How Jesus lived His own life as a human shows how we are to live ours (John 16:25-28). In His own life, Jesus lived simply. He was deeply in love with everything and everyone living, from God down to the simplest creature. He was gentle and compassionate, especially to those who were ostracized by society (Mark 2:17). He never gave an appearance of self-righteousness, but had a genuine humility and meekness and an understanding of others (Girzone 1998).
It is revealing that Jesus chose a wedding party for the launch of His public ministry (John 2:1-11). The news of what he did probably spread like wildfire, alerting everyone in the surrounding area to His kindness and His remarkable gift to the bride and groom. Kindness seems to be the message that Jesus wanted to precede Him, to disarm people so that they would not fear Him. Everything about Jesus spoke of simplicity, being born in a stable, living an unknown existence, showing nothing out of the ordinary except when some need called forth His extraordinary power to heal or to comfort.
It did not take long before this simple preacher aroused the hostility of the religious leaders. It is very strange how they could feel so threatened by a Person who preached only the highest of ideals and spent His days comforting and healing, and His nights in prayer. Jesus, however, did not allow Himself to become obsessed with their criticisms and harassment (Mark 12:13-17). He concerned Himself with relationships, with His Father and with the people. Jesus said to love one another (John 15:9-17). He also said that the kingdom of God is here! We are called to live in God's kingdom now. Why does Christ's teaching seem so confusing? It is confusing because His message was not merely aimed at conveying information. It sought to precipitate something more important: the spiritual transformation of the hearers (Dwyer 1999). Transformation comes about through relationship. God's actions came about due to a desire to be in relationship. God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. What a blessed thing!
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What is Christian Spirituality?
Christian spirituality describes the whole of the Christian's life. Christian spirituality is an orientation to self-transcending knowledge, freedom, and love. It will illuminate our ultimate values and highest ideals perceived and pursued in the mystery of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in the Church and practiced in the community of disciples. That is to say, spirituality is concerned with everything that constitutes the Christian experience. It is concerned specifically with the perception and pursuit of the highest ideal or goal of Christian life, which is an ever more intense union with God disclosed in Christ through life in the Spirit.
Christianity Spirituality is the quest for a fulfilled and authentic life. It involves taking the beliefs and values of Christianity and weaving them into the fabric of our lives, so that they animate, provide the breath and spirit and fire for our lives. Christian spirituality is the desire to live our lives following the example of Jesus Christ. We are to live a life constituting selfless love, compassion, and forgiveness. Christian spirituality is expressed in the community of the faithful because to be truly Christian requires a relationship with God and with others in God’s family.
Christian spirituality is the way to internalize the message of Christ, so that we live it out in our own journey. Experience has taught us that in this life there is no absolute security or lasting peace. It is important to remember that our security can only be found in trusting Christ with all we have and all that we are, being certain that He will never fail us. It is our participation in the life of God and the model for the way in which each of us listens for His Word.
Through Christian spirituality, we come to know that we are lovable persons and that God loves us at this moment and accepts us as we are. We discover that Christ is not just a historical figure, but also one who lives with us continually. We learn to let go of whatever prevents us from entering into a life of perfect freedom in Christ.
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Christianity Spirituality is the quest for a fulfilled and authentic life. It involves taking the beliefs and values of Christianity and weaving them into the fabric of our lives, so that they animate, provide the breath and spirit and fire for our lives. Christian spirituality is the desire to live our lives following the example of Jesus Christ. We are to live a life constituting selfless love, compassion, and forgiveness. Christian spirituality is expressed in the community of the faithful because to be truly Christian requires a relationship with God and with others in God’s family.
Christian spirituality is the way to internalize the message of Christ, so that we live it out in our own journey. Experience has taught us that in this life there is no absolute security or lasting peace. It is important to remember that our security can only be found in trusting Christ with all we have and all that we are, being certain that He will never fail us. It is our participation in the life of God and the model for the way in which each of us listens for His Word.
