Run With Horses

Spiritual Growth and our Mental Life

We are looking at all of our spiritual life and have divided it into 5 key area to help us consider how we are made and where to apply effort and energy for change. Let’s review.
 
Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God.
Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience.
 
Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education.
 
Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key.
 
Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends.
 
Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly.
 
 
 
Mental Growth - Proverbs 23:7, 1 Corinthians 13:11 The Christian life is an incredible challenge and adventure that requires us to commit everything we are and have to the task. As Christians, we are leaders wherever God takes us, leading the way among lost sheep looking for direction. Through the study of God's Word, we will examine the life of a spiritual leader; through the activities of the summer we will have opportunities to practice what we learn. Everyone will receive training to prepare devotionals as well as practical ministry training, like how to lead a meeting or plan a strategy for ministry. Teamwork initiatives, Japanese language study, reading assignments, and times of discussion will all help us to challenge our thinking and stimulate mental growth. Weekly challenges in the form of rock climbing, rappelling, airsoft scenarios, and team competitions are designed to take each of us to our personal limits, facing our fears and overcoming them as a team. Following the Way requires new thinking.
Tips for mental well-being. Notice how much overlap there is with the other 5 area we are considering. We are not divided beings but unified. All areas of life impact all other areas.
1. Learn to understand and manage your emotions.
Name the emotion you feel and identify the root cause if you can. Journaling can help. Don’t let your emotions control your thoughts.
2. Stay connected to others and regularly talk through things with a friend.
Strengthens relationship and steadies emotions. Allow you to learn from your mistakes as well as others.
3. Get enough sleep.
4. Exercise!
Reduces stress, improves sleep, gets your blood moving and can make you sharper mentally. Great for problem solving.
5. Eat healthy.
Impacts your mood, ability to think clearly, tiredness, irritability, etc.
6. Plan things to do that are positive and move you forward.
Projects, personal and with family/ friends. Things to try help you grow spiritually, spiritual disciplines,etc.
7. Pray.
1 Thess 5:18 – 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Keep your eyes on Jesus in the midst of every trial. Be thankful and learn to express gratitude daily as a natural response to God daily mercies.
Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Choose Joy!
8. Be a Life-Long Learner.
Learn to ask questions. When you meet new people – be curious. Explore the Bible as a traveler to another country, look for the differences and ask WHY? Research – deeper bible study, practical applications – the “How To”
Make a list of potential skills that would be useful to you or that you would like to know. Pick one and begin!
9. Choose to give your thoughts direction.
Phil. 4:8-9 - 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Don’t let your thought lead you down paths you don’t want to follow. Make choices about what you allow into your mind and be proactive about giving yourself positive things to think about. Choices – books, music, movies, even friendships, will fill your mind with potential avenues your mind will explore. Choose wisely. Exert self-control and discipline.
Reference; https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/our-best-mental-health-tips
The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be?
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you.

Exercise and the Spiritual Life - Ep.255

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Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. An important piece in your overall spiritual health is your physical well-being. From handling stress to having the energy to push through a difficult situation, your physical health greatly impacts your spiritual ability to respond well tot the trials that will come.
 
Quick review to get us started today. Five area of life that are critical for our overall spiritual growth and maturity.
 
Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God.
Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience.
 
Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education.
 
Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key.
 
Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends.
 
Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly.
 
Physical Health - 1 Corinthians 3:16 – 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us that our bodies are the temple of the true and living God. We are stewards of His dwelling place here on earth. What an awesome responsibility! To maintain a fitting vessel prepared for His service, we will exercise daily and be ready for every opportunity that He gives us to serve.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 – 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
“Physical training is good…” (1 Timothy 4:8 - 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.)
So why focus on our physical health?
1. We are to Glorify God in our Body. 1 Cor. 6:20
2. Being healthy means being physically able to serve others.
Increase energy levels. Can reduce pain. Improve sleep quality.
3. Regular exercise can be a spiritual discipline.
Builds humility, self-control, endurance.
4. Stress relief <https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469>
Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a stress reliever. It’s meditation in motion. It improves your mood.
5. Taking care of your body is stewardship of God’s gift to you.
Stewardship : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care (Merriam-Webster)
“Stewardship defines our practical obedience in the administration of everything under our control, everything entrusted to us. It is the consecration of one’s self and possessions to God’s service. Stewardship acknowledges in practice that we do not have the right of control over ourselves or our property—God has that control. It means as stewards of God we are managers of that which belongs to God, and we are under His constant authority as we administer His affairs. Faithful stewardship means that we fully acknowledge we are not our own but belong to Christ, the Lord, who gave Himself for us.” - https://www.gotquestions.org/biblical-stewardship.html
A focus on physical fitness will allow us to see the results of consistent training and challenge us to apply the same concept to our spiritual lives. Progress is the result of developing new habits. New habits are the result of hard work. Ministry is often tiring and stressful but by maintaining a high level of fitness, we recover faster from hard days and are better able to handle the stress of ministry, preventing burnout and extending our years of productive ministry. Following the Jesus is not easy.
The question we all must ask ourselves is not “Where will I be when I face the most difficult challenge in my life?”, but “Who will I be?
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Our lives are complicated with all five of these areas interacting in many ways. The good thing to remember is that God is using all of them in the process of sanctification, preparing us for the day we meet Him face to face.
Until that great day, keep running!

