About Christian Spiritual Journeying
Conversations that Matter
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In our Christian spiritual life we are all on a journey towards, with, or perhaps away from God. We are somewhere on the road. Sometimes the journey is wonderful and sometimes difficult. Sometimes lonely.
How do you learn to live within His love, becoming fully alive in Him and responding to Him in love, joy and surrender?
As you journey through your Christian life it can often be helpful to have someone with whom you have Spiritual Conversations that matter. To have someone who is also on the path and who can listen to, and encourage the life-giving movement of the Holy Spirit in your life. Someone who is willing to sit with their own inadequacies, allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work in your life.
Spiritual Conversations that Matter provide a companion on your Christian journey as you seek to deepen your relationship with God. In these conversations we talk about what is real in your life, what is life-giving amidst the challenges you face.
Spiritual Conversations that Matter provide Christian spiritual direction. It is about being with you as you share your encounters with God, and how you are experiencing spiritual issues. You will be listened to, and you may be asked questions to assist you in the process of reflection and spiritual growth.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
-Proverbs 3:5-6
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk it.”
– Isaiah 30:21
You might be seeking a deeper insight into such things as:
- Who am I in my Christian identity?
- What is happening to me in this situation?
- Why is this happening?
- Where is God in this?
- What do I have to offer others?
- Why am I here – in this life/ in this circumstance?
- How can I engage more intimately with God?
- How can I engage more intimately with others?
- How can I love others better?
- How can I make sense of my Christian spiritual journey right now?
- What roles do faith, love and hope have in my life?
Spiritual Conversations that Matter provide the space to reflect and to share openly, honestly, bravely and deeply with another Christian journeyer, who will attempt to love, accept, care for, and challenge you. We offer to walk beside you, wait with you, not lag behind or run ahead of you. And we will be looking for the person who God sees when He looks at you.
God is relational. He wants to draw you close to Him for you to enjoy Him and so He can also enjoy relationship with you. He invites you into His circle of love; to find and live out His truths; to learn to lean on Him in faith and to find your true self and purpose for life. He longs to be your companion on your journey.
Christian Spiritual Conversations that Matter provide a time in which you focus on how God is being realised and released in your life. It is this focus that makes Christian spiritual direction different to counselling, psychotherapy, pastoral care, teaching, and friendship. Although there are times when spiritual conversations will look and feel similar to some of these other forms of encounter.
Christian Spiritual Conversations that Matter usually involve having a regular one hour meeting every four to eight weeks. During the session, or in between sessions, you may be encouraged to put words, diagrams and images onto paper. You may be encouraged to keep a journal for your personal times of reflection, and you may also be given exercises or questions to ponder in between sessions.
Christian Spiritual Conversations that Matter have the potential to become meaningful, powerful, soul-shaping conversations.
Conversations that Matter are offered by John
Sacred Conversations are offered by Susan
For further discussion and information about fees please contact either John or Susan.
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
-Matt 11:28
What are the Christian Foundations of Christian Spiritual Journeying?
We believe the tenets of the Christian faith as set out in such statements as the Nicene Creed, meanwhile respecting different church traditions.
In addition, we hold to the following Christian, philosophical, theological and spiritual concepts:
- The whole Bible is the inspired Word of God.
- Human beings are made in the image of God, which means we have the capacity to think, feel, and act as well as the desire to be known, explored, discovered and enjoyed. We are physical, relational and spiritual. We have the capacity to grow and to change.
- We are made for relationship and all have deep within us, both the longing and the capacity for a richly satisfying relationship with God, even if we don’t recognize such longing.
- The reality of sin means that individuals are damaged to varying degrees and live in communities that are also damaged to varying degrees.
- The gift of eternal life is relationship with God and is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
- Individuals can be influenced by their past and present circumstances, leading them to adopt attitudinal and behavioural positions that hinder their personal/spiritual growth and their relationships.
- Faith is God’s work within us, through the indwelling Holy Spirit who instructs and guides, comforts and heals, brings sin to light and enables healing – personally, relationally and spiritually.
- The wholistic nature of the person – body, soul and spirit – is taken into account, recognizing the person’s cognitions, emotions, behaviour, physical and spiritual state.
- Spiritual conversations are one way in which God can move in people’s lives.
- We attempt to bring God’s compassion, discernment and encouragement into these conversations, where we focus on creating a safe and trusting relationship.
- We focus on the spiritual journey of the person, and how the Holy Spirit is moving in their life.
- Knowing God more deeply is connected to knowing ourselves in relationship with Him, and knowing where we are in our journey home towards Him.
Who are John and Susan Paterson?
We are both members of the Australian Network of Spiritual Directors, receive supervision in Christian spiritual direction, and regularly attend retreat programs and training in spiritual direction, as we seek to deepen our own relationship with God.
Visit https://ansd.org.au/ for further information on spiritual direction in Australia.
To find out more about us, please Meet John or Meet Susan.
Christian Spiritual Journeying
A professional and confidential Christian spiritual direction practice around Lismore, offering spiritual direction to people in the Northern Rivers and right across Australia via online meetings.