Through Christian spirituality, we come to know that we are lovable persons and that God loves us at this moment and accepts us as we are. We discover that Christ is not just a historical figure, but also one who lives with us continually. We learn to let go of whatever prevents us from entering into a life of perfect freedom in Christ.
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Monday, August 17, 2009
Jesus came to heal us
Jesus came to bring us the good news of salvation. But what does salvation mean? Throughout the New Testament, the words "save," "saved," and "salvation" have their root in the Greek "sozo" which means to save, to rescue, to deliver, to protect. "Sozo" is also translated in the New Testament with the words heal, preserve, save, do well, and to make whole. The Greek "soteria" (which has it’s origin in “sozo”) is the main word translated "salvation." "Soteria" is also translated to deliver, health, salvation, save and saving. One can learn the full meaning of a Greek word by studying the scriptures where it is used and the way it is interpreted. You can easily see from the previous definitions that "salvation" means much more than a soul’s preparation for Heaven. In Romans 1:16-17, the Apostle Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God for salvation ("soteria") to everyone that believes… For there is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith."
Jesus came to bring us salvation, which means He came to rescue, deliver, protect, heal, and save us. He came to make us whole and to reconnect us with the God who loves us. He came so save us from our sin, our despair, our loneliness, our fear and our lack of faith (Mark 4:35-41).
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Jesus came to bring us salvation, which means He came to rescue, deliver, protect, heal, and save us. He came to make us whole and to reconnect us with the God who loves us. He came so save us from our sin, our despair, our loneliness, our fear and our lack of faith (Mark 4:35-41).
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Everyday there is an Opportunity to Meet God
God knows you best. He created you, uniquely. It is not likely that Jesus is going to walk up to you like he did to the apostles and say directly, "Come, follow me." Instead, God will guide you through prayer and experiences. Pray quietly, pray often, "God, what do you want me to do with my life?"
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Question of the Day
How do you know that God is near? Or if you don't think he is near, where do you think he is?
We do not need to find God, we only need to recognize that God is already in our lives. God is continually working in our lives, but many of us do not feel or see this work. What is offered is the humble quest of a God who, in the person of Jesus, comes to reveal His love and beg our love in return. Communication with God is essential, just as it is in any relationship. Communication is how we make the connection and build our human relationships; we learn to connect the same way with God through the communication called prayer. Communication is not so much what we have to give God, but is more a living with God, a meeting with one who loves us unconditionally, a personal relationship in which it is truly God who does the giving, the giving of Himself for us. The experience of being fully present in this personal relationship with God could be described as an altered state of awareness .
Each of us needs to fully grasp and understand just how much we are loved by God. Because of His love for us, God is intimately concerned about every aspect of our lives. We cannot just acknowledge God intellectually, but we must feel His loving presence. We must acknowledge His presence within us, and understand the sacrifice He made in dying on the cross in order to demonstrate the extent of His great love.
Peace to you.
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
We do not need to find God, we only need to recognize that God is already in our lives. God is continually working in our lives, but many of us do not feel or see this work. What is offered is the humble quest of a God who, in the person of Jesus, comes to reveal His love and beg our love in return. Communication with God is essential, just as it is in any relationship. Communication is how we make the connection and build our human relationships; we learn to connect the same way with God through the communication called prayer. Communication is not so much what we have to give God, but is more a living with God, a meeting with one who loves us unconditionally, a personal relationship in which it is truly God who does the giving, the giving of Himself for us. The experience of being fully present in this personal relationship with God could be described as an altered state of awareness .
Each of us needs to fully grasp and understand just how much we are loved by God. Because of His love for us, God is intimately concerned about every aspect of our lives. We cannot just acknowledge God intellectually, but we must feel His loving presence. We must acknowledge His presence within us, and understand the sacrifice He made in dying on the cross in order to demonstrate the extent of His great love.
Peace to you.
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Does life really work for you?
Do you feel you need something more in your life? Are you looking for a spirituality that will give your life purpose?
