“A transformed person will embrace the transforming God!” (from Jeremiah 31:22 MSG)
Almost 10 years ago I (Clare) was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The doctor recommended ways to “manage my health.” There is no cure for MS through medicine, just management of symptoms. I really wasn’t interested in just managing, I wanted a way to open myself to God’s transforming power in my health. I had been living in classic Type A personality patterns; workaholism, sleep deprived, performance-oriented drivenness, just to name a few. Now I was given the medical communities only hope and that was “management.”
We’ve all learned to manage through the years. We manage time, manage conflict, manage emotions, manage business etc. Many of us have read books or attended seminars on how to manage such things. Some have even attended support groups because we just don’t “manage” things very well. As for Scott and I, we don’t even like the word manage… it feels like a slow death, an acquiescing/putting up with mediocre living. To somehow just “manage life” doesn’t work for us.
Now, how do these phrases hit you; anger transformation, conflict transformation, time transformation, emotional transformation, business transformation, health transformation? Those terms light us up! The idea of allowing God to transform us, rather that just managing all the time, comes when we make space for rhythms and spiritual practices that allow God the time and space to do what only God can do. We believe this scripture whole-heartedly: “A transformed person will embrace the transforming God!”
I (Scott) encouraged Clare to take the time to be with God in solitude, silence, prayer and retreats. The result has been amazing. When Scott gave me (Clare) support in just being with God, my health transformed! Since that time both of us have continued to learn how to be embraced by a transforming God. Take a look at your calendar and see where you and God can be together this week… let God move you out of that management mode into transformational living.
If you have been longing for something more, feel stuck, or desire practices and spaces that open you to fresh living… attend an Introductory Retreat this Saturday the 13th, from 5:30-9pm or next Friday the 19th from, 9:30am-1pm (register here) and experience time with our transforming God.
Leaving management behind,
To learn more about CR Transforming Retreats: