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LISTEN - by Calvin Wulf
Spiritual Life~
I learned from a wise monk that the Latin root of obedience is listening. Obedience is more about listening than it is about submitting. If you listen intently to understand, then you are able to follow more faithfully.
Jesus listened closely enough that he only said what he heard from the Father. He had the obedience to listen before he would say anything. Jesus enjoyed perfect union with the Father.
In the same way, I am obedient when I listen to my wife until I understand. I will not give a good response unless I listen first. Otherwise, she may ask for a fish, but I might give her a snake instead.
A spiritual person listens intently and hears God in all things. The heavens speak without a sound in a voice that is heard to the ends of the earth. The sweet song of a bird expresses the joy of the Lord.
Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying.
TAGS: Spiritual LIfe, Contemplative Prayer, Silence and Solitude
WHO'S PERFECT? - by Calvin Wulf
Living for God~
What types of people are objectionable to you? Well, all are acceptable if you’re living for God. Listen to Peter, the great apostle. “Peter said to them, ‘God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean (Acts 10:28 TNIV).’”
We have "in" groups and "out" groups, people groups, and different lifestyles. There are people of every color, race, gender and creed. Your heavenly Father loves all of them the same. All are welcome at his table.
Who is not welcome at your table? Think again. What did Jesus do? He ate and drank with all kinds of people, even the types who were rejected by the religious leaders of his time. There is no room for loving your neighbor if you hate your enemy. So be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
TAGS: Living for God, Christian Relationships, Reflecting Christ
MORNING PRAYER: Psalm 5 – by Calvin Wulf
Christian Prayer~
In the morning, we enter the day of work and we labor until evening. Psalm 5 invites us into Morning Prayer to remember our reliance on God. “Every morning I bring my requests to you and I wait for your answer,” the psalmist writes.
Morning Prayer is a good time to bring our petitions and intercessions to God. Sometimes we get frustrated when we don’t hear an answer. But we can meet with God every morning because of his steadfast love. He welcomes all who love his name into his mystical presence.
We ask God for protection and help for ourselves and for others. God hears every word we speak and responds in love with what is good and best for us. In the morning, we enter our work day through the mystical veil of God’s presence and steadfast love. In the evening, we reflect on the work of the day with gratitude and humility. So pray Psalm 5, in the morning.
TAGS: Christian Prayer, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines
EVENING PRAYER: Psalm 4 - by Calvin Wulf
Christian Prayer~
Evening is a good time for reflection. Days can be difficult and sometimes we do wrong. We work and create until it's time to rest. In God’s Creation cycle, evening begins a new day. As it is written, “Evening came and then morning, the first day.” God rested in the evening and reflected on the works that were created.
Psalm 4 offers a beautiful form of evening prayer. The writer looks to God for comfort after a troubling day. Time is set aside for meditation and confession. There we find the glory of God’s loving face turned towards us.
Evening prayer closes the door on the day that has passed. It opens the door on a new day with rest for your soul. You go to bed in peace and sleep without fear, knowing that the Lord will keep you safe through the night. Try praying Psalm 4 this evening.
TAGS: Christian Prayer, Christian Meditation, Daily Prayer
RE-IMAGING - by Calvin Wulf
Spiritual Formation~
Every human is born in the image of Christ. Male and female, we share equally in that divine image. Personally, I struggle to have that likeness show in me. Even though the image is a gift of creation, it is often whitewashed by my own failings. Sometimes I put on my Jesus face, but is that the real thing?
Then I come around to remember that I only need to behold Christ and let him bring out his best in me. I just need to show up and spend time in his presence, consistently. The apostle Paul says this really happens in quiet contemplation. “And we, who with unveiled faces contemplate Christ’s glory, are being transformed into his image with his ever-increasing glory inside ourselves. (2 Corinthians 3:18 PAR)”
We behold God in contemplation. Here, Jesus brings out his image in us. It is the way of the first disciples, including Apostle Paul. So take time to re-image. Would you like to learn more about contemplation?
