Pastor Angie's In-spire-ations February 2017
Last month, I mentioned one of my favorite authors, Richard Foster. I’ve read his work for almost twenty years. There seem to be seasons in which I am called back to his words. He calls them “squiggles on a page,” but for me they have been life changing. His most well-known book is entitled, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. It was first written in 1978 and is still widely read. When I graduated from seminary, I gave myself the gift of going to see him speak. It was an awesome moment to meet Rev. Foster and tell him how much his work has impacted my life and the lives of others to whom I have introduced his work.
I am called back to his words again. His opening line in this book is as significant today as it was nearly 40 years ago. “Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” He continues by saying that “the Disciplines are not only for spiritual giants…but for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships…”
We’re talking a lot about relationships in our studies of When Helping Hurts. I’m loving this journey with the Friendship Class. As we talked about the importance of building relationships, they asked me, “But how do we do we do this?” It’s a good question for all of us to consider. My answer is this: The first thing we must do, as a church and as individuals, is to make sure we are doing all we can to be spiritually healthy. Just as it takes work and tears to be physically healthy, so it is with spiritual health. From our study, we know that one of the broken relationships that results in poverty, in this case of spirit, is a broken relationship with God. How do we mend that brokenness? Through “initiating practices that place [us] before God and within the community, in positions where righteousness and holy lifestyle may be developed.” If you’re tempted to stop reading right now…stay with me. All that means is that we find ways in the course of our daily lives to listen for God’s voice. What is God saying in the quiet? Can you hear God’s voice over the noise of life? The Disciplines simply place us before God.
It’s February! Hearts are all over the place. I challenge you to do this: Every time you see a heart this month, take a moment to check in with your own heart health…both physically AND spiritually.
May your heart be full of blessings!!
Pastor Angie