Pastor Angie's InSPIREations January 2017

Happy New Year! I’m thinking about you right now.  Each month, I have the privilege of communicating with you through the Spire.  As your Deacon, one of my roles is to “equip” you for ministry.  I’ve been thinking about what I can do in this time with you so you are ready to serve AS disciples to MAKE disciples.  I would welcome ideas from you.  What would help you be ready to serve in the church and the world?  What would you like to hear from me?  I would truly welcome your feedback.  What do you like about inSPIREations?  What would you like to see that you haven’t?

For now, I want to share a spiritual practice I use to start my year. It’s not a resolution.  This is a special plan that should not be seen as a to-do list, but instead as a tool to help you become who you want to be in Christ.  The fancy name is regula vitae, but that just means rule for life.  It’s a way to put into words how we want to live our lives so that we can become the person God intends for us to be.


How will I intentionally seek to be open to God and God’s presence?  How will I pray?  Worship?

What habits will help me live a holy life and resist temptation?

How will I allow the Holy Spirit to minister through me?

How will my life contribute to the health of my society and world?

How will I engage and express Scripture and allow the voice of God to speak to me and through me?

How will I know the grace of God through my everyday life so that my life will be a living sacrament?

Think about how these things are already happening in your life.  Then ask how these things could be even more fully expressed in your life.

If you write more than will fit on an index card, you’ve written too much.  Keep it simple and real.  This isn’t a description of what your life is right now, it should help you find ways to grow.  Don’t set goals that are unreasonable.  This should be a place of Sabbath for your soul.

I would love to sit down with you and talk about this.  I have done this for about 12 years and can’t imagine NOT doing it now.  I look forward to hearing your feedback about this and what you would like to hear from me.  In Christ always…   Pastor Angie

Renovare:  A Resource for Spiritual Renewal / Explorations:  Rhythms of Life Series 1* Part 1 by Christopher S. Web

Based on the work of Richard Foster.  Streams of Living Water:  Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith, 2001


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