TAGS: Spiritual Formation, Contemplative Prayer, Reflecting Christ
WHAT IS GREED? - by Calvin Wulf
Living for God~
"What is greed?" asked the deacon in her children's sermon. "That's taking more than what you need," a child answered. The concept of greed is so simple and so clear that a child can grasp it.
In our adult American world, however, greed seems a lot more difficult to understand. We seem to need a bigger house or a nicer car and of course that means we need more money. Is what we need dictated by greed?
We surely need a place to live and in many cases, we need a car, but how big, how many and how fancy is another question. Jesus said, "Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. Your value is not measured by the lavishness of your possessions (Luke 12:15 PAR)."
Constantly taking more than we need robs necessities from our neighbors, at home and around the world. This is the wisdom of a child. How much do you really need?
TAGS: Living for God, Christian Discipleship, Trusting God
A FALLING CHURCH - by Calvin Wulf
Living for God~
A young Francis of Assisi was praying in a church when he heard Jesus say to him, "Go out and build up my church for it is nearly falling down." At first, Francis assumed that meant repairing the ruined church where he was praying. In time, however, he realized that Jesus meant the greater Christian Church was falling down.
Many have heard the same call to rebuild the Church in this postmodern age. Early Christians were known for their love. These days, we are often considered a hate group in our contemporary culture. The modern church is falling down.
The true Church is built with living stones. People who answer the call of Jesus to love God and neighbor are the true Church. As Saint Francis later prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love."
TAGS: Living for God, Reflecting Christ, Kingdom of God
REFLECTIVE READING - by Calvin Wulf
Spiritual Formation~
Imagine a style of reading that opens your heart and transforms the humanity of your soul toward the divine image. I call it reflective reading.
Most of the time, we read for information. We analyze and categorize, maybe even memorize the words, but we choose how to format the data collected. We control the use for which we will retrieve it later.
I find that formation in the spirit comes when I read slowly and pause to let the words howl through my heart like a pack of lonely wolves. An image or thought lifts my awareness and holds me over a precipice where I dangle in raptured contemplation.
It isn't just the Bible that leads me there. Sometimes the book I'm reading isn't even meant to be spiritual. The Spirit often catches me unaware. Wisdom examines my heart and pours words into a space that yearns to become open.
All are welcome here. Just come with something to read. What book is calling to you?
TAGS: Spiritual Formation, Christian Meditation, Spiritual Journey
EMBRACING HURT Part II - by Calvin Wulf
Spiritual Struggles~
Embracing hurt is a gateway to wholeness. Integrating emotional issues produces spiritual strength and inner peace. I know first hand how tough this can be, but embracing hurt accelerates spiritual growth.
Sit in a quiet place where you feel comfortable and secure. Focus your thoughts on an emotional hurt or a painful memory. Allow yourself to remember and to feel. Remain present in the feeling until it settles into your heart.
Accept the reality of the feeling, or the memory or both. Embrace it as a real part of your life. Let go of it and embrace the love of Jesus. Breathe in deeply and breathe out the hurt slowly, again and again, until you feel it diminish inside your heart.
You may find a need to do the same exercise for the same hurt over and over. That's OK. Deep wounds heal from the bottom up. If you embrace hurt, rather than run from it, then the peace of the Lord will follow.
TAGS: Spiritual Struggles, Spiritual Growth, God's Peace
EMBRACING HURT Part I - by Calvin Wulf
Spiritual Struggles~
Life will make you hurt. From childhood traumas to yesterday's affronts, there is more than enough pain to go around. Or, you may just have deeply unsettling feeling of floating angst. Either way, there's no denying it. The sting is very real. Where does it come from?
Willing it to go away or praying for the pain to stop doesn't always work so well. The anguish returns again and again until we begin to embrace its source. Look at the stark reality of the violations and accept them one-by-one. Take them inside no matter how much it hurts or how counter intuitive that may seem.
Jesus suffered great anguish when he prayed in the garden. The Father sent an angel to strengthen him for the anguish he would face. Even Jesus had to feel the hurt. You see, sparing the pain doesn't accomplish the work of healing. I'll offer some spiritual guidance on embracing hurt next time. For now, what is your hurt?
TAGS: Spiritual Struggles, Spiritual Help, God's Peace