Soul Health

Body Soul and Spirit

Spirit connects to the soul and the physical body is also connected to the soul

We are a whole being - our spirit is made alive and renewed in Christ - John 3 - Jesus speaks to Nicodemus and talks about rebirth, by the Spirit, whereby pour spirit is reborn, by the power of the Holy Spirit

John 3:5-8 NLT
Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. [7] So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' [8] The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians about being a new creation.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

This is an instantly newly created spirit and an ongoing work of new creation which takes place through the soul

We tend to think of the soul as the mind the will and the emotions, the part of our being that is not physical and yet the physical and the spiritual have immense and considerable impact on the health of our souls.

There is now quite a bit of research that says what we eat affects the internal gut biology and this impacts directly on the health, not just of our physical body but our overall mental health and wellbeing.

The words used for soul and spirit with the soul referring to the inner being of the person, the mind, the seat of the senses, the affections and the emotions. The souls is the area where decisions are made.

Mary - Luke 3 - My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit (that which relates to God) rejoices in God - notice that the soul here is about the decision made to honour God that brings a rejoicing to the spirit.

The 23rd Psalm - a great example of God's interest in our souls as well as our spirit.

Psalm 23:1-6 NLT
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. [2] He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

[3] He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. [4] Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

[5] You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. [6] Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

The psalmist speaks of God restoring the soul and leading us to places that allow our souls to be restored and to be made whole. Let's look more at Psalm 23 because it is helpful in modelling a path to a healthy soul life.

Notice that the psalmist starts with a sense of gratitude to God - in him we have no needs because God has supplied them - a heart of Gratitude  - now backed up by medical science, is helpful; for the soul 

(Paul the Apostle also had this same sense of gratitude  - praying - be thankful for what God has done, learning to be content with much or little etc.)

Philippians 4:6-8 NLT
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:11 NLT
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

Notice that in Psalm 23 - the Lord is leading and guiding  - the word used here for lead is different to that used later - it is lead with a sense of care and specifically leading to a place of refreshment

God wants to lead us to these places.

The idea of still water -now I like the ocean and its hurly burly but the psalmist didn't have access to the ocean - but he did find that wonderful thing - a place of stillness, a place of rest, a place where the body can relax and the mind can unwind.

Maintaining a healthy soul doesn't just happen - it's helpful to find space to build a healthy soul. The decisions we make about how we live will impact the health of injuries soul.

Taking time to rest, taking time to move away from the noise and crowd is necessary to restore our well being. 

Some things I've learnt that are by no means the be all and the end all but touch on what I have personally found helpful

1. Take responsibility
We are ultimately responsible for our own soul health

Galatians 6:4-5 NLT
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. [5] For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

The Greek means responsible for the "Faults of the conscience which oppress the soul." In other words we are responsible for dealing with the stuff on our life that negatively impact the soul.

Now lots of things impact on us - the things that people have said to us or done to us in the past impact our soul and can damage our soul

Most of us would have experienced that to some degree - so people - be kind - speak well to your children, be nice to others - lose the derogatory remarks etc.

We can be people who build others up and not tear them down - the words we speak, will speak life or death

But ultimately we are responsible for dealing with that stuff and restoring the soul.

So for whatever reason we take stuff on, it's important to look at the relationships we have and protect ourselves from the toxic ones as much as we can.

No-one else is responsible

2. Develop awareness
Of what is going on around you and within you - thinking patterns

Also, what words are you speaking over your own life - these are more damaging and can speak life and death to the soul.

Be aware of the patterns of thinking that we have developed.

Prov 23:7 - talks about the way a person thinks and its connection to who we are or become.

As a man thinks, so is he.

The really good news here of course is that we can change those thinking habits - Renewal of mind

Romans 12:2-3 NLT
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. [3] Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Ephesians 4:20-24 NLT
But that isn't what you learned about Christ. [21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.

The area in psychology of mindfulness - it is all about being aware of what is happening around us and how we are reacting to it.

Previously I've spoken about this and Dr Carolyn Leaf has a great deal of information on this as do many other neuroscientists.

But there is a really helpful process she outlines which is all about being aware of the thoughts that go through our mind, and allowing them to come, examining them and then looking for patterns in thinking

Clearly we want to develop the positive and limit the negative

What if we've developed a negative pattern?

