God Not Only Loves Me As I

When Absolute Control And Rigid Obedience Pose As Love Within The Family And The Local Faith-community , We Produce Trained Cowards Rather Than Christian Persons.

Charles De Foucauld, The Found Of The Little Brothers Of Jesus, Wrote A Single Sentence That's Ahad A Profound Impact On My Life. He Said, "the One Thing We Owe Absolutely To God Is Never To Be Afraid Of Anything." Never To Be Afraid Of Anything, Even Death, Which, After All, Is But That Final Breakthrough Into The Open, Waiting, Outstretched Arms Of Abba.

I Want Neither A Terrorist Spirituality That Keeps Me In A Perpetual State Of Fright About Being In Right Relationship With My Heavenly Father Nor A Sappy Spirituality That Portrays God As Such A Benign Teddy Bear That There Is No Aberrant Behavior Or Desire Of Mine That He Will Not Condone. I Want A Relationship With The Abba Of Jesus, Who Is Infinitely Compassionate With My Brokenness And At The Same Time An Awesome, Incomprehensible, And Unwieldy Mystery.

The First Step In Faith Is To Stop Thinking About God At The Time Of Prayer.-

Choose A Single, Sacred Word Or Phrase That Captures Something Of The Flavor Of Your Intimate Relationship With God. A Word Such As Jesus, Abba, Peace, God Or A Phrase Such As "abba, I Belong To You." . . . Without Moving Your Lips, Repeat The Sacred Word Inwardly, Slowly, And Often.