simplicity

Simplicity

Week 6

In Foster’s discussion of simplicity in chapter 6, what motivated you?  What made you concerned or anxious?

                Reading chapter 6 was quite liberating.  I am constantly looking for ways to simplify life.  I have never thought of simplicity as a discipline, but I see the reason why Foster addresses it in his book.  I really like that he gives the ten suggestions in how to live a life of simplicity.  In reading this chapter, I am motivated by each of these steps.  The ones that are the biggest challenge for me currently are nine and ten. 

A few years ago my husband and I were educated on the vast and horrific fact of modern day slavery.  When we were first told of this hidden horror, we were given a ton of information.  One piece of this was learning to make responsible purchases.  Never had we thought about where our clothes or electronics had come from.  After learning more, we realized that some purchases are not so innocent.  As time has gone on and life has become more busy, finances a little more limited, we have fallen out of the habit of making educated choices in regards to the things we buy.  While this may seem extreme, it is something that I truly believe falls under the ninth suggestion Foster gives.  He says to “reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.”  I am motivated to be a better consumer and to make more educated decisions in regards to the companies I give my money to.  

Putting God first is always a challenge for me.  This is why number ten of Foster’s guidelines is another challenge.  There are so many things that easily push God to the side, this is a terrible and frankly lazy way of living.  Reading this chapter once again reminds me how intentional I have to be to truly put God first, above all things.  It is crazy to me how easily other things quietly begin to push God aside.  I really have to be intentional and conscious of this or I easily find myself frustrated and depleted.  How good God is to constantly remind me that he is all I need.  That without him, nothing really matters, that with him no matter the circumstance life is truly better.  How easily I forget and how gently he reminds me of these things.  He is a good and faithful God and he deserves all I have to give.

Study

Week Five:  Study

What have you learned about practicing the Discipline of Study in your work on Celebration of Discipline so far?

                I realized very quickly that what I thought about “study” was actually quite different from Foster’s explanation of study.  In many ways I was excited to read this chapter because initially I thought to myself, finally something that seems a little easier.  As I began to read I realized how very wrong I was about study being easy.  So what did I learn?  A lot!  One of the biggest things I am realizing is that I am a really good reader, but I am terrible at giving the information I read a chance to make a change.  Foster says, “The purpose of the Spiritual Disciplines is the total transformation of a person.”  This quote alone is my challenge.  It is letting God totally change me.  I can read the assigned readings and check it off the list without too much difficulty, but I struggle to make breathing room.  By this I mean; I struggle to allow what I read or study to go deep and do what it is meant to do, change me.  As I read about the four steps in study, I see how deliberate I need to be.  I also realize how much more time I need to carve out.  A reoccurring theme for me as I read this book is that I need to allow more space in my life for God.  Wow is He having to really tell me this over and over again.  I have to admit I almost laughed out loud as I read Foster talk about taking a few days of solitude to study for 12 hours a day.  This seems obsurd….at first.  Then I realized how much I need to be steeped in the Word of God.  What a challenging chapter.

                So where is my starting point on this?  Well, since I will have a newborn here very shortly a couple days of solitude really is out of the question.  But, one of the things that Foster also talks about is reading the same short book of the Bible every day for one month.  This is where I will begin.  I will try to implement these four steps of repetition, concentration, comprehension, and reflection.  I know that God is so faithful, when I give even the smallest effort I never regret the time I spend with Him.  I also realize that the more I “know” God, really know him the more grounded I will be. 

It’s funny I pray often that my son will know God at a young age, I want him to know God, not just know of Him.  I guess it is about time I work a little harder to be that example.  This translates in so many ways to leading worship.  The more I know God the better I know how to follow Him.  The more effective I can be in leading because I will see and sense where the Holy Spirit is leading.  When I sing the songs, I can sing with more conviction and understanding because I don’t just think that God is good, I will know it.  I am excited to put more effort into this discipline of study.  I really think I have been waiting for this challenge, now it’s time to actually do it.

Fasting

Week Four:  Fasting

What ideas or insights from Chapter 4 are especially challenging, motivating, or helpful to you?

                So fasting has always been one of the disciplines that seems most intimidating to me.  I always feel like fasting is for the “really spiritual” people that I know or have heard of.  The challenge for me this week was changing my mindset more than anything.  I have limited personal experience with fasting, and although the experiences have been quite profound, it is by no means something that I incorporate into my life on a regular basis.  In fact, this is probably the discipline that I have the least amount of experience and practice in.  Another challenge for me is so few people that I know of fast on a regular basis.  I guess part of this might be that those that do fast do not broadcast it, but I actually think that it is practiced quite rarely by people I know.  If it is practiced and I for some reason know about it, it is rarely a fast from food.  More often I hear people converse about fasting from things like television, Facebook, media as a whole, or a certain type of food.  I was fascinated by the discussion point of fasting being a commandment or not.  I honestly have never looked at fasting as such an integral part of my walk with Christ.

