Living for God Blog

THE DEPOT - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Struggles~

I struggle deeply from time to time. There are days called, "Today," when I arrive at the depot in a time-delay mode. The chaos around me blurs and I am lost. It isn't something I am able to set aside.

As one who is baptized into Christ, I am not immune to sorrows of the heart. My life has splinters that jab my wounded soul from time to time. There is no button to mute or to pause, but only to play; even if frame-by-fame.

At times I am allowed to experience paradise and I have hovered over the gates of hell in this same body. But every morning I exit the gate and every evening the Shepherd's voice calls me back to his rest. The depot is a passage way into each day called, "Today." I scan the departures and follow the Way. My struggles remind me I have yet to arrive, but my beloved bids me gently onward.

TAGS: Spiritual Struggles, Trusting God, Spiritual Journey

BELOVED DISCIPLE - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Christian Discipleship~

John is remembered as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He reclined next to Jesus at their final Passover meal. John rested his head on the breast of God and whispered a question no one else at the table could hear. What an intimate union they revealed in that moment.

A beloved disciple knows Jesus intimately and is willing to be known. Can you trust Jesus enough to be his bride; his lover? Does he trust you? John is our example of what it is to be a beloved disciple.

Love is a gift that is given freely. At the same time, love is not always received. Jesus would know you as a lover and a friend if you were willing. How would you receive him? My desire is to recline with Jesus, allowing him to receive me as a beloved disciple. I choose to learn how to love him as completely as he loves me. How far would you go with Jesus?

TAGS: Christian Discipleship, Christian Spirituality, Trusting God

A GENTLE GUIDE - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Formation~

Living out the Christian life isn't easy. No wonder Isaiah describes a person despised and rejected who knows sorrows and sufferings. Finding our own way can be a challenge. We need a skilled spiritual guide to lead us along the path toward Christlikeness.

Jesus is a loving shepherd and a gentle guide even when the path is hard. He leads us on paths where we could never find our way alone. The first disciples followed Jesus to become like him. They had so many mysteries to unravel. Who can we follow?

We can find guidance in a woman or a man who is both experienced and skilled with spiritual tools to help navigate the Christian way. Some are trained and gifted as spiritual directors or spiritual friends with a ministry of guiding others. These are people who reflect Christ in everyday life. Would you like a guide for your journey with Jesus?

TAGS: Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Direction, Christian Discipleship

HOLY SORROW - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Journey~

It is said that tears mark the transformation from life in the flesh to life in the Spirit. Whoever walks in the flesh seeks only external happiness and rebukes any source of pain. Holy sorrow is the narrow passage way to the heart of Christ.

The Teacher writes, "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief (Ecclesiastes 1:18 TNIV)." One who grows in the wisdom of God increases in knowledge that leads to holy sorrow. It is beyond mere repentance. This is the reality of Christ that receives pain and suffering with weeping and it leads to pure joy.

Those who live outside themselves in goals and goods remain in the flesh. Whoever rejects the applause of the world is able to begin an authentic spiritual journey inward. This is what it means to be born of the Spirit. Only here will the pilgrim receive the gift of holy sorrow.

TAGS: Spiritual Journey, Reflecting Christ, Christian Spirituality

DAY-BY-DAY BREAD - by Clavin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Christian Prayer~

Give us the bread we need day-by-day. Yes, God knows our needs even before we ask. But like any loving mother or father, God delights in our asking. We also understand that we need more than bread to keep us living for God every day.

As we need bread to sustain us physically, we also need love to sustain us emotionally. Our broken hearts need healing and those who have harmed us need forgiving. As for me, I need enough patience and enough justice to carry on from day to day. I even have needs that I don't consciously know.

Bread gives life to all of life. We eat the bread of life and receive life eternal. And God causes rain to fall on the wheat fields of the just and the unjust alike so that all might have enough bread. This is the perfect love of the Father. Pray that the hungry of the world will have day-by-day bread.

