Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility, self-contol: against such there is no law.
The Fruit or results and benefits for living a spiritual life are found in this passage of Paul's writings found in Galatians. I will look at each one and discuss how attending to the spiritual part of ourselves enables us to reap such benefits.
Love:
When we focus on God through Meditation, prayer, Scripture reading we come to greater awareness of God's great Love toward us. We also see ourselves in the light of God's grace and are therefore able to love ourselves in an authentic honest way. This therefore enables us to love and accept others with the same love and grace that we have received. Our life then is filled with Love- Love for and from God, Love for ourselves, and Love for others....this is a spiritual Fruit that proceeds from our Human Spirit.
Joy:
Joy is an inner strength that lifts us up, it elevates us with feelings of happiness and elation. It is not dependent on surrounding circumstances but is found in our human spirit.
Peace:
This is an awareness and of wellbeing," All is well". It also comes from the Human Spirit or heart and is not depending on what is going on around you. It is closely related with joy. In the mist of crisis and trouble a Spiritual person has a reserve of strength that comes from Peace and Joy that can enable them to remain steady and secure.
Patience (longsuffering):
The awareness of the big picture. "not sweating the small stuff" Understanding of the purpose or results behind where one is at. The ability not to simply react to life but to remain stable and secure. Not easily moved by how one is feeling but focusing on Truth.
Gentleness:
kindness and caring toward others and how they are feeling. This fruit is very closely related as well to Patience. In fact all of the fruits are closely related to each other and flow from the human heart that is connected to and growing in spirituality.
Goodness:
The ability to do and express goodness. Doing good as a way of life. It was said of Christ that wherever he went he did Good. This suggest service to others, concern and making a difference.
Faith (Faithfulness)
Reliable, consistent, the ability to be counted on. Integrity, Responsible. Faith should make one Faithful.
Meekness (Humility):
Meekness is sometimes wrongly considered weakness. Actually the opposite is true. True meekness or Humility is borne from a strong healthy spiritual life and does not need to promote self or brag about one's self. The awareness of this strength enables one to serve and live out their life selflessly because one is secure in themselves and their spirituality. Christ is the perfect example of this. Although He was the Christ he never felt it necessary to announce or promote this fact. In fact he many times discouraged others from sharing his identity.
Self-control:
The awareness that spiritual strength enables one to rise above their own weakness or needs and allows them not to be at the whim of every feeling or emotion that arises. Whether it is appetite, sexuality or any of the other drives and needs we humans have. These are gifts of God and are a wonderful blessing. However we do not have to be controlled by them. We are more than just our needs. For the GLBT Christian this becomes a powerful witness. We are not ashamed of our sexuality, in fact we embrace it and express it in healthy ways. However we are not controlled by it either. It is a blessed part of who we are, but is not the totality of who we are either.
These fruits or results of true spirituality are the signs of balance and wellbeing that are produced by a person who addresses the total of who they are. Human Life is about living from a healthy center of who we are and expressing God's goodness through our lives. This is true spiritual living and in fact is the truest kind of worship and faith.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
True Spirituality
True Spirituality is about transformation, growth and becoming. This is achieved through forgiveness, reconciliation, and transcendence. To put into simple terms, God meets us where we are, heals our hurts, connects us with "himself", and takes us on our transforming life journey that causes us to grow into the person we were created to be. This process opens our minds and hearts to love God, ourselves and others. Our love and understanding of all three (God, ourselves, others) are continually expanding..which is a simplistic understanding of transcendence.
Anything that stifles this growth is anti-spiritual. Religion in some forms does just this. However this does not have to be the case. However religion is man's attempt to understand and define life's mysteries. Sometimes when man's understandings are challenged, he resorts to desperate measures out of fear to hold on to his understanding. This can resort to hate and violence. This is why sometimes those who claim to be spiritual or religious can be filled with such anger and hatred. This is also why some of the world's most vile acts of violence are carried out by those who hold to such extreme and fundamentalist ideals. Whether it is an act of terrorism or a hate crime carried out against a young man in a Midwest town or a crucifixion of a prophet and teacher these people feel justified and feel they are doing God a favor. When in fact the truth is they are trying to rid themselves of a threat that challenges their limited and narrow understanding of Life and the Universe.
Many fundamentalist ideals are beginning to crack under the pressure of real life. Many people are beginning to question the relevance of faith and religion. However Faith and true spirituality are still relevant. However our attempts to package and contain God may have become outdated and obsolete. How do we determine what is irrelevant and what is valuable? For this answer we go back to our original definition of true spirituality. Whatever causes us to connect with God, resolve and find forgiveness and reconciliation, and causes us to grow in our love for God, ourselves and others should be embraced. For myself I find this in Christ. However everything that calls itself "Christian" is not necessarily Spiritual.
