speaking strong truth

One of my favorite heroes of the faith and writers is Catholic priest Henri Nouwen.  I may not find common ground in all of what he taught or wrote, but Nouwen stepped in to places where few others dared go especially when it came to speaking God given potential in to the lives of the people he ministered to.  Nouwen’s letters overrun with the things we can help believe about God and himself.

Hebrews 10:24  NLT

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

I’ve chosen some quotes from the Henri Nouwen Soceity’s “Daily Meditation”.  These speak life, truth, courage and more to those who will spend time thinking over and applying what Nouwen shared.

--- Jesus shows us the way of being witnesses.  He was so full of God's love, so connected with God's will, so burning with zeal for God's Kingdom, that he couldn't do other than witness.  Aug 10 ’14 “Burning with Love”

--- The ups and downs of our spiritual lives depend on our obedience - that is, our attentive listening - to the movements of the Spirit of God within us.  Without this listening our spiritual life eventually becomes subject to the windswept waves of our emotions.  July 16 ’14 “The Dynamics of the Spiritual Life”

--- He came to open our ears to the voice that also says to us, "You are my beloved son, you are my beloved daughter, my favour rests on you ."  When we can hear that voice, trust in it, and always remember it, especially during dark times, we can live our lives as God's blessed children and find the strength to share that blessing with others. July 14 ’14 “Being Blessed”

--- When we think about Jesus we mostly think about his words and miracles, his passion, death, and resurrection, but we should never forget that before all of that Jesus lived a simple, hidden life in a small town, far away from all the great people, great cities, and great events.  Jesus' hidden life is very important for our own spiritual journeys.  If we want to follow Jesus by words and deeds in the service of his Kingdom, we must first of all strive to follow Jesus in his simple, unspectacular, and very ordinary hidden life.  Aug 12 ’14 “The Hidden Life of Jesus”

You can got find his books or search online for his letters, and you will see for yourself the depth of Henri Nouwen’s work.  You will be challenged.

Thursday I read notes from the Global Leadership Summit put on by Bill Hybels’ Willow Creek Church.  One quote stuck out to me that I’d like to ask us, especially as leaders, to think through.  It went something like this: “the best leaders work more on themselves than on your church (or business)”.

May God help us to lean in to Him so we can serve others in greater ways.

Psalm 40:16  NLT

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”