Five Areas to Focus on for a Healthy Life -Ep.254

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Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as as follower of Jesus. The spiritual battles we face are real. The battles of the future will require you to be growing and trusting God even more than you do today. How can you be the person that you need to be to face the challenges of the future? One way is to apply consistent attention to your Spiritual Health. But your overall spiritual health is affected by more than just your prayer and bible reading. Let’s look at a few areas that need attention for us to be all that God intends for us to be.
 
God brings life to those who were once dead. That life has many aspects. Spiritual Life, Mental Life, Physical Life, Relational Life, and Emotional Life are five important parts of the person God has made you.
All of those parts can use attention from us as we follow Jesus. We will be looking at each one separately in the next few shows but today I want us to get an overview and consider the whole person.
Let’s look at a few definitions to get started.
 
Spiritual Life – The life lived in Jesus, in communion with God.
Basics – prayer, spiritual community, bible knowledge. Or three areas of spirituality – doctrine, affection (love) and experience.
 
Mental Life - Mental life includes emotional, psychological, and social aspects. It is how we think, feel, and act, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Includes education.
 
Physical Life – From conception to our last breathe we are physical beings. We don’t have control over much of our physical life but our choices do influence our health and ability. Exercise and diet are key.
 
Relational Life - Humans are interconnected. The family and community play an important role in our lives. Humans are meant to connect with others on a personal and emotional level and strong, fulfilling relationships help people build and maintain emotional health. We need people. Mentors, coworkers, friends.
 
Emotional Life - There are many types of emotional skills (aka emotional intelligence). These skills: like emotion regulation, gratitude, empathy, and kindness — help you relate better to others and yourself. Feelings don’t lead us but they do impact us greatly.
 
Thanks for joining me today. If you have thoughts or questions about your spiritual life, write me at norman@runwithhorses.net I would love to hear from you. Our lives are complicated with all five of these areas interacting in many ways. The good thing to remember is that God is using all of them in the process of sanctification, preparing us for the day we meet Him face to face.
Until that great day, keep running!
 

Is the Christian LIfe a Marathon or a Sprint? -EP.253

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcastWhy do we struggle so much to consistently live the Christian life? It seems to be either a constant struggle or a sporadic sprint with long periods of stagnancy in between. Is this all there is? That is the question we address today.Welcome to Run with Horses. My name in Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. None of us live life perfectly, but if Jesus is at the center of our relationships, we definitely live life better. I don't think life has to be a drudgery or a mad dash. God is the God of patience and joy. If we delight in Him the slow times are sweeter and the periods of busyness are under His control. The question is, How do we live out a life that is devoted to Him and still move forward with day to day responsibilities to our family and community.Three challenges we face.1. Slow progress - we get discouraged when we don't see progress as quickly as we had hoped. Lasting change often takes time.Impatience can cause us to try to ourun God'd work in our lives.2.Life changes constantly - our situation is always shifting, forcing us to figure out new ways to fit in the needs of the day. Spiritual concerns are often moved aside for what feels more urgent right now.Example: move to USA to care for Grandma3. We often do have other pressing priorities - most of us do have things that are important that require our time and energy. It can be difficult to navigate a life that can feel overwhelming.
Finances, health concerns, relationships all give us headaches.4. Some face opposition from their family and friends - if those around you don't share your priorities, you may be criticized for your choices.So what do we do? How do you handle the challenges of life?
Keep the focus on growing. Your spiritual journey will take a lifetime. Commit to the long haul and do what it takes to bear fruit. Spiritual fruit will take you through any trouble.Fruit of the SpiritGalatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
 
1. Don’t worry about going slow. Keep putting consistent effort into your spiritual life and you will see progress over time.
 
