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“Welcome back to the Abide podcast.

As we journey through the Gospel of John together, we’re following the thread of a love that changes everything. Today in Episode 3 of Abide, we’re in John 2 at a wedding in Cana—where joy is on the verge of running out… and Jesus quietly shows up.

“John tells us this is the first sign Jesus performs.
Not in a temple.
Not in front of crowds.
But in the middle of an ordinary celebration—where something has quietly run out.”

We have all found ourselves in a situation at one time or another when something was on the verge of falling apart… and our reputation—or dignity—felt like it was on the line.

Maybe you’ve had that moment where you feel the quiet panic of embarrassment… where something is slipping through your fingers and you don’t know how to stop it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re running low—on hope, strength, or joy—this episode is for you.

Come and see… a love that changes everything.

Enjoy!

Listener Reflection Card — Episode 3

A Love That Changes Everything

John 2:1–11 | The First Sign: The Wedding at Cana

Take a Breath

Before you move on with your day, take a quiet moment.
Jesus is here—present in the ordinary.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life have you quietly run out?
   (Strength, hope, patience, joy, margin…)
2. What simple need can you bring to Jesus today—just as it is?
   No perfect words. Just honesty.
3. What ordinary place might Jesus be longing to enter and transform?
   A relationship, a fear, a burden, a hidden place of lack…

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

Thank you for listening to the Abide Podcast with Gretchen Stevenson. Each episode is an invitation to slow down, open God’s Word, and abide in the love of Jesus Christ. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here. If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who might need this reminder today. To connect, access resources, or learn more, visit www.gretchenstevenson.com

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Episode 2: Come and See

John 1:35–51 | A Love That Changes Everything

What does it mean to follow Jesus—and where does that journey really begin?

In this episode of the Abide Podcast, we step into John 1:35–51, where Jesus offers His first invitation to potential disciples: “Come and see.” Rather than issuing a command or laying out expectations, Jesus invites curiosity, presence, and relationship.

As we walk through this passage together, we’ll explore the significance of the invitation that still stands today and reflect on the names Jesus is given—Lamb of God, Rabbi, Messiah, Son of God, and King of Israel—each revealing something essential about who He is and the kind of love He offers.

This episode includes Scripture reading, teaching, thoughtful reflection, and a gentle practice to help you linger with God’s Word beyond the episode. A Listener Reflection Card is available in the show notes to guide you as you abide with this invitation throughout the week.

You don’t have to have all the answers.
You’re simply invited to come—and see.

LISTENER REFLECTION CARD

📖 Scripture to Abide In

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’ So they came and saw where he was staying, and

they stayed with him that day.”

— John 1:39 (ESV)

🌿 Truth to Hold

Jesus does not begin with demands or explanations—

He begins with an invitation.

A love that changes everything first invites us to be with Him.

💭 Question to Ponder

What name or title of Jesus do you most need to lean into right now—

Lamb of God, Rabbi, Messiah, Son of God, or King?

👣 Gentle Practice for the Week

Set aside five quiet minutes this week.

Sit with the words “Come and see.”

Ask Jesus to show you who He is—and how He is inviting you to follow Him more closely.

Abide. Behold. And stay close to Jesus.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

Thank you for listening to the Abide Podcast with Gretchen Stevenson. Each episode is an invitation to slow down, open God’s Word, and abide in the love of Jesus Christ. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here. If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who might need this reminder today. To connect, access resources, or learn more, visit www.gretchenstevenson.com

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Welcome to a new season of the Abide Podcast.
I’m your host, Gretchen Stevenson, and I’m so glad you’re here.

This season, we’re focusing our attention on the Gospel of John—a Gospel written not just to inform us, but to invite us into a love that changes everything. John tells us these words were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in His name.

Through stories, signs, and conversations with Jesus, we’ll discover a love that draws near, shines in the darkness, and makes its home with us. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years or you’re just beginning to ask questions, this journey is for you.

So take a deep breath, open your heart, and come abide with us—
this is a year long series on A Love That Changes Everything.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/

Enjoy,
Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

Thank you for listening to the Abide Podcast with Gretchen Stevenson. Each episode is an invitation to slow down, open God’s Word, and abide in the love of Jesus Christ. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here. If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who might need this reminder today. To connect, access resources, or learn more, visit www.gretchenstevenson.com

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Welcome to the final episode of the Abide Podcast for this year. I’m so glad you’re here.

Before we step into today’s Christmas devotion, I want to pause and say thank you for listening, for walking with me, and for making space in your life to linger in God’s Word this past year. It has been a gift to journey together, especially through our Nerd in the Word conversations, where we’ve slowed down and explored Scripture—both Old and New Testament—allowing God to meet us there.

My prayer is that along the way, your heart has been gently shaped by His grace and strengthened by the truth of His Word. As we take a short break and prepare to return in February, I hope you carry with you a deeper assurance of God’s nearness and love.

As we close out this year, I invite you to settle in and receive this Christmas devotion—letting it quietly prepare your heart as we approach the joy and wonder of celebrating the birth of our Savior.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/

Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

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Welcome back to Nerd In The Word.

I’m Gretchen, and I am here again with my favorite co-nerd — my friend Kristin — as we step into the final episode of our Building a House of Faith series. We have spent the last several weeks laying spiritual lumber, digging deep into Scripture, and watching the framework of a life in Christ take shape piece by piece. And today… we place the final beam and raise the roof.

