faithrunner

To Grizzly Gulch In my new book, A New Way of Living , I draw parallels between physical wellness and training and spiritual wellness and training . I want to start us on this wellness program as I see it laid out in the Beatitudes of Jesus . I believe the Beatitudes provide a path to spiritual wellness that transform us into the "peacemakers" Jesus calls us to become where we live, learn, work, and play. That path begins like a hike to the summit begins, in the valley. But, how does that journey begin? If the summit of our path is the presence of God that fills our "hunger and thirst for righteousness," then, The journey into the presence of God begins with the confession "I need help!" It is only when we realize we are unbelievably unfit to stand before God and equally unable to honorably wear the title Christ follower without His help that we are in the most prime position to be used by and for God's will. (66) I believe "the poor...

Solitude and silence are to your soul what clean air and water are to your body. Without them it is as if your soul breathes in air at the airport smoking room, and you drink from standing water in the street. No wonder we are a people of shallow lives and aimless days . Until we stop, find a place to be alone, and listen we can only react to life like cats swiping at a pesky mosquito. One of the reasons we don't seek solitude and silence is we are afraid of what we may hear from our hearts and from God. If we slow down we may hear the cries of our heart that call us to change the harmful habits we have created to protect them from the healing relationships of others. Or, we may hear the whisper of God's voice that calls us to a new life in Him that will challenge the mindless, self-absorbing things we do to fill the space between sunrise and sunset. But we MUST find the quiet and alone places if Jesus is our Leader . He modeled a life submitted to the Father and was laser-b...