Light shone through the panel, highlighting the x-rays and problems of my lower back.

You see, sporting flip flops while jumping to worship songs (and the Hokey Pokey), alongside 1500 students, proved harmful to my adult body. And a friendly competition on the conference stage with other youth directors when I out jumped them all? It only added to the problem.

So, three days later, my back went out. I needed help just to walk.

Thus, I required complete dependence on my family.

Yet, I waited until the second episode to see an orthopedic doctor. And he showed me an anatomy model of the sacroiliac joint along with my x-rays.

My injury tore away cartilage from these joints that connect the spine to each side of the pelvis.

The space between bones of the joint narrow or rub against each other…arthritis.

That was nine years ago. Today, I still deal with the back issue and a few more joints where arthritis set up residence in other areas of my body.

Types of arthritis affect all ages, even children. Though the condition is more common in aging people. It not only causes pain, but may also be debilitating through swelling, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and permanent damage. Treatments include activities to strengthen surrounding muscles, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines, and hot-cold therapy. (arthritis.org)

But, another form of the condition exists—spiritual arthritis.

Arthritis keeps joints in the body from functioning properly, as intended and designed by the Creator. And spiritual arthritis fails to function properly in the body of Christ. @FridayKaren #blog #spiritual
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Spiritual Arthritis

The Apostle Paul describes the body of Christ in Ephesians 4.

First, in verse 1, Paul urges believers to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling.” Then he describes how to equip the body to function properly.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

(Verses 11-16, ESV, emphasis mine)

Take the Test

Reflect on these questions to determine spiritual arthritis. While there’s no score to calculate, let the Lord shine His light on these areas, highlighting any problem areas.

1.) Am I walking in a manner worthy of my calling with humility, patience, and bearing others in love? (Verses 1-2)

2.) Am I eager to maintain unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace within the body? (Verse 3)

3.) Do I let Christian leaders equip me for ministry and then help build up the body? (Verse 12)

4.) Does every wind of doctrine carry me or am I maturing in Christ? (Verses 13-14)

5.) Is Christ the “head” as I grow up in every way into Him? (Verse 15)

6.) Is my part of the body of Christ functioning properly, making the body grow, building it up in love? (Verse 16)

See The Cure

Although there’s no known cure for arthritis, the spiritual kind has a cure. Follow this antidote:

• Practice complete dependence on God and His Word for help in walking worthy.
• Connect and unify with other believers of the faith in a local church.
• Gain strengthening and equipping through pastors and teachers.
• Grow continuously and consistently toward maturity in Christ as the head.
• Increase range of motion through laboring in ministry, building up others in the body, speaking the truth in love, and exercising spiritual gifts.

What areas resonate most with you?

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LINKUP is open. Join my friend @FridayKaren as we discuss the symptoms of #spiritual arthritis and how it keeps the body of Christ from functioning properly. Take the #test and discover the cure. Share your blog! #blog
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The post A Test and Cure for Spiritual Arthritis {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

About three years ago, God put in my heart the desire to put together a conference.

A day in which a group of Jesus’ girls could get together and share their stories.
A day of digging a little deeper… loving a little wider.

A toolbox-kind of day.

Here’s the idea behind the SHE SOARS CONFERENCE:

We go to church, listen to our pastors and Sunday School teachers. We listen to our favorite preachers on the radio, read our Bibles and our favorite blogs throughout the week.

But when life happens….

And you lose your job…

Or your marriage is falling apart…

When you are told you have cancer… or someone you love is affected by this dreadful disease…

When you exhaust your finances and the job is still to come…

Or your children, who were raised to love Jesus, turn away from the church… from Him…and even from you…

When your loved one dies… after a long battle… or all of a sudden.

When these and other circumstances happen to the believer, we are often left with an empty place in our hearts, anxiety, depression… and the question that lingers:

How do I keep on soaring with Jesus through it all?

God has put together an amazing group of teachers for the first SHE SOARS CONFERENCE.

They have walked through the valleys of cancer, loneliness, financial crisis, unemployment, infertility and chronicle illnesses.

They have suffered. They have known anxiety… and fear… and doubt.

Some of them are still walking through those valleys.

But GOD.

They realized He never meant any of these trials for their harm… Rather, they understand that He designed each one of the trials to shape them into the women He designed them to be.

In the process, He filled their toolboxes with just the right trinkets and spiritual tools to keep them encouraged… and encouraging others through it all!

And so they learned to laugh and be joyful. In. Spite. Of.

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These women don’t fly. Because flying is what birds do on their own strength. They SOAR.
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Because they have learned to press on to the place where JESUS becomes the wind beneath their wings.

And they choose to trust wherever He leads them.

Day.by.day… Step.by.step…

In the light… and in the darkness of their circumstances.

And they want to share their stories with you.

Meet Alison Everill, Lisa Ryan, Stephanie Wilkins,  Sandra Onal and Yvonne Conte.

Beautiful Eagles for Christ.

I call them friends.

And warriors.

And I invite you to meet them as well.

Join us at our upcoming conference on April 30^th at Kennesaw First Baptist Church.

We plan to spend the day encouraging you… and giving you practical tools to help you Soar above Life’s circumstances with Jesus.

I can’t wait to see you!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION

PS: Don’t delay! Early bird registration ends March 15th!

Click here to Register!

In His matchless love,

The post Come Soar with Me! {An Invitation} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.