Becoming Beauty

008 | 20 Things Bringing Me Joy

During the third week of Advent, we're invited to REJOICE! I wanted to do something fun and lighthearted to celebrate this joyful week, so I'm sharing 20 things that are bringing me joy right now. It's a very random list, but I hope it makes you smile — it sure made me smile to write these things down. And perhaps it will inspire you to think of some of the simple things bringing YOU joy right now. Happy listening!
 
Read:
Mass Readings from Gaudete Sunday
Call Me Mama board book
 
Listen:
Nancy Ray's podcast (Spotify, Apple, Google)
Advent Playlist - songs
Advent Playlist - albums
 
And more:
Sourdough sandwich bread
Peanut Butter Hershey Kiss cookies
Travel diffuser
Sleepytime Tea
 
Quote:
"The soul of the one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, and is always in the mood for singing." (St. John of the Cross)
 
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007 | A Deeper Look at ”O Holy Night”

The song "O Holy Night" has rightly gained a special place in the hearts of many people. With magnificent lyrics and a soaring melody, it stands out amongst many lighthearted or comedic Christmas songs in our modern times. In this week's episode, I'm sharing why this song means so much to me as well as its history and an invitation to take a deeper look at the words. I hope you fall even more in love with "O Holy Night" this Advent and Christmas season!
 
Watch:
My recent performance of "O Holy Night"
David Phelp's performance of "O Holy Night"
 
Read: Lyrics to "O Holy Night"
 
Listen:
Advent Playlist - songs
Advent Playlist - albums
 
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006 | Living with Hope (even when life is hard)

Despite its many sparkly festivities, this time of year can be difficult for people who are grieving, lonely, or far from home. At its heart, the Advent season is a time for great hope as we await the birth of our Savior. How do we live in both these spaces at the same time?
This week, we're digging in to the virtue of hope and learning how we can direct our hearts toward the hope of Heaven and the hope of Christmas, even when we're facing great difficulties in our lives.
 
Read:
Virtue of Hope (Catechism 1817-1821)
Romans 4:18
Matthew 5:3-12 - The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes (Catechism 1716-1729)
With This Pledge (Tamera Alexander)
 
Listen:
Advent Playlist - songs
Advent Playlist - albums
 
Quote:
Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end. (St. Teresa of Avila)
 
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005 | How to Have an Intentional Advent

Overwhelmed and overstimulated by all the Christmas craziness? Looking for some ways to actually celebrate Advent? You're in good company.
In her wisdom, the Church gives us the holy season of Advent so we can prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus on Christmas Day. But our culture has gotten things out of whack, and many of us are burned out on Christmas before Christmas is even here. This week, I'm sharing several ways you can bring greater simplicity and peace to your life during this season.
 
Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Listen:
Ahatonia (Jay & Jo)
Advent Playlist - songs
Advent Playlist - albums
 
Links:
Corda Candles
Calyan Wax Co.
Reform Wellness
 
Quote: "God walks into your soul with silent step. God comes to you more than you go to Him. Never will his coming be what you expect, and yet never will it disappoint. The more you respond to his gentle pressure, the greater will be your freedom.” –Ven. Fulton Sheen
 
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004 | Gratitude: What, Why, and How We Do It

In honor of Thanksgiving and in preparation for a season typically fraught with long wish lists and consumerism, we're talking about gratitude this week.
 
We'll first define gratitude (and talk about what it isn't), discuss why it's important, and turn to scripture to learn practical ways we can develop the important skill of maintaining a spirit of gratitude in seasons of both celebration and sorrow.
 
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Recipe: Beth's Sweet Potato Casserole
 
Listen: Abiding Together - episode on gratitude
 
Read:
Catechism 2637-2638
James 1:17
Psalm 100
Matthew 6:33
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
James 1:2-3
Colossians 3:15-17
 
Quote: The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.” –St. Gianna Beretta Molla
 
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003 | A New Perspective on Childhood Favorites

Let us welcome in our friend "nostalgia" for this week's episode.
 
We are building on our discussion from last week about God's personal pursuit by looking more deeply at how the Lord was loving us in our childhood before we were even aware it was him. We'll look back at music, books, movies, and more that were teaching us all about God, even if we weren't aware of that truth while singing into a hairbrush in front of our mirrors.
 
Prepare for your eyes to be opened to God's sense of humor and his infinite delight as we take a trip down memory lane.
 
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God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1)
 
Read: Letter to Artists (St. John Paul II)
 
Listen: The Beautiful Letdown: Our Version (Switchfoot)
 
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002 | God’s Personal Pursuit

We're often told that God is pursuing our hearts, but what does this actually look like? Because we are uniquely made, his pursuit is specific to each of us. In this week's episode, we'll explore the idea of God's personal pursuit, and I'll share some ways you can more intentionally ponder the ways God has been pursuing you throughout your life.
 
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Book: God is Beauty (Karol Wojtyla/St. John Paul II)
 
Reflection Questions:
Is there something that brings you a lot of joy that may seem odd to other people?
What were you drawn to as a child?
What brings out your inner child?
What makes you come alive?
What is your favorite way to pray?
What is your favorite way to play?
What could you do, look at, or experience for a long stretch of time without getting bored?
What simple things bring a smile to your face?
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📸 Follow me on Instagram
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✨ Check out my website
👉 Contact me: podcast@jessamynanderson.com

001 | What is ”Becoming Beauty?”

Welcome to Becoming Beauty!
This is a podcast where we're learning how God is encountering us in our everyday lives so we can better receive him into our hearts and become more like him, Beauty himself.
C.S. Lewis said, "We want to be united with the beauty we see...to become part of it."
Our hearts ache for this beauty because they were made for the infinite, so let's journey into that ache together and "be not afraid" of what we'll find along the way.