We began this journey with the Foundation — Jesus Christ, the rock beneath our feet.
We framed the house with God’s Word, strong and true.
We set the Beams of Faith, trusting what we cannot see.
We walked through the Doorway of Grace, into new life and redemption.
We breathed in the Atmosphere of Faith, watching how belief permeates every room of the heart.
And now, in this last pillar, we lift our eyes upward to the Covering of Hope and Perseverance — the roof that shelters every part of the house beneath it.

Because a house can only stand if it is covered —
covered by hope, covered by God’s promises,
covered by the One who holds tomorrow.

In this episode we’re going to open Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 12, nerd out on the Greek words elpis and hypomonē, and talk about how hope anchors us and perseverance strengthens us. We’ll look honestly at storms, at waiting seasons, at the long obedience of following Jesus — and how the God who calls us is faithful to finish what He began.

So grab your Bible, your journal, your coffee or tea —
and come spend one more episode building with us.

Let’s raise the covering together,
and step into the hope that shelters our House of Faith.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

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Welcome back to the Nerd In The Word podcast!

I’m Gretchen, and I’m here again with my fellow Scripture-nerd and dear friend, Kristin, as we continue building our “house of faith” in this series.

So far, we’ve looked at the foundation, the framework, the beams, and the doorway…and today we step into one of my favorite metaphors yet:
The Atmosphere of Faith.

Every home has a “feel”—a presence, a tone, an atmosphere. And in the life of a believer, that atmosphere is shaped by faith. Faith isn’t just a pillar we stand on; it’s the way we breathe, move, relate, rest, and grow in Christ. Faith infuses every room of our spiritual house.

In this episode, we’re walking through four rooms—four spaces of the heart—where God wants to cultivate a living, breathing atmosphere of faith:

• The Living Room — Fellowship (koinōnia)

A place of connection, community, and belonging.
We’ll nerd out on the Greek word koinōnia, explore Acts 2:42, and talk about how faith flourishes in shared life.

• The Kitchen — Nourishment (Jesus the Bread / rhema Word)

Where we are fed, strengthened, and sustained.
We’ll look at John 6, Matthew 4:4, and how the rhema (spoken, timely) Word nourishes our daily walk.

• The Bedroom — Rest and Peace

A space of safety, intimacy, and restoration.
Psalm 4:8, Matthew 11:28–30, and Hebrews 4 will guide our conversation about faith that lets us breathe and be still.

• The Basement — Storage, Brokenness, and Hidden Places

The room we’d rather keep closed off.
But faith invites Jesus even here—into the old, heavy, forgotten things.
We’ll visit Psalm 51, Romans 8:1, and the transforming work of the Spirit in our depths.

Through Scripture, stories, questions, and a bit of Greek word-nerding, we’ll explore how faith is more than belief—it’s an atmosphere God is cultivating within us. A climate of trust. A pattern of breathing. A way of inhabiting the life He has built.

So grab your Bible, your journal, maybe a cozy blanket—and let’s walk through the house, room by room, and discover how God fills each space with the life-giving atmosphere of faith.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

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Welcome back to Nerd in the Word! I’m Gretchen, and I’m here again with my good friend and fellow nerd, Kristin.

Today we’re stepping into our fourth pillar of faith in our Blueprints of Grace series — The Doorway of Grace. If you’ve been following along, we’ve been building a spiritual house: Christ is the cornerstone, God’s Word frames our life, and faith stands as the beams that hold us steady. But now, we reach the doorway — the point where we enter in.

Grace is that doorway. It’s the threshold between the old life we once lived and the new life we’ve been invited into through Jesus Christ. It’s where mercy meets transformation. Titus 3:3–7 paints this picture beautifully:

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray... But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit...”

Grace is what opens the door. Christ is the One who holds it wide. And by faith, we step through — leaving behind who we were, to become who we’re meant to be in Him.

So grab your Bible and your builder’s mindset — it’s time to explore the doorway of grace and what it really means to walk through it.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

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Welcome back to Nerd in the Word! We’re so glad you’re here with us for Week 3 of our series, Building a House of Faith. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve talked about laying the foundation and framing the structure of our faith—and today, we’re turning our attention to the roof beams: faith itself.

I’m once again joined by my fellow nerd in the Word and good friend, Kristin. Together, we’re diving into what it really means to live by faith—to trust God with confidence even when we can’t see what He’s doing.

In Hebrews 11, we’re reminded that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Faith is what covers our hearts with confidence in God’s promises, protects us from the storms of doubt and fear, and completes the structure of our lives as we learn to rest in God’s faithfulness.

This conversation is all about learning to walk by faith, not by sight—trusting the Master Builder who holds it all together. So grab your Bible and your inner Bible nerd, and let’s dive in to discover the strength and beauty of the roof beams of faith.

If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provided by my ministry, please consider donating at https://gretchenstevenson.com/donate/
Thank You!

Gretchen
https://gretchenstevenson.com/

Thank you for listening to the Abide Podcast with Gretchen Stevenson. Each episode is an invitation to slow down, open God’s Word, and abide in the love of Jesus Christ. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here. If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing or sharing it with someone who might need this reminder today. To connect, access resources, or learn more, visit www.gretchenstevenson.com

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