EPISODE 8: The Cycle of Doubt and Faith

Daily Devotional app LECTIO 365

ECHO PHRASE Faith isn’t a straight line. It’s a spiral—with souvenirs.

THE CLOSING PRAYER God of every ember,


For the ones who feel found

and the ones who feel far—


I pray for each person who listens.


That they might find what they need.


A moment of calm.

A flicker of hope.


And the grace to begin again.


Amen.

EMAIL: EmbersOfGracePodcast@gmail.com

Episode 7: The Power of Words

…because sometimes, it only takes one to change everything.

EMAIL Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com

Episode 6: Truth Isn’t Fragile: Trusting the Questions That Won’t Leave You Alone

Prayer O Sacred Mystery,


the space between answers,


the quiet voice beneath the shouting ones,

the love that holds us when belief escapes us,

help us to trust the questions,


to welcome the doubt,


to walk the road

even when it winds and loops back on itself.


Remind us—

that when we doubt or question,

it doesn’t mean we’re lost. It means we’re finding our way.

MANTRA Your questions are not a threat. They are part of your path.

EMAIL

Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com

Episode 5: The Slow Return: Thawing Out and Trusting What Comes Next

The ember for this episode: Emotions

You can’t selectively numb.


If you mute your pain, you muffle your joy.


If you silence the grief, you muffle the wonder.


If you don’t give yourself permission to feel, eventually, you stop feeling anything.

PRAYER


God of every ember—


For the weary and the wondering,


For those who believe and those who don’t—


I pray for each person who listens.


That they might find what they need.


A little light.

A little rest.

A little grace.


Amen.

Email: EmbersofGracePodcast@gmail.com

Episode 4: The Sacred Middle

You Don’t Have to Hustle to be Whole

PRAYER: God of the in-between — the sacred space between extremes; of the mountaintop and the valley. I pray for each person who listens —


That they might find what they need.


For the ones who are tired of trying,
 a little peace, 
a little space to just be, and a little grace.


Amen.

EMAIL Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com

I honor my journey, trusting that each step unfolds in divine timing.

EMAIL Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com

LAUGHTER: GRACE IN DISGUISE

Michael Austin Miller

What if laughter isn’t a distraction from the sacred—but a doorway into it? In this episode, Michael Austin Miller explores the holy ember of humor—how joy sneaks in when belief runs dry, and how even a giggle in grief can be a sign your spirit’s still alive.

From unexpected laughter in the midst of sorrow, a hypnotic sermon gone sideways, to the unexpected grace of Mediwipes—these stories will make you laugh, think, and maybe—just maybe—see grace in a whole new way. Because sometimes, joy is the last ember still glowing when belief feels burned out. And if you’ve ever needed a laugh to remember you’re still alive—this one’s for you.

B.O.N.F.I.R.E:

Be Open Now For Inner Renewal Experiences

Be — Be still enough to notice joy sneaking in through the cracks. Laughter often arrives in the pause between what hurts and what heals.

Open — Open your spirit to the unexpected. Sometimes grace wears a punchline, not a halo.

Now — Now is where holy humor lives. Not in what was, not in what might be—but in the moment that makes you laugh before you cry.

For — For every tear you’ve shed, let there be a laugh that reminds you: you’re still here, and grace still has a sense of humor.

Inner — Inner light isn’t always solemn. Sometimes the soul giggles. Sometimes healing sounds like a wheeze-laugh and ends with a snort.

Renewal — Renewal begins when the weight lifts, even for a second. Laughter clears the air and resets the heart.

Experiences — Experiences that made you stumble may one day make you laugh—and that laughter may be the most sacred part of the story.

EMAIL Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com

The Sacred Doesn’t Wait for Sunday

Michael Austin Miller

What if the presence of God was never meant to be confined to a building, a schedule, or a set of credentials?

What if sacredness shows up in casserole kitchens, car cries, dandelion gifts, and snack time with Jesus?

In this episode, Michael Austin Miller unpacks what it means to live a life awake to the Sacred—beyond stained glass and Sunday services. With storytelling, laughter, and holy honesty, he invites us to reclaim sacredness as something God already placed within us—no permission slip from the church required. This one’s for the wanderers, the bruised believers, the LGBTQ+ beloveds, and anyone who’s been told there wasn’t room at the table. If you’ve ever whispered a prayer in the grocery line or found holy ground in someone’s grief, this episode is for you.

Passage:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… All the believers were together and had everything in common.-Acts 2:42–47


Ask yourself: Who have I shared life with lately? Where have I offered or received care? Where have I seen the Sacred lately? What would it look like to build community with casseroles and conversation instead of perfection and performance?

B.O.N.F.I.R.E.

Be Open Now For Inner Renewal Experiences

Be — Show up honestly. Open — Let go of control; make room for growth. Now — The sacred is already here. For — Something larger than yourself. Inner — Your soul and story matter. Renewal — Let grace do its slow work. Experiences —The sacred comes to you in ordinary experiences.

EMAIL Embersofgracepodcast@gmail.com