"You should write a book!" I have heard that so many times over the past few years. Honestly, the book has been in me for many more years than that. The book is my life message. It is what I was meant to communicate. It has been years in the making... years in the writing... and now, as of yesterday, the book proposal (not the completed manuscript!) is in the hands of two publishers, two literary agents and two first-time publishers networks. Oddly, I have mixed feelings about it today. I feel exposed (even though no-one has actually read it yet!). I feel inadequate to fully communicate this amazing life message (I keep thinking of things to add... as I edit and re-work this month... the book could double in size!). I feel like I am getting ready to cross a line that I have been moving toward since the time of my suicide attempt and the beginning of my recovery. I also have a bit of fear. Lately, the more I step up and share my story, the more criticism and rejection come my way. I will need strength for the professional feedback that I get from the agents and publishers. I am not a professional writer so I expect this feedback, I just don't want the message to get lost in all!
As I sit with these feelings, the song that keeps playing in my head is Philips, Craig and Dean singing "Your Grace Still Amazes Me". It is overwhelming to think that out of all of my mess, wounds, poor choices, manipulations, hurts, that the Father has brought out this powerful message of LIFE! As the song says... all I can do is offer Him my praise.
So... praise the Lord with me and pray that His will be done. At the end of January, I will have the book finished and will decide about self-publishing (based on the responses or lack thereof).
Happy New Year to all of you!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Spiritual Formation
Over the past couple of years, I have been intrigued with the concept of spiritual formation. Americans have made physical formation BIG BUSINESS. Body building, strength training, diets, exercise programs, gyms, videos, workout fashion... it is HUGE. So much time and energy spent on the body but what about our spirit? What about the part of us that lives forever? How do we "exercise ourselves to godliness"?
I recently ran across an excellent definition for spiritual formation in M. Robert Mulholland's book "Invitation to a Journey".
"Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others." (p15)
I love this definition because it is simple AND it reveals all that I love and hate about spiritual formation.
It is a process. I love that I don't have to measure myself by perfection but by progress. But I HATE that nothing that is spiritual or lasting is instant. My whole life will be spiritual formation... living in cooperation with God's grace extended to me in each moment!
IT has a defined goal, the image of Christ. I LOVE the fact that I was created in the image of God, it was marred by sin but that I now have Christ in me who is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). I can allow Christ to live through me and be living as a reflection of the image of God. This is wholeness and it feels right, it trumps brokenness! I do HATE that this is a choice that must be made at every moment. I can't just put it on auto-pilot. I must choose between living in the power of my own flesh and living in the power of the resurrected Christ that lives in me.
It is not about me! I HATE that (because my flesh has a good dose of narcissism) it is not about me. But I LOVE that it is relational. The focus of spiritual formation is not on how pious I can be but on how the image of God in me flows out to others and impacts their lives. There is POWER in this... a power that cannot be manipulated, conjured up or misused. It is the power of God flowing through me and is for the sake of those who receive it.
Several conclusions, that for me are freeing.
1)I can embrace the process and not stress about the rate at which my spiritual formation seems to be progressing!
2)I can see each digression from spiritual formation as nothing more than a poor choice, made in the moment, made in the flesh, forgiven by the blood of Christ and powerless to change the direction of my life! (the power is in my choice)
3)I can watch this powerful presence in my life impact those around me and not have to control it, not have to make it happen, not have to pretend, not have to speak with spiritual cliches, not have to fit a certain image of "pastor"....
Bob December 29, 2007
I recently ran across an excellent definition for spiritual formation in M. Robert Mulholland's book "Invitation to a Journey".
"Spiritual formation is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others." (p15)
I love this definition because it is simple AND it reveals all that I love and hate about spiritual formation.
It is a process. I love that I don't have to measure myself by perfection but by progress. But I HATE that nothing that is spiritual or lasting is instant. My whole life will be spiritual formation... living in cooperation with God's grace extended to me in each moment!
IT has a defined goal, the image of Christ. I LOVE the fact that I was created in the image of God, it was marred by sin but that I now have Christ in me who is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). I can allow Christ to live through me and be living as a reflection of the image of God. This is wholeness and it feels right, it trumps brokenness! I do HATE that this is a choice that must be made at every moment. I can't just put it on auto-pilot. I must choose between living in the power of my own flesh and living in the power of the resurrected Christ that lives in me.
It is not about me! I HATE that (because my flesh has a good dose of narcissism) it is not about me. But I LOVE that it is relational. The focus of spiritual formation is not on how pious I can be but on how the image of God in me flows out to others and impacts their lives. There is POWER in this... a power that cannot be manipulated, conjured up or misused. It is the power of God flowing through me and is for the sake of those who receive it.
Several conclusions, that for me are freeing.
1)I can embrace the process and not stress about the rate at which my spiritual formation seems to be progressing!
2)I can see each digression from spiritual formation as nothing more than a poor choice, made in the moment, made in the flesh, forgiven by the blood of Christ and powerless to change the direction of my life! (the power is in my choice)
3)I can watch this powerful presence in my life impact those around me and not have to control it, not have to make it happen, not have to pretend, not have to speak with spiritual cliches, not have to fit a certain image of "pastor"....
Bob December 29, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