I once lived a version of "Christianity " that was based on fear and stifled my identity and espoused shame and guilt. This was what I had been taught to believe was true spirituality. However in truth it did not work, or live up to its claims. I did not need to throw it all out, but I did have to look at it from a new perspective and realize that much of what I held to and had been taught was not a source life but instead hindered me in my spiritual journey. In order to live it out I had to deny truths about myself that I knew to be true in my heart. Denial of truth, is a sign of a toxic religion. Coming to terms and peace with my own heart was the start place of meeting God in an authentic and real way. I found that God was not repulsed by this honesty but encouraged it. I was now ready for a real spiritual journey, one that would face the challenges of life and transcend them instead of deneying and creating a pseudo spirituality.
Anything that stifles this growth is anti-spiritual. Religion in some forms does just this. However this does not have to be the case. However religion is man's attempt to understand and define life's mysteries. Sometimes when man's understandings are challenged, he resorts to desperate measures out of fear to hold on to his understanding. This can resort to hate and violence. This is why sometimes those who claim to be spiritual or religious can be filled with such anger and hatred. This is also why some of the world's most vile acts of violence are carried out by those who hold to such extreme and fundamentalist ideals. Whether it is an act of terrorism or a hate crime carried out against a young man in a Midwest town or a crucifixion of a prophet and teacher these people feel justified and feel they are doing God a favor. When in fact the truth is they are trying to rid themselves of a threat that challenges their limited and narrow understanding of Life and the Universe.
Many fundamentalist ideals are beginning to crack under the pressure of real life. Many people are beginning to question the relevance of faith and religion. However Faith and true spirituality are still relevant. However our attempts to package and contain God may have become outdated and obsolete. How do we determine what is irrelevant and what is valuable? For this answer we go back to our original definition of true spirituality. Whatever causes us to connect with God, resolve and find forgiveness and reconciliation, and causes us to grow in our love for God, ourselves and others should be embraced. For myself I find this in Christ. However everything that calls itself "Christian" is not necessarily Spiritual.
I once lived a version of "Christianity " that was based on fear and stifled my identity and espoused shame and guilt. This was what I had been taught to believe was true spirituality. However in truth it did not work, or live up to its claims. I did not need to throw it all out, but I did have to look at it from a new perspective and realize that much of what I held to and had been taught was not a source life but instead hindered me in my spiritual journey. In order to live it out I had to deny truths about myself that I knew to be true in my heart. Denial of truth, is a sign of a toxic religion. Coming to terms and peace with my own heart was the start place of meeting God in an authentic and real way. I found that God was not repulsed by this honesty but encouraged it. I was now ready for a real spiritual journey, one that would face the challenges of life and transcend them instead of deneying and creating a pseudo spirituality.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Simplicity
Simplicity....a word that doesn't even come close to describe life anymore. In fact this time of year life can be very hectic and is a balancing act. However this is where spirituality comes in.
Spirituality is simple. In fact this keeps many out of the practice of spiritual matters because they are only focused on the complicated. Prayer, meditation, scripture reading, singing songs of praise seem to be far from where we are. Because of such an attitude we miss so much. However in the simple practice of quieting our minds to focus on our heart and on God, we find a peace and strength that enables us to face the complications and challenges of life.
We sometimes feel we don't have time for such things, but the truth is we don't have the time not to attend to such important things. We must come to the realization that spirituality is as much a part of our humanness as any other part we are not able to ignore ( at least and still remain healthy).
The results of such practices is bringing simple peace and calm into our modern hectic lives. Who does not need more of that?
Spirituality is simple. In fact this keeps many out of the practice of spiritual matters because they are only focused on the complicated. Prayer, meditation, scripture reading, singing songs of praise seem to be far from where we are. Because of such an attitude we miss so much. However in the simple practice of quieting our minds to focus on our heart and on God, we find a peace and strength that enables us to face the complications and challenges of life.
We sometimes feel we don't have time for such things, but the truth is we don't have the time not to attend to such important things. We must come to the realization that spirituality is as much a part of our humanness as any other part we are not able to ignore ( at least and still remain healthy).
The results of such practices is bringing simple peace and calm into our modern hectic lives. Who does not need more of that?
![dove-holy-spirit[1]](http://static.flickr.com/2189/2094031921_266c6056ca_m.jpg)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
God is not scared of you or.......