                I think the most helpful parts of chapter four are the practical tips Foster gives about fasting for the first time.  Things like doing a lunch to lunch fast to start, and to start slowly then progress to longer fasts.  I appreciate that he gives a starting point especially since this is something that feels and is so foreign to me personally.   The suggestions he gives in the journal are equally as helpful.  I really like that he suggests to pay attention, and take note of the responses to the fast.  The excerpt he includes in the book on page 58 where the responses to fasts are recorded over time was quite enlightening.  It definitely is challenging me to find a way to make fasting a more routine part of my life.

Prayer

Week Three

Prayer

In what aspect of prayer are you least able to feel confident?

                Foster says, “Listening to the Lord is the first thing, the second thing, and the third thing necessary for successful intercession.”  This is my struggle.  So essentially, my foundation of prayer is all wrong.  I have been praying since before I can remember.  I rarely feel uncomfortable or self-conscious of prayers regardless of the situation.  However, I have been frustrated over and over again feeling like my prayers are useless.  Reading this chapter was eye opening.  How often do I listen first?  Rarely….do I ask God who and what I should prayer for?  Again the answer to this is rarely.  I have heard again and again the importance of praying in accordance with God’s will, but I guess I have never spent the time to understand how one does this.  By God’s grace and mercy I have seen first-hand the power of prayer.  Not just my own prayers, but the prayers of others.  I have been so blessed to grow up in the Vineyard.  I have watched intercessors who have literally for years carried the burdens of our church on their backs spending endless hours on their knees with little to no recognition, and I know they wouldn’t have it any other way.  I have pondered how they do this….how do they seem to know what to pray?  How do they have such patience and obedience?  I am realizing after reading this chapter that much of what they do is listen. 

                So, instead of writing out my list of people and things to pray for, my challenge is to actually ask God what he would have me pray for…what a concept.   I love that Foster tells us to start small.  My prayer request list is full of people with chronic debilitating diseases.  It is full of impossible situations.  I do not by any means think I am supposed to toss these things aside; however, I see the value in starting with small things.  So really once I again God is reminding me to slow down, to make space, to allow Him to move and do the work.  He tends to have to show me things over and over again until I get the concept.  The idea of making more space for Him seems to be yet another part of the puzzle for me.  How profound yet simple this is.  Of course I should be spending time asking God what I should be praying for and who I should be praying for, yet here I am a little perplexed at what this looks like.  I guess it is to square 1 I will go.  Back to the basics with the hope that I can build a foundation that is sturdier, more grounded, and actually constructed on Him.

 

Week Two: Meditation

Week Two

What suggestions in Chapter 2 seem most helpful to you in making meditation a regular part of your life?

                I think for me some of the greatest suggestions actually came from Foster’s explanation of the different types of meditation.  More specifically as he explains “re-collection” or “centering down” with the physical movements of “palms down, palms up.”  I have had the misconception in the past that meditation is all about being still and trying to in some ways empty my mind.  As I have attempted to do this in the past, I have failed miserably.  Trying to think of nothing makes me think of a thousand different things, none of which are important.  This particular type of meditation helps me to focus my thoughts and burdens in a productive way.  I appreciate that the physical posture is a reflection of what my heart is doing.  For some reason, the physical change in the hands helps me to visualize and truly focus on what I am saying to God.  Thora used this type of meditation in a sermon she taught, and it was the first time I had ever practiced the “palms down, palms up”.  It was a powerful moment then, and reading it reminded me of how effective this particular type of meditation is for me personally.  I find that by having a few moments of focused thoughts, my mind more readily becomes still. 

                Earlier in chapter two Foster talks about “holy leisure,” and how it profoundly affects living a life of contemplation.  I find it interesting that this was in some ways discussed during the sermon this week.  Though the concept of having a less crazy schedule is an easy one, putting this into practice proves to be quite a challenge in my life.  I do agree with Foster that this is a major component of living a life of contemplation.  Like much of what Foster says, this sounds so easy and makes so much sense, but actually putting into practice on the day to day feels like moving mountains.  I think I sometimes overlook the importance of having this type of lifestyle; one where I have the time and space to actually hear what God is trying to say to me.  I guess it is time to take a look at the calendar and do some spring cleaning….what ironic timing to be feeling God say slow down when we are expecting our second little boy in a few weeks.  Essentially this is probably the most practical way for me to make meditation a more regular part of life.  This book continues to challenge how I live life on the day-to-day.  It’s easy to understand but so very difficult to do….

