The Life You've Always Wanted

I want to recommend a book. Last week I finished The Life You've Always Wanted, by John Ortberg. There are several reasons I'd encourage others to read it.

First, it's a book about spiritual disciplines. I know that many people shy away from that topic. It can summon up thoughts of works-based faith instead of grace-based. But used in the right way, spiritual disciplines can be incredibly beneficial to a Christian. It's what makes disciples, whether we call it that or not.

Second, this is a fairly easy read. There are many excellent books on spiritual disciplines. Richard Foster and Dallas Willard are incredible authors who have written much about this. John Ortberg refers to both men, and expresses gratitude particularly to Willard. He also says that the working title for his book was Dallas For Dummies. Yes, he makes this topic much more readable. Without actually dumbing anything down.

A taste:
Chapter 11 is entitled: "An Undivided Life." Is that not what we really want? He quotes Soren Kierkegaard,
"Purity of heart is to will one thing."
That one thing is the pursuit of the Kingdom of God.

His subtitle for that chapter is: "The Practice of Reflection on Scripture." In the subtitle he gives us the path to the undivided life. The word that God speaks to us through His Word can renew our minds, and lead us on to the singleminded devotion.

Every chapter is basically a gold mine. I hope that others will be encouraged to read this book.

Having said that, one study that I would love to do with a small group of people is on the spiritual disciplines. Foster's book has a study guide with it. Even Ortberg's has a study guide at the end. I've got a workbook on spiritual formation coming in the mail from Amazon. Is anybody interested in doing this with me?

Women in the Ministry

I took this title from another blog (Scot McKnight at http://jesuscreed.org/), so I ask his pardon. He's been writing for a while on the topic, but his words this morning have caused me to spend some time thinking about it. Actually, several things this morning have pointed me in the direction of Christian ministry.

Is funny how we define ministry even. Most of us immediately think of a pulpit preacher. Or maybe even a song leader. But that leaves a lot of us out. Or maybe off the hook?

My thoughts are nowhere near as deep as Scot McKnight's, and even the purpose of this post isn't exactly the same as his. But I do want to look closer at my own work.

Can women be in the ministry? Of course. If we're not, I'm not sure we could call ourselves Christians. Can we be pulpit preachers? I don't even want to go there. Maybe because I have no desire to be a preacher. But mainly, because I want to think of ministry as something different from that. I want this post to be about something different.

I read another blog this morning and the individual was a little saddened because at a church he recently attended, looking over their various "ministries," there seemed to be no place for him. It is a shame. But I'm not sure that's necessarily the first place to look for our ministry (which was also one of the points of his blog). Or maybe "looking" isn't even what we should be doing anyway. Maybe we need to be listening.

I think God is actively working in this world. I also believe that He's wants us to join Him in that work. If we should be looking for anything, maybe it's to see where He's already working and join Him there. Or maybe in prayer, we should wait around a little longer to get the answers and direction from Him. (Sometimes it seems we run through our laundry list of concerns and then take off, wondering if God got that all down and maybe even doubting He cares about it anyway. Certainly not expecting any kind of response from Him.)

My ministry can be this:

*I have new neighbors moving in soon...a single woman with two little girls. Maybe offering to watch her girls while she unpacks, maybe inviting them for dinner (well, there is the lack of household goods still...maybe I'll take food over).

*An email of encouragement to a friend I know is going through some serious struggles.

*Teaching my children about the Minor Prophets; they know other parts of the Bible. The minor prophets have much to teach us as well, and they are now at an age that this is possible.

*Taking my husband's dry cleaning in so that he doesn't have to.

*My blog.

*Prayers. Is this not the most powerful thing? We can intercede on behalf of others with the Creator of everything, the One beyond all comprehension. He invites us to do so, and He tells us that He hears these prayers. And not only for our friends and family, but also the persecuted church (and the church complacent...which is in even more danger than their persecuted brothers).

My verse for the week:

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col 3:17)

That means me...a woman. It is my ministry.

Wings That Soar

During my morning walk on Friday, the wind was whipping up rather ferociously. It wasn't yet a chilly wind, so it was a pleasant walk in spite of the breeze.

At one point I glanced up at a bird far overhead. She was struggling against the wind. Her wings were beating desperately, but all she was doing was maintaining. She wasn't moving forward at all. I watched her solefully, wondering at the persistence of this helpless creature, curious to see how she would fare.

Finally, she stopped. She didn't fall to the ground or get blown back. She simply spread her wings and was still. The wind lifted her and in one glorious moment, she changed direction and soared away, bolstered by the mighty unseen hand that held her. It was beautiful.

I am so much like my fellow traveler. I strive and push and worry and strain....and where does it get me? I'm lucky if I just "maintain." But the moment I say, "God, I can't do this on my own, please help!" something amazing happens. He doesn't always rush right in. Often He waits a few more moments. And when in my own desperation I cease to struggle, feeling myself floating away, it's then that I find the most wonderful freedom in a life lived under His direction.

I may not get to where I was intending to get. Maybe that's the whole point. It wasn't the place for me to begin with. Looking back over my life, I see lots of places I wasn't intending to get. They have been, however, some pretty spectacular places. (Side note to Gerri and other California women who know what I'm talking about..."Holland" has certainly been one of those places of blessing.)

"Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
(Isaiah 40:31)

May I always live and move in His strength instead of my own.