God is not scared of you or your feelings, doubts or questions. There seems to be an unspoken rule that we should never question or express our doubts or fears to God. However this is a man made rule of man made religion. Perhaps because man made religion is just that fragile that it is unable to withstand thinking, feeling real people with real life concerns.
However real religion and faith not only can withstand real human challenges but encourages them. Jesus taught us to ask, seek and knock. When we bring our doubts, fears and feelings to Christ we find a strength and a truth that can set us free from fear, doubts and depression. We get these weaknesses exchanged for Joy, Peace, and Strength. we come away from such a meeting with God with a greater and stronger faith.
In Fact God gives us an open invitation.....Come boldly to the throne of grace...in your time of need.
However real religion and faith not only can withstand real human challenges but encourages them. Jesus taught us to ask, seek and knock. When we bring our doubts, fears and feelings to Christ we find a strength and a truth that can set us free from fear, doubts and depression. We get these weaknesses exchanged for Joy, Peace, and Strength. we come away from such a meeting with God with a greater and stronger faith.
In Fact God gives us an open invitation.....Come boldly to the throne of grace...in your time of need.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Express yourself
Many feel that to express anger or Frustration to God is not spiritual or allowed. However if you read the psalms you find that the writer often expressed anger, doubts and many emotions. God is not afraid of what you are feeling and it is only when we bring them to him are we able to work them out and find healing and peace.
Recently I found myself feeling depressed. I have had a battle with depression from time to time and I have learned that depression often comes from unexpressed anger. When I prayerfully looked at why I was angry I found it was rooted in a situation that I had no control over. However by owning what I felt and bringing it to God in prayer I was able to work through it and it didnt consume or cripple me. Expression of emotions is a healthy thing and God is the perfect parent and will never cause us to regret brining them to him, but instead will help us to deal with it and grow.
Recently I found myself feeling depressed. I have had a battle with depression from time to time and I have learned that depression often comes from unexpressed anger. When I prayerfully looked at why I was angry I found it was rooted in a situation that I had no control over. However by owning what I felt and bringing it to God in prayer I was able to work through it and it didnt consume or cripple me. Expression of emotions is a healthy thing and God is the perfect parent and will never cause us to regret brining them to him, but instead will help us to deal with it and grow.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Opening your Heart and Trusting
For many in the GLBT community it is hard to open ourselves up and trust God because of the past hurts we have suffered at the hands of those who used His name. For some they fear that to trust Christ and to open their life to him would take away the freedom and Identity they have now found for themselves. However nothing is further from the truth.....He has come to set us free from the shame, condemnation, fear, and to inable us to live free in the identity that is our birthright in Him. Religion focuses on what Christ has saved us from but many times never mentions what Christ has freed us for......He sets us free to live the abundant life that can only come when one is living from their true heart and being who God made them to be.
Religion tries to conform everyone into a mold to look and sound and act alike......however our uniqueness and individuality is a gift of God and you and I touch lives with these gifts that others may not be able to.....Don't compare yourself but celebrate yourself....allow Christ to set you free to be the total you that you were meant to be....
Faith and spirituality is an adventure and is leads us to where we belong and fit and does notrob us of peace, joy or contentment.......religion however is man made and is more about power and control....don't confuse the two.
one equals freedom the other bondage
Religion tries to conform everyone into a mold to look and sound and act alike......however our uniqueness and individuality is a gift of God and you and I touch lives with these gifts that others may not be able to.....Don't compare yourself but celebrate yourself....allow Christ to set you free to be the total you that you were meant to be....
Faith and spirituality is an adventure and is leads us to where we belong and fit and does notrob us of peace, joy or contentment.......religion however is man made and is more about power and control....don't confuse the two.
one equals freedom the other bondage
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Opening your Heart
This time of year can be a difficult time for many people in our community. However no matter where you are in life, Christ will meet you where you are at and bring His grace and presence into you life. His presence brings peace, strength and joy.......
Opening your heart is a simple act....it is simply inviting Christ into your heart and life....and I don't mean in some weird or fanatical religious practice....just a simple honest invitation asking Christ to come into your life .....It isn't that He isnt already there...but we can have people in our life but to purposely invite them to participate in our life means a lot more....It is about improving a vital relationship and reaping the blessing of its richness.......
Opening your heart is a simple act....it is simply inviting Christ into your heart and life....and I don't mean in some weird or fanatical religious practice....just a simple honest invitation asking Christ to come into your life .....It isn't that He isnt already there...but we can have people in our life but to purposely invite them to participate in our life means a lot more....It is about improving a vital relationship and reaping the blessing of its richness.......
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