2. Learn to embrace the challenge that changes bring. You have more opportunities to grow though challenge than you do through the smooth times. Look for the lesson.Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
 
3. Don’t forget your WHY. You will always have tests that force you to consider what is really important. Remember that the struggle is worth it. Jesus is working to make you like Him. The struggle is the way that He grows you. In the midst of the the trial, you have the opportunity to join His church in carrying out an eternal work. Keep an eternal perspective.
 
4. Remember that you are never alone. Even when the people around you don’t understand why you choose Jesus. He is always with you and will walk with you through your darkest night.
 
Thanks for joining me today. Let me know how you are doing at staying focused and motivated to keep on keeping on when it is difficult. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net with your story. It may not be easy but following Jesus has eternal value. Keep running!
 

What is My part in Building a Church Community? -Ep.252

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Take responsibility for your community.
1. Know your Purpose.
Build your community by keeping your purpose in mind and reminding yourself of how your contribution matters.
As a leader, provide people with vision and line of sight so they are crystal clear about the broader purpose of the organization and how their work fits into the whole.
2. Help others know that they Belong.
Plato said, “The part cannot be well unless the whole is well.” Communities take care of their members and vice versa. Stay in touch with people. Invest time and energy in maintaining your relationships.
As a leader, Have frequent meetings with your team so you can coordinate tasks and ensure people are making meaningful connections. Encourage relational ties.
3. Face Challenges well.
Strong communities adapt and become stronger as they cope together. Embrace conflict and diversity—working through differences of opinion and making space for civil discourse and the learning that occurs from appreciating multiple points of view.
As a leader, support people if they try something new and fail. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. If you’re not seeing some mistakes or missteps, your team may not be reaching high enough.
*Reference
Tracy Brower, PhDhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2020/10/25/how-to-build-community-and-why-it-matters-so-much/?sh=57cd6675751b
How to build community in your church.
1. Cultivate and support small groups.
The key is to build a time of prayer, a devotion and fellowship into each meeting.
2. Train small group leaders to do the work of pastoral ministry.
No pastor, no matter how caring, can provide personal attention to more than a dozen or so people at a time.
3. Be willing to give up expediency. Take time.
If we want to build authentic community, sometimes the labor-intensive choice is the best choice.
4. Preach and teach regularly on the importance of caring.
Caring means reaching out to new people in meaningful ways, like sharing a meal with them or inviting them on an activity.
5. Set a good example.
Be the first to show up at events and the last to leave. It takes time to build community.
It takes hard work, vigilance and a commitment to training laypeople to do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16)
*Reference
Lisa Price
https://influencemagazine.com/Practice/Five-Ways-to-Build-Community-in-Your-Church

Why is the Church Community so Important? - Ep.251

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Welcome to Run With Horses, My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. It is difficult enough to go through this life without attempting it on your own. We were created to live in community with others. It may not always be pretty and sometimes it gets downright ugly. But God created us to live in fellowship with Him at the center. And it is beautiful when the bride of Christ is in harmony.
 
We talk a lot about communities. But often, we struggle to live in them.
 
What is Community?
“A community is a social unit wherein its members share a common network. Common networks that unite communities include networks of values, interests, goals, and kinship.
It is common to classify communities into the following categories:
Communities of place
Communities of interest
Identity-based communities
Communities of need
Communities of practice”
*Reference
Chris Drew - https://helpfulprofessor.com/types-of-communities/
 
Why is Community Important?
1. Support and safety -fight feelings of hopelessness, supporting others also gives us a boost.
2. Connection and belonging - feeling we are part of something bigger can help give meaning to our lives
3. Influence - stop us from falling into unhealthy habits or thoughts
4. Sharing - Sharing activities, ideas and feelings reinforces not only our sense of self, but also adds worth and value to the community
5. Learning - can help us reach insights that we may not have reached on our own
6. Acceptance - acceptance doesn’t necessarily imply agreement
7. More connections, more chances of success
*Reference
https://www.happiness.com/magazine/relationships/the-importance-of-community/#:~:text=Finding%20others%20with%20the%20same,with%20negative%20experiences%20and%20feelings.
 
