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Send us Fan Mail What if weakness isn't something to hide, but an invitation to depend more fully on God? In this episode, my friend, Linda Livingston, joins me to explore the biblical concept of the “weaker vessel” in 1 Peter 3:7. Together, we unpack what it means to embrace weakness, surrender self-reliance, and trust in God's strength. Discover why you were never meant to carry it all and how your weakness can become a place of deeper dependence on Christ. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail Following the conversations surrounding ACCESS, the prayer and worship gathering hosted by Pastor Phillip Anthony Mitchell, we're examining the biblical call to corporate prayer, the danger of allowing legitimate concerns to become a critical spirit, and our responsibility as disciples and leaders to cultivate a culture of prayer. We can celebrate what God may be doing beyond our own church walls while still taking responsibility for what happens within them. Scripture references: Acts 2:42; Acts 4:23–31; Philippians 1:15–18; Ephesians 6:18. #TheUpstreamPursuit #GoingUpstream #Prayer #ChristianLeadership #WomenInMinistry If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you want to grow in an area of your life, but the desire just isn’t there? In this episode, I’m sharing the story behind a seemingly simple milestone: making a veggie pizza! What began as a desire to help my husband became an unexpected journey of facing fear, taking small steps, and discovering that growth doesn’t always look the way we imagine it will. Whether you’re navigating a new season, developing a skill, or stepping into something unfamiliar, this episode will encourage you to remain open to what God may be doing.  Scripture: Philippians 2:13 If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail Leadership requires more than a willing heart. It requires the humility to keep growing, developing our skills, and inviting others to help us become the leaders God has called us to be.  In this episode, we’re looking at Psalm 78:72 and what it means to lead with both “integrity of heart” and “skillful hands.” If you’re serving in ministry and wondering what your next step of leadership development looks like, this episode is for you. And if you’re ready to stop trying to figure it all out alone, I’ll also introduce the Upstream Leadership Experience, a 12-week leadership development program designed to help women in ministry grow in who they are, how they lead, and how they build healthy ministry systems. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail Scripture doesn't ask us to choose between boldness and gentleness. In fact, we see them working together throughout Scripture. In this episode, we explore why boldness and gentleness need each other. We aren't simply trying to win an argument or prove that we're right. We're called to faithfully represent Christ in the way we speak, correct, lead, and disagree. Scripture: 1 Peter 3:15–16; 2 Timothy 2:24–26; Proverbs 15:1; Colossians 4:6; Galatians 6:1 If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail What does it actually mean to be gentle? In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” and invites us to learn from Him. But biblical gentleness is about so much more than being quiet, agreeable, or nice. In this episode, we look at the gentleness of Jesus, gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit and how prayer helps cultivate a spirit that reflects Christ. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail In the final part of our conversation about Netflix's Death of the Pastor's Wife, we move from discernment to biblical accountability. We talk about why spiritual leaders are not above accountability, what biblical submission actually looks like, and why submission should never be confused with silence. We'll also explore the responsibility we each have to take ownership of our own sin, while recognizing the greater responsibility that comes with spiritual authority. And for women in ministry, we'll talk about why protecting a church, a leader, or a ministry's reputation should never require us to remain silent about abuse, manipulation, or wrongdoing. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss Netflix's Death of the Pastor's Wife, a heartbreaking documentary recounting the complicated story of Mica Miller, a young worship leader and pastor's wife, and the allegations of abuse, coercive control, and spiritual manipulation surrounding her marriage and eventual death. This episode is not a true-crime investigation, nor is it an attempt to determine what happened in Mica's death. Instead, the conversation centers on knowing Scripture, testing what we are taught and exercising discernment even when the person teaching is someone we love and respect.  Next week, we'll also discuss accountability for spiritual leaders, the difference between biblical submission and silence, how Scripture can be misused to manipulate others, and why protecting the church or ministry should never mean protecting sin. