Poco A Poco Podcast

We’re so excited to have Reform Founder Jackie Mulligan as a guest on the Poco A Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal! The podcast features a three-episode series leading up to Lent, each of which will help you develop habits for wholeness and holiness.⁠

FIRST EPISODE

Episode 41: Boring and Comfy Are Enemies of Holiness

“It’s ok to not be ok… and it’s also ok to want to be ok.”

God loves and accepts us as we are, in all the messiness of our weakness. And his love also draws us to renewal; to real change that leads to real holiness, happiness, and a life that’s abundant. Life-changing renewal is possible and it’s what God wants for us. But it doesn’t happen by accident.

It takes intention. It takes risk. It takes very honestly asking yourself, But, really… how am I doing? If the answer demands an overhaul of your life, there will be temptation to put it off—don’t give in! Fight through that resistance. This is God’s initiative.

Because if you don’t, well, as a very honest friend of Fr Angelus’ once told him, “If they wrote a book about your life, this would be a really boring chapter.”

And a life that’s a little too safe and comfy and boring is an enemy of holiness. So let God change it. Let him change you.

SECOND EPISODE

Episode 42: That Confidence That Comes from Choosing Hard Things for Jesus

What’s one thing you can do that will move you towards being holier, healthier and happier? Seriously… take a second. Bet something came to mind. Right?

Sometimes we overcomplicate the plan. When there’s a lot to change, or the change is going to be rough, it’s tempting to bail on starting. It’s easy to avoid doing the hard things, even the little hard things. Maybe especially the little things—but that’s how holiness happens. Choosing to do the small hard thing, for Jesus, over and over and over again.

You got this! With God’s grace, you can totally do hard things. That realization—that we're capable of persevering—gives us the confidence that we have what it takes to gladly do what needs to be done.

So stay simple. Keep the main thing the main thing. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” All of all three. Because keeping Christ firmly in the center of your life—the focus of all your energy and the motivation for all your choices—is the only sustainable way to live radically for him for a whole lifetime.

THIRD EPISODE

Episode 43: Consistency is Key... But It's Not Flashy

If you want to be healthy, happy and holy—and truly, these things are possible!—you have to live intentionally. It’s not going to happen by accident.

The small things are the foundation for that kind of life; getting out of bed on time, showing up to that planned workout, cooking the healthy groceries sitting in the fridge instead of firing up that food delivery app (again).

Because things fall in order when you’re living in order.

This consistency is often hidden… boring, even. It’s often anything but flashy. But there’s grace in these small, simple, hidden acts—they build our hearts and allow us to sacrifice ourselves.