Becoming Still Ministries

05/28/2026

We have something a little different to share today.

Our upcoming retreat is full — which is a gift. But retreats don't happen without leadership, resources, and a foundation to build on. That part isn't covered by participant fees, and that's where we need help.

We're offering tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities for local businesses who want to invest in something meaningful — $250, $500, and $750 levels available.

Full details at the link. Every gift is acknowledged, and every dollar goes directly to the work.

Learn more at our website:
https://www.becomingstillministries.org/sponsor

05/18/2026

There is something that happens when we slow down long enough to notice where God already is. This gathering is an outdoor hour to do just that — walking, sitting, and paying attention, with simple practices to help you become present through the beauty of nature. Each person leaves with a copy of the Meeting God in Nature reflection guide to continue the practice on your own.

Saturday, June 20
10:00–11:30am
Veterans Park | Mentor, OH
$15 registration

Registration Link:
https://bit.ly/4uU1oGa

05/11/2026

“I’m tired” as found its way into a lot of my conversations this week. And as I’ve paid closer attention, I’ve realized I’ve spent more time in conversation, meetings, and relational spaces than I normally do.

As an introvert, I know relational spaces can be both life-giving and draining at the same time. And while many of the conversations have been meaningful, I’m realizing that even good things require something from us.

I’m learning that growth is not only about stretching myself. It’s also about paying attention to what the stretching requires. Noticing when my body feels tired. Noticing when my mind feels full. Noticing when I need quiet before I become overwhelmed by noise.

I’m realizing that noticing is a form of self-care. Noticing allows us to respond with gentleness before exhaustion becomes depletion.

So often we move through life disconnected from ourselves, pushing past our limits without pausing long enough to ask what is happening within us. But paying attention to our capacity is not weakness. It’s stewardship. It’s honoring the way God created us.

For me, that means learning not only how to show up for people, but also how to care for the part of me that needs stillness before and afterward. I’m learning that I cannot steward what I refuse to notice.

And maybe that noticing itself is an invitation from God. An invitation to slow down, to listen, and to receive our limits with grace instead of frustration.

What have you been feeling or carrying lately that you may need to pause long enough to notice?

05/08/2026

We have five spots remaining for our women's weekend retreat in August.

This retreat creates space to sit with God in the tension many of us feel around community — the desire for connection alongside the hesitation that often comes with it. As we spend time in God's presence, we begin to notice how God may be reshaping our understanding of community and inviting us into it in a different way.

If you've been thinking about it, or if the timing has finally opened up, I'd love for you to join us.

Registration Link:
https://www.becomingstillministries.org/service-page/nurturing-communities-of-hope

04/24/2026

When I first sensed God inviting me into a healing journey, I didn’t know much about God or the Bible.

One day, I stumbled upon Numbers 23:19.

As I read it, it sparked hope and gave me steady ground to take my first step of faith into healing.

I still return to this verse when I need to be reminded that God is trustworthy.

What quality of God’s character gives you hope?
What allows you to lean into trusting God?

04/20/2026

The Listening Place is a space to slow down, reflect, and explore your life with God alongside others.

In this three-part series, we’re focusing on purpose as something we begin to recognize as we pay attention to where we are and the life we’re living.

In our first session, Reframing Purpose, we began to notice how our assumptions can shape the way we understand purpose.

In our next gathering, we’ll take a different step.

We’ll begin to explore the role of curiosity—learning not just to notice what is happening in our lives, but to ask questions about what we notice.
As we become more curious, we begin to see beyond our own perspective. What once felt fixed begins to open, and we become more aware of how God is inviting us to live and love right where we are.

You’re welcome to come and continue the journey with us.

If you weren’t able to attend the first session, you’ll receive the recording when you join

Registration Link:�https://www.becomingstillministries.org/event-details/the-listening-place-exploring-purpose-with-curiosity

04/14/2026

Distractions are a normal part of prayer.

They don’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Often, they simply reveal what is present within us.