Through Christian spirituality, Jesus speaks to our darkness with His eternal message of love. We all long for true spiritual connections that transcend our hurried existence and from which we can leave our world of the temporary and changeable and secure a sense of the permanent and unchangeable. We can only receive this security by developing our relationship with God/Jesus. Security will not come from a new age therapy, from the accumulation of wealth, nor from any of our earthly relationships. We must come to Jesus, embracing our spiritual bankruptcy and brokenness, and seeking His love and acceptance. He is continually reaching out to us, waiting for us to finally acknowledge Him and recognize His presence in our lives. Christian spirituality is ultimately about love, service to others and selflessness. Give Jesus a try, you may just like his message.
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Through Christian spirituality, Jesus speaks to our darkness with His eternal message of love. We all long for true spiritual connections that transcend our hurried existence and from which we can leave our world of the temporary and changeable and secure a sense of the permanent and unchangeable. We can only receive this security by developing our relationship with God/Jesus. Security will not come from a new age therapy, from the accumulation of wealth, nor from any of our earthly relationships. We must come to Jesus, embracing our spiritual bankruptcy and brokenness, and seeking His love and acceptance. He is continually reaching out to us, waiting for us to finally acknowledge Him and recognize His presence in our lives. Christian spirituality is ultimately about love, service to others and selflessness. Give Jesus a try, you may just like his message.
Peace
"Be still and know that I am God"(Psalm 46:10)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
How do you meet God?
I realize every day that God is not out there in space waiting to snatch us at death. God is an active God. God is with me everyday as I go through my daily life. God is there, but I must make the effort to see God.
It can be difficult to encounter God while the focus of our lives is on the importance of earthly power and possessions. We cannot notice God working in our lives when we do not take the time to stop and notice anything. We do not know how to step out of the world of progress. We are moving so fast through our lives that we take no time to notice what is happening around us when the noticing is not necessary to fulfill our goal. In essence, we are programmed not to accept who we are, but we are driven to judge ourselves and others by earthly success, productivity, and accumulation of things. Consequently, we have no real appreciation for ourselves or the others we encounter. We are trapped in a jail of our own creation. At some point, we discover that these goals of success, productivity, and the constant drive to acquire things do not fill or satisfy the soul within us. We burn out from what has become a road to spiritual death. We look for someone to convince us that we are of value for who we really are, not what we and our culture chooses to label us. We look for someone who we do not have to prove that we are worth something. We look to connect with the Creator, the Savior, and the Spirit of the God who loves us. Our soul yearns to make that connection and to feel whole, to feel significant, and to feel loved. We may search, but we have not learned how to make this connection. Have you seen God today?
Peace until tomorrow
It can be difficult to encounter God while the focus of our lives is on the importance of earthly power and possessions. We cannot notice God working in our lives when we do not take the time to stop and notice anything. We do not know how to step out of the world of progress. We are moving so fast through our lives that we take no time to notice what is happening around us when the noticing is not necessary to fulfill our goal. In essence, we are programmed not to accept who we are, but we are driven to judge ourselves and others by earthly success, productivity, and accumulation of things. Consequently, we have no real appreciation for ourselves or the others we encounter. We are trapped in a jail of our own creation. At some point, we discover that these goals of success, productivity, and the constant drive to acquire things do not fill or satisfy the soul within us. We burn out from what has become a road to spiritual death. We look for someone to convince us that we are of value for who we really are, not what we and our culture chooses to label us. We look for someone who we do not have to prove that we are worth something. We look to connect with the Creator, the Savior, and the Spirit of the God who loves us. Our soul yearns to make that connection and to feel whole, to feel significant, and to feel loved. We may search, but we have not learned how to make this connection. Have you seen God today?
Peace until tomorrow
Monday, August 10, 2009
God is always with you
Every day is a gift from God. We can spend the day disliking what we do. We can spend the day being angry and hurt, sad and alone. We can do that if that is what we want to do. Instead, I prefer to spend the day looking at all the good that has occurred in my life. I lost my job last October, but I did not lose my husband, children or grandchildren. I lost my job, but I did not lose the love God has for me. I lost my job, but I am still alive and able to find something else to work at. I lost my job, but I did not lose heart, because I knew that God was with me. I lost my job, but did not lose what was really important to me, my faith. There is always a plan that God has for us, but sometimes a door has to close for another door to open.