TAGS: Christian Prayer, Daily Prayer, Kingdom of God

FREE Download - LENT, FASTING and CHARITY

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:04:00 GMT

Spiritual Life~

How would you prepare yourself spiritually for the holiest of all celebrations? Easter is the most holy festival in the Christian faith. Lent, Fasting and Charity is an enlightening study that tells how the apostles and early Christians answered that question and offers practical ideas that you can practice today.

In this study, you'll learn:

How the apostles prepared for their Easter celebration
Our Jewish heritage of prayer, fasting and charity
The development of Lent among the early Christians
Meaningful and personal ways you can observe Lent

This download is designed for personal use and as a group discussion study. It includes duologue questions that stimulate thoughts and discussion. Read more here.

TAGS: Spiritual Life, Christian Discipleship, Reflecting Christ

REPENTANCE - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Struggles~

I am grateful for times of repentance when I get intimate with God. Repentance in Jesus is my response to the goodness of his Father. And when my repentance is complete, a joyous celebration begins and I sing with angels.

His light carries me up. The Lord searches and knows my heart. I am ashamed of the thoughts and images he reveals. Fire pierces my inner heart with sacred pain. My confession rides on a flood of tears. The whole communion in heaven and earth hears my sins with compassion. I wrestle with God until he is finished.

Such times may last only a few seconds. Some are long and difficult seasons. But my love for God is greater than my inner struggle. I want to grow up into Christ. Clearly, I have not arrived. Times of repentance draw me closer to Jesus until a day comes when I will disappear into his glory. Great joy! You know the way, want to follow?

TAGS: Spiritual Struggles, Christian Spirituality, Reflecting Christ

DEEPER COMPASSION - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Life~

The more I interact with people, the greater my understanding and compassion. And wouldn't you know, in a week when I had posted an entry on compassion that my own sense of empathy would be rocked. Just when I think I have learned something, Jesus shows me something deeper.

Frustrations with some face-to-face interactions and a Facebook contact, caught up with me upon reflection. I was slapped with an insight that I didn't take time to understand the person before my inner frustration caused me to judge them. I am humbled and grieved. It isn't enough to see with compassion eyes if I don't listen with a compassionate ear.

Note to self, a big step toward deeper compassion is to hear and understand. It's a basic principle for loving my neighbor. Every story is sacred. That includes social networking transactions. Listening is hard work. Understanding is compassion. Lord, help me to love enough that I will hear and understand with compassion.

TAGS: Spiritual Life, Reflecting Christ, Kingdom of God

LENT - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Christian Discipleship~

The Twelve Apostles prepared for their celebration of Easter with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. That's right, the guys who Jesus called to follow him gave us the tradition of Lent. We ought to do the same; it's just part of being a follower of Jesus.

Within the first few generations of Christians, the observance of a forty-day season of repentance, prayer, fasting and charity was practiced by all Christians. We call it Lent. It wasn't enforced, but it was an matter of conscience and faith. It's an appropriate way to prepare for the celebration of Easter, the holiest festival on the Christian calendar.

How would you prepare for the holiest celebration of the year? Jesus was crucified so that the world would not die without hope, but have life that never ends. The Father raised Jesus from the dead to guarantee our hope and show that he is God. This isn't the Super Bowl, this is Easter. Are you ready for that?

TAGS: Christian Discipleship, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Journey

COMPASSION EYES - by Calvin Wulf

Calvin and Lisa Wulf — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Spiritual Life~

"Lord, how can I see with greater compassion?" I asked in silent contemplation. I saw some birds eating in my backyard. I sensed the peacefulness of a dove, the colorful energy of a blue jay and the cheerful freedom of the sparrows. I grow in compassion by watching them.

"When you see these birds, you notice the unique beauty of each one with love," answered the still small voice. Yes, that's true. I accept the presence of each bird without judgment of identity. I don't have any expectations for the birds except to enjoy their presence.

I wonder if Jesus had compassion on the crowds because he simply saw people and he loved each one. Maybe that's why he enjoyed meals with prostitutes and other so called sinners. All people possess the image of God with a unique beauty. Perhaps compassion eyes simply take in the beauty and respond with love.