Keeping your Spiritual Balance

Our guest blogger and good friend Matt Ritchie has a word on solitude and community. One of the neat things about this particular post is its relevance. He shared with me that he has witnessed just recently how these simple thoughts have had a profound impact in the life of someone he shared them with. Don’t take lightly the simple things, for often they are the most important.  — trey

” 32They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
Mark14:32

Matt Ritchie, Running with the Lion

In order to maintain a spiritually balanced life, we need at least two things: solitude and community. Solitude occurs when we are still and quiet, ready to listen to God. Community occurs when our true selves are known and loved by others, and where we come to know and love others as they truly are. Both experiences – solitude and community – are places where we encounter God. In solitude, we are given an opportunity to examine our lives and reflect on how God is at work in them. In community, we see God reflected in others and hear his voice through the words of those who follow him.

Without both solitude and community, our lives lose purpose and accountability. We become blown around by whatever events happen to be occurring at the moment, and we grow confused, anxious, even depressed.

In our culture, it is difficult to experience either solitude or community. Even when no one else is around, it is difficult to find true solitude. Television, radio, email, and cell phones constantly invade our consciousness, allowing us to avoid the silence in which deep reflection on our lives becomes possible. And even when we are around people, our relationships are often superficial. Our conversations tend to focus on “safe” subjects – topics that don’t put us at risk of rejection – rather than the things that really matter to us.

Today, make a decision to live for a short time in both solitude and community. Take ten minutes to turn off the cell phone and to step away from the email; use that opportunity to have a time of silence in God’s presence. Then, when you are done, take ten minutes to be in community with someone. Tell a friend about a spiritual or personal issue that is really important to you at the moment, and invite them to share one with you. You don’t have to “solve” each other’s problems – just spend some time sharing and hearing about things that really matter to each of you.

Prayer: God, I’m here to meet with you, come and meet with me. I’m here to find you, reveal yourself to me. Amen.
(From Ten Shekel Shirt, Meet with Me)

Rights and Responsibilities

 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.

1 Corinthians 9:15 

Reading:  1 Corinthians 9 

In the above verses, Paul spend the first part of the chapter describing how he was entitled to many things including money, food and shelter.  These things he and his buddies have earned not only because of their service but because the Bible commands that it be so, but Paul says, no way man!  I want to make absolute sure that you have no doubt that I did these things because of my love for Christ so that you won’t doubt.

Entitlements.  Ummmm.  What a fun word.  Just saying it is to incite a controversy.

“Those lazy folks don’t deserve it!”
“We should care for those who need help!”
“It’s killing our economy!!”

Well, I want to talk to you about entitlements in your life.  What have you begun to take for granted?  What do you expect just because you breathe?  What do you give in return?

The truth is you aren’t entitled to anything.  You are lucky and get what you don’t deserve.  What you deserve is consequence of your sins.  Yeah, me too.  God gave us what we don’t deserve and aren’t we lucky?

What is the point of all of this?  Be like Paul.  Recognize that even though you are seemingly entitled to much, do your share.  Do all for the glory of God, for He is GOOD!

 Prayer:  God thank you for all you are and all you are not.  –Amen

Bold Faith

Today our good friend and guest blogger, Amy Prather, shares with us about bold moves in faith.  — Trey

Bold Faith – Amy Prather

I was putting up Halloween decorations the other day in my front yard. This woman came walking up the sidewalk toward me.

“Hello, my name is Mary.”

“Hello,” I said, thinking she was a neighbor, “my name is Amy.”

“I’ve got some beautiful fall wreaths in my truck I’d like for you to look at,” she said.

“Thanks, I appreciate it, but our family’s funds are really tight right now. Really tight. I would, but I’m not going to be able to buy anything,” I said. “Good luck with it though.”

She said thanks and began to walk away. She stopped, turned around and said some of the boldest words ever, “Amy, do you believe in the power of prayer?”

Read Luke 8:42b-48.

Ok, so imagine the scene. Jesus is preaching, teaching and healing throughout the country. Massive crowds are being drawn to the man who must have had the most magnetic personality ever.

Imagine the most crowded place you’ve ever been, multiply that by three, add in the smells of a mass of unwashed people, dust, animals, trash. So many people that I imagine the disciples formed a ring around Jesus, a wall of bodies to protect the Savior. The Bible says the crowds “almost crushed him.” Ever seen a paparazzi mob scene with celebrities? I think even the biggest crush of people I’ve ever been in or seen can’t be compared with the crowds who were clamoring for Jesus. He was bringing hope. Not celebrity, not points at a ballgame, not the latest fashion. Hope. And the world was desperate for it.

So, you’ve got the mass of people that Jesus and the disciples are trying to wade through. People are yelling, elbows are flying, children getting trampled. And in the midst of this a woman touches Jesus’ cloak. The moment she touches his cloak he feels it. He feels the healing flow into her body and out of his.

This may seem astonishing to you, until you look into the history. Women in ancient times were considered property. You could beat your wife with no repercussions; you could have your wife killed for certain crimes. Women were put on earth solely to serve man and make babies. That’s it.

So here’s this woman. She has been bleeding for 12 years. For Jews this was really bad. No one could be associated with this woman. She was “ceremonially unclean.” For 12 years she couldn’t worship, couldn’t participate in festivals, couldn’t be around anyone. Twelve years. She was probably craving human touch, a hug, a friend. But because of the law she could have none of those things.

I imagine she’s sitting in the doorway of her house and the massive crowd begins to pass by her. She asks what’s happening and someone tells her a rabbi with miraculous powers is coming. She knows deep in her soul that this man can help her. He is her answer.

So she begins making her way through the crowd, the massive horde of people. Stumbling, falling, getting stepped on, people pushing her aside – yet she still continues undaunted, overcome by the feeling that this man – Jesus – can change her life. Boldly she fights on until she gets to the edge of the disciples. The people are crushing in around her. She stretches out her hand and manages to touch the edge of his cloak and is healed. She knew that all it would take was a brush of her hand against his cloak.

Bold, so bold! This bleeding woman boldly went after what would make her whole.

Just like the woman in the Bible, Mary did one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen. She stepped out in faith that it would be OK for her to ask if she could pray with me. She did. She stopped everything and prayed with me in my front yard for five minutes. She had no idea who I was, if I believed, if I would spit in her face or tell her she was going to hell. She stepped out in bold faith. Not only did she bless me, but she now one of my “saints of the faith” that I look to as an example.

Simple words. Do you believe in the power of prayer?

Simple actions. Touching a cloak.

Bold faith.

May you be “filled with Holy Spirit” and speak “the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31