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail After taking time away to grieve the loss of my mom, I’m returning to the podcast with a reflection on the lessons her life taught me about serving God.Mom understood what she had received from God was not meant to stop with her.  In this episode, we’ll reflect on Ephesians 2:10 and ask an important question: What has God given you, and what are you doing with it? Join me as I share what my mom taught me about hospitality, generosity, and giving God what we’ve been given, and consider how you can faithfully steward what God has placed in your hands. Scripture Anchor: Ephesians 2:10 If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m sharing a short personal update to let you know I’m stepping away for a few weeks to grieve the unexpected loss of my mom. Even in grief, I’m holding onto the hope we have in Christ: death does not have the final word. My mom is with Jesus, and because Christ is risen, I can grieve deeply while still holding onto the promise of resurrection. I look forward to sharing more about my mom, her legacy of hospitality and generosity, and what God is teaching me through this season. Thank you for giving me the space to grieve, and thank you for praying for my family. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail It's easy to tell ourselves, "I'm just in a busy season." But what if our greatest struggle isn't busyness; it's priorities? In this episode, I share a powerful moment from a recent Bible study that challenged the way I think about intimacy with Christ. Together, we'll explore Jesus' invitation in John 15 to abide in Him and His example of regularly withdrawing to spend time with the Father. If you've felt spiritually dry, distracted, or like you've been waiting for the "right time" to reconnect with God, this episode is your invitation to stop waiting and reset today. Key Scriptures: John 15:1–5, Luke 5:16 If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail How do we cultivate biblical discernment in a world filled with competing voices?In this episode, we journey through Psalm 1 to discover that discernment is more than making wise decisions; it's learning to distinguish truth from error, righteousness from wickedness, and God's wisdom from the world's by delighting in His revealed Word. Together, we'll explore what threatens discernment, how it is cultivated, what it produces in the life of a believer, and practical ways to grow in wisdom through Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. Whether you're navigating difficult decisions, seeking spiritual maturity, or simply longing to become more deeply rooted in Christ, Psalm 1 offers a timeless invitation to walk the way of the righteous. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt like God was asking you to take a step of faith before showing you what comes next? In this episode, I share what God has been teaching me in a season of uncertainty as I step away from my full-time job without knowing exactly where He's leading next. Together, we'll look at Hebrews 11:8–10 and the life of Abraham to discover that faith isn't built on having all the answers; it's built on trusting the character of God. If you're waiting for direction, wrestling with uncertainty, or learning to let go of control, I pray this conversation encourages you to keep taking the next faithful step. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail When the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) made headlines over women in pastoral ministry, social media quickly filled with opinions, assumptions, and strong reactions. But as followers of Christ, how should we respond when theological disagreements arise? In this episode, we use the recent SBC conversation as a case study to explore how Christian leaders can become the kind of leader who handles God's Word faithfully and God's people graciously. My prayer is that this conversation equips you not only to think more biblically, but to lead more like Christ. If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're returning to Scripture to discover Jesus' definition of leadership. Together, we'll explore why biblical leadership is different and why it matters for women serving in ministry. This episode also marks a new chapter for The Upstream Pursuit. While our heart remains the same, we'll be more intentional about helping women serving in ministry grow in Christ-like character, leadership skills and ministry rhythms.  In this episode, you'll learn: Why leadership must be defined by Scripture, not culture.What Jesus teaches about greatness in Matthew 20.How to begin stewarding the responsibilities God has entrusted to you with humility, wisdom, and confidence.Whether you have a ministry title or faithfully serve behind the scenes, this episode is an invitation to let Christ shape the way you lead. Scripture: Matthew 20:20–28 If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more women in ministry find the show and be encouraged in their walk with Christ and leadership in the local church. Connect with Narcely: Website: www.NarcelyRuiz.com Instagram: @narcelyruiz / @upstreampursuit  If you’re a woman serving in ministry and you want support in growing in biblical confidence, leadership, and healthy ministry rhythms, I’d love to connect with you.