Posts by GEM Spiritual Life
Book Recommendation: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership
I’ve heard so many stories this year of transitions. Transitions to new types of ministry, new roles, new locations. It feels like the Covid years have been a salt shaker, shaking people up and around on the dinner plate of life. For me, part of that has been walking through a process of re-exploring my…
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Hearing and Responding
by Gabe Bernal And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot” – Acts 8:29 (ESV) I am reading through the book of Acts in my reading plan, and I’ve always found the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch interesting. Philip was just minding his own business when an Angel appears…
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The Word and the Spirit
by Lena Larsen Key Verse: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by…
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Meditation
Meditation is a long, ardent gaze at God, his work and his Word. Slowing down and giving one’s undivided attention to God lies at the core of Christian meditation.5 Christian meditation has traditionally been focused on the Scriptures of the Old and New testaments, read personally and Christocentrically.6 (Ps. 1, 4:4, 19, 63:6, 77:6, 12, 119:11, 15,…
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Sabbath
Sabbath is a rhythm of rest in which we lay down our work and our worries to delight in God and celebrate His love. Sabbath has as its purpose rest, restoration, and renewal as expressed in the commands for Sabbath, Sabbatical year, and Jubilee (which is more explicit toward restoration). It is an opportunity to let God be…
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Talbot Talks: Spiritual Formation with Dr. John Coe
Dr. John Coe of the Institute for Spiritual Formation (Biloa University) discusses the Christian definition of and approach to spiritual formation, including the importance of a well developed spiritual theology.
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Wrestling on the Promises
“For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love…” (Lamentations 3:31-32, ESV) Promises—they have the potential to do so much. They can give hope in times of waiting, bring sweet satisfaction when they are fulfilled, or bring heartbreak when…
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Individual Guided Retreats
An Individual Guided Retreat is a personal retreat you plan and take on your own with one added feature: you’ll meet with someone before (and possibly after) your retreat. The purpose of these meetings is to help you listen to God and discern His invitation to you for the day of retreat and for moving…
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Called to Unity
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3, ESV) I’ve had…
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