Comments on: Diseases and Cures of the Human Soul http://sojourncampuschurch.net/pastors-thoughts/diseases-and-cures-of-the-human-soul/ A Campus Church serving at the University of Minnesota Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:49:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Craig http://sojourncampuschurch.net/pastors-thoughts/diseases-and-cures-of-the-human-soul/#comment-70 Craig Fri, 30 May 2008 18:23:30 +0000 http://sojourncampuschurch.net/pastors-thoughts/diseases-and-cures-of-the-human-soul/#comment-70 Hey Sara, This is so great! God is moving you into his grace, and it is fun to watch. The theme is grace-filled obediance. We are on God's track for our lives. Craig Hey Sara,

This is so great! God is moving you into his grace, and it is fun to watch. The theme is grace-filled obediance. We are on God’s track for our lives.

Craig

]]> By: skpeterson http://sojourncampuschurch.net/pastors-thoughts/diseases-and-cures-of-the-human-soul/#comment-69 skpeterson Sun, 25 May 2008 21:45:28 +0000 http://sojourncampuschurch.net/pastors-thoughts/diseases-and-cures-of-the-human-soul/#comment-69 First of all, i SO appreciate belonging to a community of believers where i can be honest and open about my struggles and desires and feel that others are right there with me pursuing the same goal... So, about the article: I can definitely relate to the spiritual diseases - i've experienced all of the mentioned maladies at various points in my walk with God - a few of them over and over again! Especially perfectionism, emotionalism, pride, inferiority, which leads to discouragement, which eventually leads to apathy, until i repeat the same cycle. But the pattern is being broken! Things are CHANGING! GRACE is getting through to me and in me and all over me! It's funny though, right now I'm actually in that "dry season" that the article spoke about. Although i'm not "feeling" God's presense, I know He is doing things in my life and changing my character in significant ways. I see the evidence of His presence in my life despite the lack of intimate feelings. For exaple, my perfectionistic and prideful ways of thinking are being exposed and altered and renewed by the Word. I'm also mortifying the flesh more - and that is totally ALL God's doing! The part about inferiority really struch me. I'v been riddled with the disease of inferiority, comparison, lack of self-acceptance, and envy of others for pretty much my whole life. Since i committed my life to Christ, this really shows up in the area of spiritual maturity. I often envy other people's relationship with God and berate myself for not being more spiritually mature. I could never accept where i was at in my own journey - but PRAISE GOD - He is helping me to accept myself "in process"! I'm not complacent in my walk with God, but i'm not beating myself up anymore for not being "10 years older". I'm right where i need to be for the "sprititual age" i am, and God is the One who is maturing me by His grace. I'm on His timetable as i cooperate with Him. so, yeah, that's been a big shift for me. I liked the part that says, "hope is the crucial fuel for the spiritual life" - that's certainly been true for me. i feel so hopeful right now, not just for me, but for all my sisters and brothers in Christ. God wants to transform us by His Grace - let's take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of us! Lastly, i was particularly challenged by this morning's sermon to listen to my soul; to quiet myself in order to give God the room to speak to my heart and minister to me. this takes discipline, which is another area that is coming along by His GRACE - not the 'ol human effort junk. i'm much more relaxed, yet, i'm definitely mortifying the flesh more than ever lately. It's so cool - the more i let go and think about Christ, the more God is changing me. It's not an emotional thing, but it is very substantial. (I used to think that things had to be emotional for them to be substantial in God.) The bottom line is this - God is doing the work and i'm humbled, grateful, and amazed...actually down right shocked...at how He's been moving in my life. He is incredible and beautiful and majestic and all powerful - and He is my portion forever - and yours. hope you are encouraged today - God is at work in you too! Love in Jesus, Sara First of all, i SO appreciate belonging to a community of believers where i can be honest and open about my struggles and desires and feel that others are right there with me pursuing the same goal…

So, about the article: I can definitely relate to the spiritual diseases - i’ve experienced all of the mentioned maladies at various points in my walk with God - a few of them over and over again! Especially perfectionism, emotionalism, pride, inferiority, which leads to discouragement, which eventually leads to apathy, until i repeat the same cycle. But the pattern is being broken! Things are CHANGING! GRACE is getting through to me and in me and all over me! It’s funny though, right now I’m actually in that “dry season” that the article spoke about. Although i’m not “feeling” God’s presense, I know He is doing things in my life and changing my character in significant ways. I see the evidence of His presence in my life despite the lack of intimate feelings. For exaple, my perfectionistic and prideful ways of thinking are being exposed and altered and renewed by the Word. I’m also mortifying the flesh more - and that is totally ALL God’s doing!

The part about inferiority really struch me. I’v been riddled with the disease of inferiority, comparison, lack of self-acceptance, and envy of others for pretty much my whole life. Since i committed my life to Christ, this really shows up in the area of spiritual maturity. I often envy other people’s relationship with God and berate myself for not being more spiritually mature. I could never accept where i was at in my own journey - but PRAISE GOD - He is helping me to accept myself “in process”! I’m not complacent in my walk with God, but i’m not beating myself up anymore for not being “10 years older”. I’m right where i need to be for the “sprititual age” i am, and God is the One who is maturing me by His grace. I’m on His timetable as i cooperate with Him. so, yeah, that’s been a big shift for me.

I liked the part that says, “hope is the crucial fuel for the spiritual life” - that’s certainly been true for me. i feel so hopeful right now, not just for me, but for all my sisters and brothers in Christ. God wants to transform us by His Grace - let’s take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of us!

Lastly, i was particularly challenged by this morning’s sermon to listen to my soul; to quiet myself in order to give God the room to speak to my heart and minister to me. this takes discipline, which is another area that is coming along by His GRACE - not the ‘ol human effort junk. i’m much more relaxed, yet, i’m definitely mortifying the flesh more than ever lately. It’s so cool - the more i let go and think about Christ, the more God is changing me. It’s not an emotional thing, but it is very substantial. (I used to think that things had to be emotional for them to be substantial in God.)

The bottom line is this - God is doing the work and i’m humbled, grateful, and amazed…actually down right shocked…at how He’s been moving in my life. He is incredible and beautiful and majestic and all powerful - and He is my portion forever - and yours. hope you are encouraged today - God is at work in you too!

Love in Jesus,
Sara

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