In this gathering, we’ll gently explore what’s beneath the surface when our minds wander—and learn a simple way to return our attention to God, again and again.

Date: May 16th @ 10am
Location: Mayfield Library
Cost: Free

Registration Link:
https://www.becomingstillministries.org/event-details/exploring-prayer-overcoming-distractions-in-prayer

04/13/2026

An invitation to pause

As your day comes to a close, take a few moments to look back and notice what was present. What felt life-giving, and what felt heavy or unresolved. Let that be your starting point as you bring your day before God.

04/07/2026

For a long time, my understanding of prayer was centered on words.

I don’t remember being taught how to pray, but over time I came to understand prayer as words you said. Something you tried to get right. And in many ways, that shaped how I showed up with God.

It wasn’t until I entered spiritual direction training that something began to shift.

There, I began to encounter ways of prayer that didn’t begin with having the right words. There was space for silence, for noticing what was happening within me, and for bringing my thoughts, my feelings, even my imagination before God.

Over time, prayer became less about whether I what to say, and more about simply showing up. Paying attention. Listening. Allowing a relationship to form in ways I hadn’t experienced before.

That shift has stayed with me.

And it’s what led to creating our new Exploring Prayer series.

These new gatherings are a space to experience different ways of being with God. Not to replace what you already do, but to make room for something more—more awareness, more presence, more space to simply be with God.

At each gathering, we’ll introduce a simple prayer practice and give you time to experience it, creating space to slow down, pay attention, and be present with God.

You’re welcome to come as you are, and to engage at your own pace.

Registration Link:
https://www.becomingstillministries.org/events

03/31/2026

We only have a few spots remaining (just 8) for our Women's Weekend Retreat happening this August!

We would love to see you join us at the Nurturing Communities of Hope Weekend Retreat!

In seasons of uncertainty and strain—when the world feels loud, heavy, and divided—it can be tempting to pull back from one another. Many of us carry a real desire for connection, while also holding the weight of relationships that have felt hard, disappointing, or unsafe. In times of turmoil, the pull to close ourselves off can be strong, even as we sense our need for one another.

When we feel this tension between wanting connection and wanting to close ourselves off, it can help to have a place to bring that honestly before God.

This retreat creates space to return to God as the source of rest, renewal, and guidance for life together. Through prayer, quiet reflection, and shared practices, we’ll listen for God’s heart for community and gently reimagine what it can look like to live in connection rather than division.

This retreat offers a space to slow down with God and notice how God may be shaping how we show up with one another—with humility, presence, and hope.

If you desire a deeper sense of shared life rooted in God’s presence, you’re welcome to join us in this retreat.

Dates: August 28th - 30th, 2026
Location: Bellwether Farm Retreat Center
Cost: $600 ($150 Deposit)

https://www.becomingstillministries.org/service-page/nurturing-communities-of-hope

RETREAT DESCRIPTION: Women's Weekend Retreat God calls us into community, yet community is often more complicated than we expect. Many of us hold a genuine desire for shared life alongside experiences of disappointment, strain, or relationships that have felt unsafe or difficult to sustain. This ret...

03/30/2026

If you’ve ever felt unsure about where to start, you’re not alone.

Since I began walking with God, I’ve always loved Scripture. Even before I fully understood what I was reading, it felt like every time I opened my Bible, God met me there. I didn’t need a seminary degree or special training to know that God was present when I sat with the text.

In those early days, I kept a simple Scripture journal—just writing what I noticed and how I sensed God leading me. I recently went back and read some of those entries. Now, with more training, I can see the misinterpretations, incomplete thoughts, and places where my understanding wasn’t quite right.

But here’s what I also know—God didn’t waste any of it.

That time in Scripture grew my trust. It deepened my love for God’s word. It kept me coming back.

So if you’ve ever felt like you don’t know enough to read the Bible “the right way,” I’d like to encourage you:

Keep reading.

The Spirit meets us in our willingness, not our perfection—and over time, understanding will come.