Each of us needs to fully grasp and understand just how much God loves us. We need to see how He is intimately concerned about every single detail of our lives. Reading that God loves us in His Word and understanding that He died for our sins, can still be merely intellectual pursuits. However, receiving His Spirit and experiencing His Life in and through us, is something we can never deny as being ultimate, personal love (Girzone 1998). However, the way in which to feel that ultimate personal love is not readily apparent to us.
Unfortunately, our culture encourages the need to be constantly in motion. We have the need to be productive and fill all our time with something. We become nervous when we encounter empty space, when there is a gap in a conversation, when we do not know what to say, when we are sitting in a waiting room and there are no magazines on the table to read. For most people, just doing nothing is unthinkable.
It can be difficult to encounter God while the focus of our lives is on the importance of earthly power and possessions. We cannot notice God working in our lives when we do not take the time to stop and notice anything. We do not know how to step out of the world of progress. We are moving so fast through our lives that we take no time to notice what is happening around us when the noticing is not necessary to fulfill our goal. In essence, we are programmed not to accept who we are, but we are driven to judge ourselves and others by earthly success, productivity, and accumulation of things. Consequently, we have no real appreciation for ourselves or the others we encounter. We are trapped in a jail of our own creation.
Move out of your own jail and find out what it is God wants you to do. You may already be doing it, or you may need to leave something in order to do it. Do not be sorrowful. God is with you.
Peace
Each of us needs to fully grasp and understand just how much God loves us. We need to see how He is intimately concerned about every single detail of our lives. Reading that God loves us in His Word and understanding that He died for our sins, can still be merely intellectual pursuits. However, receiving His Spirit and experiencing His Life in and through us, is something we can never deny as being ultimate, personal love (Girzone 1998). However, the way in which to feel that ultimate personal love is not readily apparent to us.
Unfortunately, our culture encourages the need to be constantly in motion. We have the need to be productive and fill all our time with something. We become nervous when we encounter empty space, when there is a gap in a conversation, when we do not know what to say, when we are sitting in a waiting room and there are no magazines on the table to read. For most people, just doing nothing is unthinkable.
It can be difficult to encounter God while the focus of our lives is on the importance of earthly power and possessions. We cannot notice God working in our lives when we do not take the time to stop and notice anything. We do not know how to step out of the world of progress. We are moving so fast through our lives that we take no time to notice what is happening around us when the noticing is not necessary to fulfill our goal. In essence, we are programmed not to accept who we are, but we are driven to judge ourselves and others by earthly success, productivity, and accumulation of things. Consequently, we have no real appreciation for ourselves or the others we encounter. We are trapped in a jail of our own creation.
Move out of your own jail and find out what it is God wants you to do. You may already be doing it, or you may need to leave something in order to do it. Do not be sorrowful. God is with you.
Peace
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Why am I blogging?
I never thought that I would be posting a blog. I am not one to put personal information on the internet. However someone suggested that I post a blog about something that I am passionate about. That made it easy. I am passionate about my belief and faith in Jesus. Hopefully this month I will be graduating with my Masters Degree in Spiritual Formation and Leadership. Spirituality and relationship with Jesus is the focus of my degree and my life.
In the process of getting this degree, I have had to do a massive thesis paper which is approximately 416 pages long, not counting PowerPoint presentations. It will give me alot of information which I will post on this blog. It is my desire that my blog will bring a little of my experience of Jesus to those out there who may be searching for meaning in their lives.
I will try to post something spiritually uplifting every day.
Never forget that you are unconditionally loved by Jesus for just who you are.
The essence of spirituality is the sense of knowing that God loves us. We must know this not only in our heads, but also in our hearts and in our everyday lives. God loves us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for us in atonement for our sins. His love was not determined by our actions, but on how much He loved us. He loves us first and it is our quest to discover how through His love we can be transformed into vessels of love that He pours out to our world.
Keep this in mind as you go through your day. Remember you are loved!
Peace!
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