for new life. In the spiritual life, our disappointments, our faliures, our surrendered dreams, even our grief, none of it is wasted. Given to God, it becomes rich soil.   Lent is when we allow that decomposition to happen.    We stop clinging. We let attachments die. We allow deeper parts of the heart to awaken. The grey days reveal what the bright days sometimes hide. They show us how much we depend on consolation instead of God Himself.   And then Easter comes.   Not as a surprise, but as fulfillment. The buds that appear are not random. They are the result of hidden work. The joy feels fuller because we remember the winter. The Alleluia sounds louder because we walked through the silence.   Spring does not erase Lent. It proves it was necessary.   I'm trying to die to myself and give God my fiat. This Lent I'm also saying "I am the handmade of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word". I'm surrendering myself to the hands of the Gardener.   And I pray for patience while the compost of my soul continues decomposing, I remind myself  that growth cannot be rushed. His ways are not my ways. But I trust and surrender.    The Gardener knows when to prune. He knows when to wait. He knows when to bring the sun.   And even when you can only see three feet in front of you, the roots are going deeper than you realize.

As we say goodbye to 2025, we're reflecting on a year filled with more milestones than we ever imagined. We lift up our friends who are suffering, trusting them to the Lord, knowing that "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18). Embracing that we are beautifully broken, we allow Christ's light to shine through our wounds, for His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). "A humble soul does not trust itself but places all its confidence in God. God defends the humble soul and lets himself into its secrets, and the soul abides in unsurpassable happiness which no one can comprehend."    

Behold I am the haindmaid of the LORD be it done unto me according to your word! Andvent is a season of waiting, a pause before the messiah is born. We need to sit and wait and prepare our hearts. The Angle asked our Lady to be the mother of God, she paused and then declaired.. Behold I am the haindmaid of the LORD be it done unto me according to your word! Mary teaches us the pattern: Listen. Believe. Receive. Give praise. At the Annunciation, she offers her FIAT — a yes that lets God's life enter the world. One hand of the Pietà cradles Christ, the other stays open. So must ours. How and where is God calling you to give him your FIAT? Spiritual motherhood means emptying ourselves so we can receive divine life and nurture it through the Holy Spirit. We take souls to Our Lady, hide under her mantle when afraid, and offer ourselves as a total gift. The world needs good moms — women who radiate Christ's love and suffer with one another. The feminine genius is vulnerability, staying soft when life tries to harden us. Mama Mary, make me a virtuous woman like you. Help me give my FIAT, be a light that cannot be dimmed, a heart that stays soft, and a soul that radiates Christ's love. Amen.

In this episode, we take a deep look at what it truly means to live with modesty in heart, mind, and appearance—especially in a culture that constantly tells us to seek attention and validation. We'll talk about how children are shaped by what they see online, how womanhood is being redefined through social media, and how we can anchor our identity in the Lord rather than in the world's opinions. Through honest conversation and biblical reflection, we'll explore how to teach modesty not as shame or restriction, but as freedom—a reflection of who we are in Christ. Whether you're a mom, mentor, or young woman learning to navigate your faith in a digital age, this episode offers encouragement and truth for living with grace, confidence, and purpose. ✨ A conversation about hearts, not hemlines—about identity that shines from within.

Rachel shared her beautiful heart last week and this is the 2nd part and she welcomes you to join us on the next Beautifully Broken Retreat. 

It is with great honor I introduce you to my childhood best friend. Rachel came on the Beautifuly Broken retreat we held this summer and shares from her heart. Hope you enjoy!

It's BACK!!! So i'm not sure if I will continue on Youtube or not, but I'm back on most PODCAST apps!! :-) Thank you for your patience and support. I've been praying for you and will continue too. This podcast if for ladies who are tired of pretending and ready to be REAL. Please continue to be patient with me, but I will do my best to get more audio podcast out as often as I can. I will be sharing on Patreon.com/Amongthelilies and Instagram. 

In a culture that glorifies busyness and distraction, slowing down is countercultural—but it might just be essential for your soul. In this episode, reflect on Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God," and let it echo through the lens of Philippians 4:4–9. St. Paul calls us to "rejoice in the Lord always," to "let [our] reasonableness be known to everyone," and to "not be anxious about anything." How? By turning everything—our stress, our schedules, our restlessness—into prayer. "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just… think about these things." • Why hurry is a spiritual threat • How the peace of God "which surpasses all understanding" can guard your heart and mind • Simple, daily practices for reclaiming silence, prayer, and presence This isn't about escaping the world—it's about waking up to the presence of God in the middle of it.

🌿 Learning to Detach & Lean on the Lord | Soul Sister Spotlight + Life Lessons from the Road 🌿  In today's video, I'm so excited to introduce you to one of my beautiful Soul Sisters — a radiant woman with a heart full of wisdom, grace, and courage. 💛 Together, we dive deep into what it really means to detach from the noise, lean fully on the Lord, and live in the present moment. She shares her incredible journey of traveling and living in a camper, embracing a simpler, slower pace of life that has taught her so much about faith, surrender, and becoming more HUMAN. This episode is filled with raw reflections, real-life insights, and spiritual truths that will encourage your heart. ✨ Topics we touch on: What detachment truly looks like when rooted in faith Trusting God when life feels uncertain The beauty of simplicity and solitude on the road Finding presence in the present moment What she's unpacking now — emotionally, spiritually, and physically Whether you're seeking encouragement, craving a more grounded lifestyle, or simply love stories of transformation and truth, this conversation is for YOU. Come join us in this sacred space. 🌸 🙏  Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe if this resonates with your soul! #FaithJourney #SoulSisterTalks #ChristianLiving #VanLife #Minimalism #Detachment #TrustGod

🎙️ New Episode Drop!   "Freedom in Imperfection" ✨ I had the best conversation with my dear friend on this episode—raw, real, and full of truth. We've been close friends since we were late teens. She is one of my dearewst Soul Sisters. We dove deep into what it means to find freedom in our flaws, the beauty of learning from our mistakes, and how our Love Languages shape the way we give and receive not just love, but truth too. 🧠💛 This one is for anyone who's ever felt like they had to have it all together to be worthy. Spoiler alert: You don't. So grateful for this chat. So excited to share it with you. 🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts. #FreedomInImperfection #PodcastEpisode #RealTalk #GrowthMindset #LoveLanguages #LearningOutLoud