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At some point, we have to do more than name what is broken. We have to practice another way. In today's episode, I'm talking about what embodiment, creativity, empire, and decolonizing taught me about practicing freedom in real life. Transformation is deeper than information. We do not become free simply because someone gives us the right definition or hands us a list of correct beliefs. We practice freedom by paying attention, telling the truth, slowing down, making room, listening, releasing control, and trusting the Spirit. This episode is also a reflection on ministry, leadership, holy listening, and becoming more fully who God created us to be.  www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray Episode Themes: practicing freedom, transformation, holy listening, spiritual discernment, decolonizing, ministry, leadership, becoming, Artful Awakening

Some words get so heavy with assumptions that we stop being curious about what they actually mean. For me, "empire" and "decolonizing" are two of those words. In this episode, I define empire in plain language: the systems, stories, habits, and values that shape us away from freedom, wholeness, love, and the way of Jesus. This is not about having the fanciest vocabulary or proving we know the right words. It is about asking a deeper question: What has shaped us that keeps us from being free? We'll talk about how empire shows up in our bodies, calendars, churches, imaginations, and expectations of ourselves, and how grace invites us to practice another way. www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray Episode Themes: empire, decolonizing, spiritual formation, freedom, wholeness, Artful Awakening, Christian spirituality, embodiment, systems, gospel, practicing another way

Have you ever said, "I'm just not creative"? I don't believe you. In this episode, I'm talking about creativity as more than talent, art, or making something impressive. Creativity is wisdom. It is prayer. It is participation in the ongoing creative work of God. I share how watercolor became a spiritual practice for me, how art helped me surrender control, and why creating can help us access things that thinking, explaining, and even traditional forms of prayer cannot always reach. This episode is for artists, non-artists, recovering perfectionists, and anyone who needs permission to make something without needing it to be good. www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray Episode Themes: creativity, art and spirituality, creative practice, watercolor, prayer, spiritual formation, imago Dei, God as Creator, Artful Awakening, embodied spirituality

What if your body has been telling the truth, and you've just been too rushed to hear it? In this episode, I'm reflecting on what my Doctor of Ministry project, Artful Awakening, taught me about embodied spirituality, the incarnation, and the wisdom of the body. For a long time, I lived mostly from the neck up: thinking, planning, producing, and doing the next thing. But through this work, I began to learn that breath, tension, exhaustion, grief, desire, and joy can all be ways the Spirit is speaking. If God chose a body in Jesus, then our bodies are not distractions from our spiritual lives. They are part of how God meets us. www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray Episode Themes: embodied spirituality, incarnation, body wisdom, spiritual discernment, Artful Awakening, Doctor of Ministry, spiritual formation, resistance, Christian spirituality

In this episode of Wild Grace, Amber Lea reflects on John 21, the post-resurrection story of the disciples returning to the water, a long night of empty nets, breakfast on the shore, and Jesus asking Simon Peter the same question three times: Do you love me? This is a contemplative reflection on what repeated questions do inside us. The first time, we answer quickly. The second time, something in us slows down. The third time, something more honest begins to rise. This episode explores John 21, Jesus and Peter, repeated questions, spiritual discernment, honest faith, and the answers beneath our first response. www.amberleagray.com www.amberleagray.social www.insagram.com/amber.lea.gray

What if? If we're honest, that question can get out of control pretty quickly. We easily spiral into worry and anxiety. In today's episode of Wild Grace, we will hear about worry from the Gospel of Matthew. We will also enter into the passage with an imaginative contemplation exercise. If you have a tendency to worry, this episode is for you.  www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray

WAIT -- don't skip this episode! I know that silence and solitude are often not at the top of our to-do lists, but what if I said they are essential for a deep spirituality? If you're longing to be in God's presence, to grow in your faith, or to experience God's love -- then this episode is for you! I'm going to talk about the practice of silence and solitude and what it might look like to incorporate this into your own life.  www.amberleagray.com www.amberleagray.social www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray [email protected]

How do we know what God wants us to do? What does the process of discernment look like? As a pastor, I'm often asked about discerning God's will. Is there a magic formula? In today's episode, I'm walking you through three types of prayers for discernment. These are not to-do list prayers. These are the get your hands dirty, repeat often kind of prayers - and they will transform your life. www.amberleagray.com  www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray www.amberleagray.social

Deep breath. Episode one. Holy Listening.  Listening is central to our spiritual lives. It is the work of discernment -- not just for the big decisions but for the everyday choices. Learning to with grace changes everything. It cultivates space for transformation, where we are becoming our most true, authentic selves. www.amberleagray.com www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray [email protected]

I'm Amber Lea - a pastor, creative, and spiritual director and I have a lot more questions than answers.  I know we just met, but will you go on a journey with me? Just a heads up, I don't have a map or a guide, or a daily itinerary. This is more like one of those old choose your own adventure books. It is a journey of wild grace. I believe that grace woos us and confronts us and comforts us. It holds our hand, pushes us over the edge, and catches us at the bottom. Grace is raw. It is real. It is a mystery. Grace is wild, untamed, and surprising. Grace takes us on a journey to find our most true, authentic selves. It allows us to explore our life and faith in ways that set us free. I'd love it if you went with me. Come on, let's wander together in fields of wild grace. The Wild Grace Podcast is launching in June 2023!  www.amberleagray.com

Resistance is often seen as a bad thing, but I'm not sure I agree. I think resistance can be an invitation to pause. Resistance is natural. In this episode of the podcast, I talk about what resistance is and some practical ways to deal with resistance in your own life. Whether it's resistance in your personal life or resistance at work, this episode is for you!  www.amberleagray.com www.amberleagray.social www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray

Y'all, I'm in a season of life where I have A LOT more questions than answers. Please tell me that I'm not alone. Today on the podcast, I'm going to share a little bit about this season of life, what it looks like, and why it might not be a bad thing. www.amberleagray.com Substack: www.amberleagray.social www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray

Let's be honest, making friends as an adult is hard. I think for that reason, sometimes we ignore friendship red flags. Let's talk about it.  www.amberleagray.com  Substack Community: www.amberleagray.social www.intagram.com/amber.lea.gray

It's the 200th episode of Growth & Grace!! How is that even possible?  I took all of Janurary to process 2022, and today I'm sharing some of the things I learned. If I'm honest, it was one of the hardest years of my life. So much happened out of my control, and I had a hard time knowing who to trust. This episode shares some of the lessons I learned. It's full of both growth and grace!  www.amberleagray.com  Substack Community & Newsletter: www.amberleagray.social www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray

HEY FRIENDS!  I've missed you, seriously! I took the month of January off, and if I'm honest... I struggled with the pause. I felt like I was letting you down and letting myself down. Today I'm going to talk a little about the last month and what it it means to restart something. I'm excited to be back, and the things planned for Growth & Grace the next few months.  I'd love to hear from you! How is 2023 going so far?! www.instagram.com/amber.lea.gray www.amberleagray.com  www.amberleagray.social