Encouraging Words
Creating a simple, fulfilling and joyful life.
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© Beth Dargis 2002-2005
9/20/2004
Morning everyone. I am reading a wonderful book called The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg. It's how we are to expect transformation- becoming more and more like Christ especially loving God and loving others. If we aren't changing we are not being molded. But, he talks about the dangers of Pseudo-Transformation- trying to do the "right" things to look better, becoming judgemental or exclusive, becoming less approachable instead of more approachable, trying to measure in superficial ways like pages read, minutes in prayer, etc.We need to be using wise spiritual training instead of "trying harder." The book is about spiritual disciplines, but not as ways to be right with God, but to be transformed. We need to use them as a sailboat catching the wind. We need to read the wind to know what to do when. We can't just say I will read this many pages then move on. If God's wind tells you this is an important passage - stay with it. And it's not just during quiet time and prayer we learn to become more like Christ. All of life counts. "Every moment is potentially an opportunity to be guided by God into his way of living. Every moment is a chance to learn from Jesus how to live in the kingdom of God."
We warns there will be troughs and peaks. Sometimes you feel close to God other you feel further away. Often our spiritual discipline patterns will change with our seasons, troughs and peaks.
I start learning about the actual disciplines tomorrow. Ortberg describes a disciplined person as "someone who can do the right things at the right time in the right way with the right spirit."
Today's Focus: Discipline with the right spirit
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posted by Beth Dargis on 9/20/2004 09:56:00 AM | ⊗