                Oddly enough worship is one space where meditation comes more naturally.  I have never put it together until I started typing this out, but I find myself more comfortable in the silence in the context of worship than anywhere else.  Whether I am having personal worship or leading a set, some of the most profound moments have come while waiting on God.  Whether it is before a set begins, or at the conclusion of worship, waiting on God for just a few brief moments has truly changed me in big ways.  The biggest challenge is creating the space to do this more often in my personal times of worship.  I crave these moments; I know I need them to be more effective and to grow deeper with God.  Now I just need to find the time and to protect it instead of filling it with seemingly important things. 

VC Apprenticeship Week One

What insights from Foster’s discussion of the Spiritual Disciplines are most relevant to you personally?  With which do you agree or disagree most strongly?

  The phrase “the path of disciplined grace” struck a chord with me.  I have never quite heard it explained this way and it makes so much sense to me.  I love that Foster addresses the fact that it is not just my desire to change, but it is God who changes me.   It is a free gift, yet I still have to put effort into it.  I think one of the reasons I have looked at many of the disciplines as daunting and somewhat impossible is because I have attempted to do them on my own.  I know that real change only comes from God, but actually putting in the work and allowing Him to change me is the challenge.  The delicate balance of allowing God to change me yet working toward change is very tricky.  I really appreciate the way that Foster addresses this balance.

I also was struck by the section where he talks about “will worship.”  For me this has been a black hole that I have been sucked into time and time again.  Without being intentional about relying on God to do the real work, I have found myself discouraged and frustrated because the results don’t last.  On the flip side, when I feel like I am doing a good job, I have the tendency to pat myself on the back as if I did something.  I have never quite seen how wrong this is.  The explanation he gives of this being a form of idolatry caused me to do some serious soul searching.   

            I have a feeling that Foster is going to challenge much of how I view the disciplines.  I am excited to read more and dig a little deeper. 

Week three: question 2

I have some opportunities for growth in the area of viewing the people around me.  This week’s readings have prompted me to do some self-reflection.  Unfortunately, I have failed to see the image of God in those around me.  So, as I look at the first part of this question, I am disappointed in myself.  I see a real need to readjust how I see others.  When I start to ponder the fact that all people are “made in the image and likeness of God,” it really changes what I see.  Instead of being judgmental, my heart is instantly softened.  I am humbled by the idea that EVERYONE I look at is made in the image of God.  It frustrates me that I so easily forget this.  I am challenged to work on my perspective and to readjust my perception a bit. 

When we come together as a community to worship and I look through the lens of all people being “made in the image and likeness of God,” it gives me the picture of a puzzle.  Each one of us brings a different attribute of God to the room.  When we gather, it is like the pieces coming together to form the “big picture.”  In some ways, when we gather together we get a better idea of who God is.  Perhaps this is why the Holy Spirit seems to move in these settings more easily.  I know that I have experienced the presence of God most profoundly in corporate worship settings.  It is hard for me to really put this idea into words right now, but I can see why corporate worship is so important.  We all come together bearing the image of God, different pieces of His creation and something more happens.

When we worship God with our daily lives we are fulfilling our purpose.  God literally created us to worship Him.  When we worship we “become more truly human,” as N.T. Wright says.  We discover more about who we are as individuals because it brings us closer to God our creator.

Week three question three:

To “narrate the Story of God with our lives,” means to live life the way God intended.  We literally tell the story of God through our actions of everyday life.  People who do not currently call themselves believers are watching us for the story.  They watch us to see what it means to be a Christian.  We tell them by our everyday life.  So, we must live a life that is worthy and God honoring.  We should be telling a story of love since really that is the point.  God loved each of us where ever we were at.  God loved me before I loved Him, He accepted me before I accepted Him, and He pursued me before I pursued Him.  He didn’t wait for me to “get it together” before I was invited to relationship with Him.

My daily life should reflect this love and acceptance.  Just like Jesus said in Matthew 7, I should not judge others; instead, I should love them.  This means doing what God has commanded.  Loving my neighbor, helping the orphans and the widows, inviting others to be a part of my community even if they don’t fit the mold I think they should.  In my life, I can do these things by financially supporting organizations that aid orphans and widows, I could foster or adopt orphans, and I can simply invite my friends and coworkers to church.  Really this can look a million different ways.  Essentially, it means that I need to love people.   It means treating people who are currently not Christians with love and respect.   Realizing that it is not my job to judge homosexuals, women who get abortions or drug abusers; it is my job to love them and show them through my actions the story of God.