Why we need the Church community
Reason #1: It meets our basic need for belonging
Reason #2: A strong church community is a place for discipleship
Reason #3: We are held accountable
Reason #4: We need to be fed a diet that will allow us to mature in our relationship with the LORD
Reason #5: We are commanded by God to be part of a strong church community
*From the Faith Island Blog
https://faithisland.org/faith/5-reasons-you-need-a-strong-church-community/
 
Thanks for joining me today! If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact me on the Run With Horses FB page or write me at norman@runwithhorses.net . How is your church community doing at keeping Jesus at the center?
The struggle is real but keep running.. .
 

What is “the ministry” of Eph. 4? - Ep. 250

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Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. Following Jesus means serving others and Ephesians Chapter 4 gives us some imporant insight into what that means and why it is so important.
 
Eph. 4:11
 
First, who is doing the work of the ministry?
Answer – The Saints – Christians!
Pastors and teachers are equipping the believers for ministry.
 
Second, What is the purpose of ministry according to Eph. 4?
Answer – Edifying the body of Christ
Edify – Defined as: a: BUILD; b: ESTABLISH
Ministry is helping the church grow to maturity and unity.
There is an expectation of growth for the follower of Jesus.
Jesus really values unity in His family!
1 Cor. 1:10
John 17:20
Eph. 4:1
 
A Royal Priesthood
1 Peter 2:9
“In sum, the priests played the significant role of standing guard in God’s house, making sacrifices for God’s people, and instructing the people so that they could enjoy God’s blessings.” David S. Schrock. https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-priesthood-in-the-bible/
Third, How do we edify each other?
Live out the one anothers.
Serve
Galatians 5:13
Teach
Col. 3:16
 
Bear Burdens/ Care for
Galatians 6:2
Fourth, Ministry outside the church.
Gospel
Paul – Gospel ministry to Gentiles
Romans 15:15
 

A Few More Questions about the Church – Ep. 249

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Today we look at a few more questions that people sometimes have about the church. I am sure we aren’t going to cover every question you have so write norman@runwithhorses.net if you have a question!
 
Welcome to Run With Horses. My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. Life is often a crazy mess but in the middle of the chaos, Jesus offers to meet us with peace that isn’t tied to our circumstances. How great to know that there is more, and better, in store for us in the future!
 
All of us have questions at times. I have more than my share, believe me! The church is one of those groups of people who have drawn a lot of attention through the years, and rightly so. Often for good reasons, and just as often for bad ones. Either way the church has been a big part of history.
I am not a historian and tend to look more at today than the past. Preparing for tomorrow always seems like a better use of my time than complaining about the past. If you are looking for a deep dive into church history, you are in the wrong place, at least for today. If you are thinking about the church and your place in it, maybe, just maybe, you are in the right place.
 
Who is the church for, just Christians?Church membership is limited to those who have placed their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Attendance is open to all in most churches for most meetings.Is church attendance required if I am a Christian?The answer is No! We have freedom in Christ and there are few requirements for Christians, we are not under the law. However, while no one will hunt you down for not attending church, Jesus is building His church and does want you to be part of it. We are told not to avoid getting together but to use our gifts to build up His church.Are politics important in church life?
They should not be! Politics only are of value in the here and now. If we really believe that we should be working for eternity, politics have a very minor place. Not to say completely irrelevant, just minor.
Should I go back if I have been hurt by church?
Yes, but . . .
Why is it so hard to find a healthy church?
Good question!
Real answer. Sin.
Teaches Bible, Promotes loving relationships, is focused on being and making disciples, The Gospel is celebrated, etc

What is the purpose of the church? - Ep. 248

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcastToday we are answering a few commonly asked questions about the church.Welcome to Run with Horses. My name in Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a follower of Jesus. None of us live life perfectly, but if Jesus is at the center of our relationships, we definitely live life better.One thing that is certain in life is that changes are coming! We have had a few changes this week that will cause a few other changes! Susan's mom fell!What is the purpose of the church?evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship and communityWhat is the churches mission?What specific objective is the church devoted to accomplishing through those purposes? In other words, what is the church trying to do through evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship and community? Fulfill the Great Commission Matt 28:18-20 - Ministry of Reconciliation, Ambassadors for Christ

What’s Wrong With The Church? -Ep.247 -Run With Horses Podcast

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWH_podcastIt has been said that christianity can be summed up in one word – relationships. Today we look at the relationships that make up the church.
 
Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you Thrive as a disciple of Jesus. You have a lot of choices to make every day. Thanks for including me in your journey of following Jesus.
 
Recently I have been thinking about the church and particularly the relationships that make it up. Regularly I have seen news and info about church relationships that are broken on an almost weekly basis. From pastors and leaders in the church to ,members who are behaving badly, we seem to be struggling to get along and to act like Jesus with each other.
 
It is really a matter of spiritual growth and maturity at it’s core. Our sin nature aggressively drives us from God and unfortunately wins many of the daily battles. The result is that the church, instead of being the beautiful bride of Christ, is a soiled mess that looks almost identical to the world. The world expects the church to be different and is either surprised and disappointed or overjoyed when it is not.
 
Our relationships don’t look like God intends for them to look. And the problem begins with the primary relationship that we have, our relationship with God Himself.
 
Our relationship with God is possible because of the blood of Jesus, applied to our lives, removing our sin, providing us with the righteousness of Jesus Himself. The result of receiving such an underserved gift should be a heart overflowing with Thanksgiving. That thankful heart lifts up the name of Jesus and praises the God from whom all blessings flow. Worship is a natural outflow of the Thankful heart. A heart turned to God glorifies Him through heartfelt obedience and pursuit of holiness. We long to be like Him when we see Him as He is!
 
This heart, in tune with God, pursuing His righteousness and holiness, is filled with a peace and joy that cannot be explained outside of the work of Jesus. It is incredibly calming to know that God is in control. To know Him is to know His love, His grace, as well as His patience and long-suffering. A true relationship with God requires for us to KNOW Him, not just know ABOUT Him.
 
Paul challenges Timothy to pursue godliness and righteousness. We are invited to pursue God in all His glory. He invites us into His presence.
 
A genuine relationship with God changes us in many ways but one of the most important is the way in which it changes our relationship with other people. Our relationship with the church, like our relationship with God Himself, is only healthy or even possible in Christ.
 
The church is a special group of people who are united by a special bond through the power of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately this bond doesn’t prevent us from sinning against each other time and time again!
 
A relationship that should be marked by a deep and abiding love, is severely tested by our selfishness and focus on our own desires. The world looks at the church expecting to see a kindness and grace that is missing in their own lives but instead see a mess that looks a lot like the one they are in. Why is it this way? In part, many in the church struggle to really know God personally. While weekly sermons give information in abundance, a genuine relationship with the True and Living God is more difficult to find. So we struggle.
 
And we take that struggle to the world. Our relationship with the world, rather than being marked by grace and loving truth, is always tainted by our own sin and make more difficult because we struggle to see God as He is and see His hand at work in the world. And we really struggle to BE His hands at work in the world. Rather than bringing grace and truth to the world and seeing Him change people into His image, we go into the world and take on the characteristics of the world rather than our Savior.
 
How do we change that?
1. Release control of your life to God. He bought you with a price! What does it mean to live His life? If you aren’t wrestling with that question, you might not be living the life God intends. It’s not easy though. God isn’t making cookies so there is no cookie cutter approach to following Jesus. My guess is Peter and Matthew were vastly different in their personalities, gifts and ministry. You and I will be different too.
 
2. Pursue Jesus. Really seek to get to know Him. This is the path to righteousness, godliness and holiness. To really KNOW Jesus. Not just about Him. Are you wrestling with how to know Him better? You should be, it is one of life’s greatest joys and journeys!
 
3. The humility of Jesus asks us to consider others better than ourselves. We are asked to submit to one another. Are you wrestling with how to do that in your home, in your church, and in your community? You should be. It does not come naturally for sinful hearts.
 
I will stop at these three for today. They are all huge if you take them seriously and really attempt to live them out. Jesus didn’t call us to an easy life. He called us to a meaningful one. You choose every day how you will live. Choose real value that lasts. Choose to follow Jesus and learn from Him. Choose to help His family be what it can be.
 
Thanks for joining me today. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net with your questions or comments or just to say hi. I would love to hear from you. My prayer is that you reflect the glory of God into the world around you every day. The journey is worth the effort, keep running!