The good news is that once we are aware of it, we can change it - our minds can be transformed, changed by choosing to be aware of those patterns of thinking that are destructive. 

Luke 12:29-30 NLT
"And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. [30] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Romans 8:5-6 NLT
Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. [6] So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

God has, through his Spirit, given us a way to think and to allow our minds to be renewed and changed. Its a daily decision to make to let God's Spirit show us where change in thinking is needed and then to act on it. 

And as we become aware of the patterns we can learn to catch the thoughts that are damaging to our thinking, our mind and our emotions - the areas of our soul.

We are able to see if they are helpful and choose to accept or not accept them - but always have something to replace it with -

 Philippians 4:8 NLT
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

give an example here - people and friends

What patterns of thinking have you developed?

3. Acknowledge emotions
But don't allow them to dictate your decisions

Emotions are really important and learning to acknowledge them is crucial to our soul health - if we supress our emotions we internalise and our soul becomes unwell. Just as we can discover patterns of thinking we can learn the patterns of emotion.

The two are connected. How can we harness our emotions without them disabling us or overtaking us.?

Rational mind v emotional mind. Imagine a venn diagram of two overlapping circles where the overlap is the wise mind.

What we want is the wise mind - in other words - thinking that is based on truth but includes the emotions without suppressing them but also not allowing them to dictate the decision. 

We tend to two ways - we try to hide emotion or discount it, or we allow it to fall out everywhere and spew on top of others - sometimes one leads to the other - example - dealing with anger - grief etc.

Emotions are an indictor of soul health. Being more or less emotional is often an indication of things not being right. Learning to recognise emotions helps us understand what is going on for us, why we are reacting in a particular way etc,

Use reflection to understand the patterns and process that are connected with emotions. It's important to allow us to express appropriate emotions in different situations.

It's ok to let yourself feel joy, happiness, sadness, pain, fear and to know their role in how they help us and protect us - and learning what is healthy for us.

The movie Inside Out reflected this need to be aware and that our emotions are important. We need our emotions.

Decisions in our mind - lead to action and exercise of our will

Psalm 42:5 NIV
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Allow the rational mind and the emotions to be included, then make a decision which will lead to a more positive behaviour

Psalm 42:11 NIV
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Decisions that are solely based on emotion can have serious consequences - but decisions which include emotions - and how other people might be affected by them will be better decisions worth a more positive outcome for our soul heath (and the health of others).

4. Choose Forgiveness
The heavy one

Forgiveness is powerful for soul health. There is something wonderful asn't begging forgiven if we understand the pet of it. 

1 John 1:9 NLT
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

We seek forgiveness for our stuff and God is faithful. In the save way we are forgiven, we are called to forgive, and forgiving otters is also powerful and important for the health of our soul

Matthew 18:21-22 NLT
Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" [22] "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!

Matthew 18:32-34 NLT
Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. [33] Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?' [34] Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

Unforgiveness is like a prison that holds us. Just as the unforgiving servant was thrown in gaol, undisturbed locks us up. Maybe not physically but it is a weight we carry that is damaging too our wellbeing, damaging to putt soul. 

Unforgiveness is like a weight that we carry and choosing to release that weight is powerful, freeing and creates space in our thinking for what is really important.

Example of the bricks - bricks are heavy and difficult to hold and carry round long term. In the same way, unforgiveness is also heavy and weighs down oyr soul. Forgiveness releases the weight and frees the soul.

Forgiveness frees the soul to deal with other things - removes the trash - when I put the garbage out and its collected its no longer my garbage.

When we forgive - the stuff we've held on to is like that garbage  - it no longer affects us. Jesus tells us to forgive because we are forgiven.

Matthew 6:11-15 NLT
Give us today the food we need, [12] and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [13] And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. [14] "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. [15] But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Colossians 3:12-13 NLT
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

He has  freed us from the weight of sin - in response we forgive others - let it go - regardless of whether or not its asked for

This is the hard one because our sense of justice says the other person should pay - but with unforgiveness we end up continuing to pay for the other persons stuff.

Let go of bitterness = let your soul be free to focus on what is good for it

Forgiveness allows us to let go of other people's stuff and frees us to take on God's purpose.  

5. Create space
To do what energises and refreshes you

Psalm 39:6-7 NLT
We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. [7] And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.

David's words.

Busy rushing ends in nothing. 

The Psalmist lay down in peaceful green pastures - the opposite of busy rushing.

