First let me inform you that I accidentally found out that my website, angelstringsministry.com, was not properly linked to the actual site. If you had tried to get there before and it didn't work...It will now!! Steep learning curve for this old girl to manage a website, but I am learning all the time!! Please check the Store part of the website for helpful handouts and an Intro video on Spiritual Direction.

Next, I found the above image of an abandoned church recently and it really struck me as a metaphor for what has happened to many people's faith during the COVID era. It seems like people have disengaged with their churches (many not returning to worship when lockdowns have been lifted), and inadvertently many have also become distant in their relationship with Jesus even if they have had more time.

I believe that's because most people, including many church leaders, do not have the spiritual disciplines to support maintaining a strong relationship with Jesus when corporate worship is not central in their life. Many people have a sketchy prayer life outside of worship and don't really spend time reading scripture or being silent before God to really discern God's voice in their life. This includes clergy and church leaders who often are focused on studying the Word for preaching and worship, but not for maintaining an intimate relationship with Jesus.

I know that's where I was for many years...but in 2020, when I was pastoring a difficult congregation, it was in conversation with my own Spiritual Director that I determined to really commit to my relationship with Jesus as first and foremost in my life because I needed to find my way forward. And that meant committing to figuring out what spiritual disciplines would work best for me to nurture that relationship. That seems so obvious when I type it out...wouldn't any pastor do that? And yet, most of us really only dabble in the spiritual disciplines, even though we know from history such spiritual disciplines are the key to a life of faith that is attuned to God's will and leadership in the church. That commitment, and how it changed my faith, compelled me to become a Spiritual Director myself as I became closer to Jesus than I had ever been in 23 years of ministry.

So, here I am....now offering Spiritual Direction alongside my skill as a Certified Therapeutic Harp Practitioner (CTHP). My calling is to help others make the journey to finding their way back to a meaningful relationship with Jesus that guides them personally and professionally...that helps them sort out where their heart is and how to connect their heart with Jesus. I pray that I can accompany you on that journey, helping you to discover what works for you to nurture your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Remember, there is also a discount available to you for every person you refer that subscribes to the website!! Please email me the names of anyone you referred so I can make sure you get your discount code if they subscribe.

If you have received this newsletter, know that I pray for you regularly. May God bless you and guide you, and may your love of Christ be shaped by His love for you.

Grace and peace,

Julie Parsell