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
224 episodes
Why Biblical Leadership for Women in Ministry
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...
But As For You: Know Him
In the final episode of the "But As For You" series, Chris Benites and I unpack 1 Timothy 6:12–16 as Paul calls Timothy to take hold of eternal life, keep the faith, and live in anticipation of Christ's return.Together, we explore why th...
But As For You: Behold Jesus
In this episode of the "But As For You" series, my friend Chris Benites and I turn our attention to the second half of 1 Timothy 6:11 and talk about the pursuits Paul places before Timothy. But rather than treating these as a checklist of vi...
But As For You: The Things We Normalize
What are the things Christians have normalized that Paul might have told Timothy to flee from?In this episode of the "But As For You" series, Chris Benites and I continue our conversation through 1 Timothy 6:11 by examining some of the a...
But As For You: Flee These Things
In this episode, Chris Benites and I begin unpacking 1 Timothy 6:11 with Paul’s powerful words: “But as for you… flee these things.”Together, we talk about what “these things” mean. We talk about “as for you” moments in discipl...
But As For You: A New Series on 1 Timothy 6
In this special episode, I’m joined by longtime friend Chris Benites, pastor of Freedom Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Chris and I reflect on years of ministry, worship, friendship, and discipleship as we introduce a brand-new series through 1 Ti...
The Maranatha Pursuit (Part 5): Living in Light of Christ’s Return
In the final episode of the Maranatha Pursuit series, Uzihel and Brisa Alfaro and I reflect on a simple but weighty question: How should the return of Jesus shape the way believers live right now? The promise of Christ...
The Maranatha Pursuit (Part 4): Steadfast in Suffering and Prayer
In this episode of the Maranatha Pursuit series, Uzihel and Brisa Alfaro and I continue our conversation through Epistle of James 5:7–12, focusing on prayer, unity in suffering, steadfast endurance, and wholehearted de...
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...