What refreshes you?

Be deliberate - create time to make it happen

Music, reading, walking, getting out in nature

What is it that allows you to take a breath - to stop, to remove yourself from the "busyness" of life and to just breathe - to take time with God for sure - Jesus did that - but also to allow your brain to stop whirling, and your allow your body to relax.

Soul Health is necessary for long term productivity. Being intentional with soul health also  means we are able to pursue God's call and live his purpose.

What question are you asking?

The following is an excerpt from John Hunt, (ACC Qld State President). I heard John speak a similar thought a couple of years ago at a found it very helpful in dealing with the challenges we face not just in ministry but in life. I've added a couple of my thoughts at the end.

"Focusing on the right question was an issue Jesus confronted when He saw a man blind from birth.

'His disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?”Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.”' (John 9:1-3 MSG)
 
Jesus was teaching them about renewing of their minds - from "If something was wrong, someone needs to pay" to "If something was wrong, then it's an opportunity for growth." They had to look again at the questions they asked that framed their thinking.

This is something we need to do as well. Instead of asking, "Why it always me?" when things go wrong, we could ask, "How can I use this situation to glorify God?"

The questions we ask determine the answers we find."

I find that the last sentence is very powerful. The questions we ask determine the direction our thoughts will take and our thoughts will direct our path in life and the decisions we take.

I have personally found that asking the right question can be the difference between finding a breakthrough and struggling to make progress. I don't want negativity and negative thinking to define my experience. Asking the right question turns our thoughts from the circumstance to the God who is able and brings a positive approach to our thinking and our decisions.

What questions are you asking?

Love Jill
 

Challenging Consumetism by Joshua Becker

9 Intentional Ways to Challenge Consumerism in Your Life WRITTEN by JOSHUA BECKER · 165 COMMENTS “Don’t buy what you don’t need.” Consumerism is not a pathway to joy and meaning in life. This is not a new revelation. In fact, we all know it to be true. If specifically asked the question, nobody would ever say the secret to a joyful, meaningful life is to buy a lot of stuff. Deep down in our hearts, we know we were made for something bigger—something more significant than mere consumption. Nobody really believes happiness is directly tied to the number of things we own. Yet almost all of us live like it. We work more hours than ever before, earn more income, but save less. Personal debt has increased dramatically over the previous three decades. And consumer spending has been exalted to a virtue in our society—even patriotic. As a result, the average credit card holder now carries 4 different credit cards in his or her pocket. Shopping malls outnumber high schools 2 to 1. 70% of Americans visit a shopping mall each week. Televisions outnumber persons in American homes. Home sizes have doubled in the past 50 years. And consumer debt has risen to 35% of household income. Will Rogers said it like this, “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” We never intentionally set out to buy more than we need or spend more than we make. But here’s the problem: Mindless consumption always turns into excessive consumption. (tweet that) And excess consumption results in more stress, more burden, more pressure to impress, more envy, less financial freedom, less generosity, less contentment—and I haven’t even begun to mention the environmental impact. It is time to rethink our spending habits, rediscover thoughtfulness and intentionality in our purchases, and remind ourselves that happiness is not on sale at the department store. Buying more is not the solution. We were made for greater pursuits than material possessions. And our lives should reflect that truth. How then, might we begin to rethink and challenge mindless consumerism in our lives? Consider this intentional approach: 1. Stop and reevaluate. Look at the life you have created. Are you finding the time, money, and energy for the things that matter most? Have your possessions become a burden on your life in any way? Slow down long enough to honestly evaluate the whole picture: your income, your mortgage, your car payment, your spending habits, your day-to-day pursuits. Are you happy? Or is there, perhaps, a better way? 2. Stop copying other people. Just because your neighbors, classmates, and friends are chasing a certain style of life does not mean you need to as well. Your life is too unique to live like everyone else. And if you think you’ll be happier by following all the latest trends in society, you are wrong. Just ask anybody who has stopped. 3. Understand your weaknesses. Recognize your trigger points. Are there certain stores that prompt unnecessary purchases in your life? Are there products, addictions, or pricing patterns (clearance sales) that prompt an automatic response from you? Maybe there are specific emotions (sadness, loneliness, grief) that give rise to mindless consumption. Identify, recognize, and understand these weaknesses. 51% of the solution can be found by simply recognizing the problem. 4. Look deep into your motivations. Advertisers play on our motivations by appealing to our desires in subtle ways. Advertisements are no longer based on communicating facts about a product. Instead, they promise adventure, reputation, esteem, joy, fulfillment, and sex. What inner-motivations are subconsciously guiding your purchases? What motivations (greed, envy) need to be rooted out? And what motivations (meaning, significance) need to find their fulfillment elsewhere? 5. Seek contribution with your life and usefulness in your purchases. To live is to consume. As contributing members of society, we are going to work and earn and purchase and consume. But we are more than consumers, we are contributors. Our presence on this earth ought to bring value to the people around us. Purchase only what you need to more effectively accomplish your unique role in this world—everything else is only a distraction. Just because you can buy something doesn’t mean you should. 6. Count the hidden cost of each purchase. Too often, when we purchase an item, we only look at the sticker price. But this is rarely the full cost. Our purchases always cost more. They require our time, energy, and focus (cleaning, organizing, maintaining, fixing, replacing, removing). They prompt worry, stress, and attachment. Henry David Thoreau said it best, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” 7. Test your limits. Experiment with a no-shopping challenge. You set the terms—even the world’s biggest shopper can find one experiment to test their boundaries. Go 30 days with no consumer purchases, 60 days without visiting the mall, or 120 days without buying clothes. You set the specific challenge based on your needs. You will break the cycle of shopping in the short-term and lay the groundwork for greater victory in the long-term. 8. Give more things away. Your life will feel lighter. Your heart will feel warmer. The world will be better. And you will be reminded shopping is not the answer. 9. Do more of what makes you happy. Your possessions are not making you happy. Once our basic needs have been met, the happiness found in consumerism is fleeting at best. Instead, find what it is that truly makes you happy and do more of it. I find my happiness in faith, family, friends, and contribution. Your list may differ slightly. But either way, owning a whole bunch of stuff is almost certainly not on it. Make intentionality your highest pursuit. Not consumerism. 87.9kShare Tweet 7.8kPin

