Upstream Pursuit
The leadership podcast for Christian women going against the current. The Upstream Pursuit calls women to go against the current by measuring everything against the Truth of God’s word. Join Narcely every other Monday for energizing conversations and practical tips on how to live and lead in pursuit of unchanging Christian values. To learn more about joining our community, visit us at narcelyruiz.com or on our Facebook or Instagram!
Episodes
216 episodes
The Maranatha Pursuit (Part 3): Patient Endurance While We Wait for Christ’s Return
In this episode, we look to Epistle of James 5:7–12 for encouragement to believers navigating hardship, injustice, and everyday struggles while still living with hopeful expectation. James reminds us that waiting is not passive; it is a p...
The Maranatha Pursuit (Part 2): From Fear to Longing for Christ's Return
In Part 2 of the Maranatha Pursuit series, I’m joined again by Uzihel and Brisa Alfaro to talk about the heart behind their children’s book, Jesus is Coming Back, and the deeper conviction that led them to write it.As a...
The Maranatha Pursuit (Part 1): Learning to Wait in Every Season
This week on The Upstream Pursuit, we begin a 5-part conversation in what I’m calling The Maranatha Pursuit—learning to live in faithful expectation of Jesus’ return while walking through everyday life.I’m joined by lon...
Pursuing Contentment in Christ (Philippians 4:10-23)
What does it look like to be content no matter the circumstance? In Philippians 4:10–23, Paul closes his letter with a powerful reflection on contentment, provision, and partnership in the gospel. Writing from prison, he reveals that true conte...
Pursuing the Pattern of Peace (Philippians 4:1-9)
What is shaping your mind and are you following the pattern that leads to true peace? In Philippians 4:1–9, Paul lays out a clear pattern for a steady, anchored life in Christ. Writing to a church facing both internal conflict and external p...
Pursuing the Upward Call (Philippians 3:12-21)
Have you ever felt like you should be “further along” in your faith—or wondered if you’re measuring your life by the wrong standard? In Philippians 3:12–21, Paul confronts the illusion of spiritual arrival and redirects the believer’s focus tow...
The Pursuit of Christ Above Everything (Philippians 3:1-11)
In this episode, we step into Philippians 3:1–11 and uncover what it truly means to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ. After calling believers to unity, joy, and humility, Paul issues a strong warning against performance-based fai...
Pursuing the Good of Others (Philippians 2:19–30)
After calling believers to humility and obedience, he presents two living examples of what Christlike devotion looks like in everyday life: Timothy and Epaphroditus.In this episode, we explore Philippians 2:19–30, where Paul redefines ho...
Pursuing Rest: A Trip Home to Puerto Rico
Hi friends! Before we continue our study through Philippians, I wanted to share a quick update. I’ll be taking a short break as I travel to Puerto Rico with my family and revisiting the places and staples of my childhood and sharing them with m...
The Pursuit of Working Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2:12–18)
In Philippians 2:12–18, Paul moves from the humility of Christ to the obedience of the church. Tune in as we examine what this means in context, how God works in us as we work it out, why unity is threatened by complaining spirits, and ho...
Pursuing the Humility of Christ (Philippians 2:1–11)
In a culture shaped by status, honor, and self-advancement, Paul commands the church to pursue unity through humility, not by diminishing themselves, but by refusing selfish ambition and empty glory. This episode we dive into Philippians 2:1...
Pursuing a Life Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:18-30)
What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel, especially when following Jesus comes with opposition, pressure, and suffering? In this episode, we unpack Philippians 1:18-30, which confronts comfortable Christi...
Pursuing Gospel Advancement Over Personal Comfort (Philippians 1:12–18)
In this episode, we continue our journey through Philippians by studying Philippians 1:12–18. As Paul writes from confinement under Roman authority, he reframes his circumstances not as a setback, but as a means by which the gospel advances. We...
Pursuing Trust in God’s Work (Philippians 1:1–11)
In this episode, we begin a journey through the book of Philippians. Starting with Philippians 1:1–11, we explore Paul’s gratitude for the Philippian believers, the beauty of shared partnership in the gospel mission, and his prayer that their l...
The Pursuit Continues: What to Expect from The Upstream Pursuit in 2026
In this episode, we reflect on the heart of this podcast: a short, Scripture-centered discipleship space designed to ground you, challenge you, and realign your walk with Christ each week. With biblical clarity, personal reflection, and a re...
When Seasons Shift: Friendship, Fostering, and New Pursuits (with Erica)
Five years ago, The Upstream Pursuit began with a conversation between two friends saying yes to God. In this special anniversary conversation, I’m joined by my best friend Erica Reese as we reflect on what God has been doing in her li...
Happy New Year, Pursuers!
Happy New Year, Pursuers! In this very short episode, I am inviting you to begin the year with intentional pursuit of Jesus. In the next few weeks, we will be diving into what to expect from the podcast in 2026.
2025: The Year I Became a Wife, a Dog Mom, and a Solo Host
2025 was a year of change, growth, and unexpected blessings. In this episode, I reflect on the highs and lows of a year that reshaped my life—stepping into solo podcasting, getting married and adjusting to married life, becoming a dog mom, and ...
Waiting Has a Sound: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
In this episode, we connect Simeon’s story in Luke 2 with the history of this ancient Advent hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and discover how both call us to trust God’s timing, remain attentive to His Spirit, and recognize His presenc...
Christmas Shout Out: Simeon, Advent, and the Faithfulness of God
In this episode, we sit with Simeon in Luke 2:25–32, a righteous and devout man who waited faithfully for the consolation of Israel in a season marked by political tension, spiritual dryness, and generations of unanswered longing. We explore wh...
How Santa Contradicts the Gospel
In this episode, we take an honest look at the subtle ways the Santa myth shapes our understanding of goodness, gifts, behavior, and belief. We explore how the lie of Santa contradicts the Truth at the heart of the Gospel and how it can uninten...
1 Thessalonians 5:18: Gratitude That Stays When the Season Ends
This episode explores how gratitude is more than a holiday feeling — it’s a spiritual discipline rooted in Scripture. Through an exegesis of 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the story of the woman with the alabaster jar, and practical ways to stay grat...
Convos With Gen Z Finale: The Girls Ask Me Questions
In this final episode of our Gen Z series, the girls turn the tables and ask me the questions. We talk about navigating spiritual dry seasons and staying rooted in Christ while juggling the many roles we carry. It’s a reminder that no ...
Convos with GenZ: Going Upstream as a Christian Teenager
In today’s episode, I sit down once again with Sebathany, Mikaela, Ana Karina, and Yasmine—four teenage girls from my church who have been sharing boldly and beautifully about pursuing Christ in their generation. Instead of focusing on where th...
Convos with GenZ: Community and Change
In today’s conversation, Yasminee, Mikaela, Sebathany, and Ana Karina share how community strengthens our walk with Christ and how faith in Him leads to real transformation — the kind that shows up in how we serve, give, and love others. ...