Leadership plain and simple

Three Indisputable Traits Of A True Leader http://flip.it/mLFtDR

Confident in God

Confident in God

Confidence in God comes when we understand that in Christ we are already accepted.

We will not be truly confident though till we understand that it's not what we do, how we behave, or how we live or what others think of us that causes us to be accepted. We already are.

To be confident we need to understand the truth of Significance. We are significant already.

Significance comes from knowing the truth about who we really are

- Our righteousness is from God
- We are accepted by him
- Our significance is in who we are in God and not what others say or think

Significance comes from addressing the lies we've been told.

Learning to live in the truth is important if we are to live confidently

We self sabotage when we believe the lies. Freedom comes from truth.

John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

In his work Search for Significance Robert McGee* addresses this issue and the lies we tend to believe at least in part.

For instance:
Have you ever felt this way?

"When I fail at something, I feel lousy about myself…When others don’t approve of me, I can’t seem to get over it…Sometimes it feels like I’ll never measure up."

I think many of us can relate to these words, but our value is not based on others approval of us.

There is a formula we often believe. It says:
Self-worth = Performance + Other’s Opinions

Bit this is not true. Believing this lie stops us from living in freedom and at some stage, maybe some of us even now, believe this, at least partially.

In his book 'The Search for Significance' McGee highlights four lies that can keep us bound but he also shows us the truth and the truth, if we embrace it, will set us free.

According to McGee these are the lies  (summarised here by Paul Sohn)**. He explains them and follows up with God's truth about them.

1. The Performance Trap – “I must meet certain standards to feel good about myself.”

Those who struggle with “The Performance Trap” have a fear of failure, perfectionism, manipulating others to achieve success; they can also cowardly withdraw from healthy risks. God’s answer to “The Performance Trap” is His justification. This means God has not only forgiven me of my sins but also has granted me the righteousness of Christ, therefore I am pleasing to the Father. At my very essence, as a son of God, I am good enough. Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. The Approval Addict – “I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself.”

The person who is “The Approval Addict” fears rejection and is oversensitive to criticism; they will withdraw from others to avoid disapproval. God’s answer to this false belief is reconciliation. This means that although I was one time hostile toward God and alienated from Him, I am now forgiven and have been brought into an intimate relationship with Him. Consequently, I am totally accepted by God (Col 1:21-22)

3. The Blame Game –  “Those who fail (including myself) are unworthy of love and deserve to be punished.”

Those who suffer from the “Blame Game” fear punishment. They also try to punish others, and their drive is to avoid failure. God’s answer to this problem is propitiation which means that that by His death on the cross Christ satisfied God’s wrath; therefore, I am deeply loved by God (John 4:9-11)

4. Shame – “I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.”

Those who suffer from “Shame” is marked by feelings of hopelessness. Shame is also marked by inferiority, passivity, and loss of creativity, isolation, and withdrawal from others. . God’s answer for shame is regeneration, which means that when we place our faith in Christ we become a new creation.

John 3:3-6 says, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

Questions:

What false beliefs have you lived with that prevent you from living a life of significance?

What truth does the Word of God give us about who we are?

How will I apply the truth of God's word to my life to live in the significance his Word says I already have?

*The Search for Significance - Robert McGee
**http://paulsohn.org/the-search-for-significance-seeing-your-true-worth-through-gods-eyes/

Conquering excuses

The following is from Valorie Burton. You can find the link to her web page below. She has short readable blogs and practical follow up questions. Today's blog was on the excuses we make and I wanted to share it with you.

'4 Questions to Conquer Excuses

What’s the reason you have for not pursuing your most authentic dream? Whatever this dream is, in your life or career, you probably have a reason it hasn’t happened yet. But if you look behind the reasons, you might just discover that they could be reclassified as excuses—thoughts you are embracing that sabotage your dreams. Excuses are born of pessimistic thinking style and fixed mindset. Now, I’m not trying to beat you up about your excuses. I want to help you break free of them so you can go to the next level. Whatever you want to call them— excuses or reasons ---they are in the way. And you are the only one who can demand that they go.

So what’s your excuse? Is it a lack of time? Money? Is it that person who is always tearing you down? Is the dream just too hard? To complex? Too much of a commitment? Maybe your excuse is a lack of education or experience. Or perhaps if you just had more contacts or more friends of fewer obligations or weighed less or….

You get the point. Excuses allow us to justify our lack of progress. They can even bring you sympathy. They let you off the hook. But the truth is, when there is something you were meant to do, you’ll never truly be off the hook. You must do it, which means you must let go of your excuses. That means facing your fear---whether it is fear of success and all the expectations that come with it or fear of failure and all the disappointments or embarrassment that come with it,

Whatever you fear, the good news is that you can muster the courage to conquer it. Choose to let go of all excuses for why you cannot have what you want in life. Coach yourself with these four excuse shattering questions.

1. What’s my excuse?

2. What does this excuse give me permission to do (or not do)?

3. If I could no longer use this excuse, what would I have to do instead?

4. Why don’t I just do that now?

When you drop your excuses, you discover that the bottom line is you can choose to pursue your dreams---or not. You can live life full or you can live it small. Living fully takes courage. Courage is a choice. The choice is yours.'

https://valorieburton.com

I encourage you to seriously consider these questions and identify the excuses we make. Just articulating and acknowledging them is a great start. Begin dealing with your excuses today.

Love Jill

Called Together

I've been reading about faith communities and today I was impacted by the following words from 'Called Together' by Jonathon Dodson and Brad Watson.

 'What Community Is
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” —Acts 2:42-47

 What if we decided not to be a group of individuals who try to follow Jesus on our own, occasionally gathering for a church service or a bible study; rather, we committed to being a community of people devoted to Jesus and one another!'

And
 'gospel community says: “We are already accepted in Christ; therefore, we love, forgive, and accept one another.”'

As I meditated on these thoughts I was reminded afresh of the uniqueness of true Christian community. Community is commitment to one another; a willingness to love deeply and forgive freely; a willingness to accept each other as we are and encourage each other to become like Christ, with our focus on who he is and his acceptance of us.

This is possible because we are already accepted in Christ. Our motivation comes from being accepted by him and not from trying to gain the acceptance of others.

Tim Keller notes that religion says, “I obey, therefore I am accepted,” but the gospel says, “I am accepted, therefore I obey.”

Dodson and Watson pose questions for us around what it means to live in community. They are well worth considering and acting on.

 'What would it look like for us to become this kind of community? • What must change in our hearts? • What must change in our daily-lives? • What must change in how we view our lives? • Is it worth it? Why'