Conference Notes: GraceStory 2021
Session Notes
Grace Story Conference 2021
November 5-6, 2021 |
Cincinnati, Ohio
Spiritual Reframing
Sarah Fry, MAPM,
AACC Mental Health Coach
Why is it sometimes hard to really rest in and “feel” God’s love and acceptance?
God’s best work is done in the deepest parts of us. He fills up all the spaces that He has access to. But sometimes we aren’t aware of how tightly packed and protected our hearts are. As we do the slow and patient work of making sense of our stories, it is like excavating our hearts in a way that opens us up for more of Him and his Living Water.
PODCAST: The Place We Find Ourselves with Adam Young Counseling
BOOK: Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson, M.D.
PODCAST: GraceStory Podcast
1. Programming
Brain pathways: The more we do an action or have a thought pattern, the more efficient that connection becomes.
BOOK: Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Voices of Value: The voices we have heard become the voices in our heads.
BOOK: Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
Trauma: Trauma and abuse rewire the brain and program our whole view of the world, people, love, trust & God.
BOOK: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk, M.D.
Attachment: How were your emotional needs responded to as a very young child?
· If you have secure attachment from childhood, it may not be difficult for you to believe that God loves you.
· If your emotional needs were sometimes met in childhood, but often not, and in painful ways (anxious attachment), you may love God but also have trouble trusting HIm. Or you may feel almost desperate for His acceptance, but also not sure at all.
· If your emotional needs were not sensed or met as a child (avoidant attachment), you may have walled off the deepest parts of your heart, making them almost inaccessible.
BOOK: Why You do the Things You Do by Tim Clinton and Gary Sibcy
Love Languages: God speaks to us in different languages.
BOOK: God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman
2. Concept of God
Theology: What kind of God were you given?
Spiritual Abuse: Motivating with fear
The unpardonable sin
A focus on “getting it” (instead of “knowing HIM”)
Neglect of a rich nurturing of the inner life
Focus on obeying all the rules (especially our favorite ones.)
Neglect teaching and training the patience of developing a deep love for the richness and power of God’s Word.
A robust theology of perfection, with a tragic lack of grace.
Spiritual Abuse wires the brain
Altar work can become altar TRAUMA when the goal is quick, visible results.
It’s not about a trip to the altar, but a life of discipleship.
Definition of sin
High-handed sin
“Hell is not for the weak who are trying,
but for the strong who don’t care.”
– D.Fry
Grace is a hammock
BOOK: Don’t Forget to Remember by Ellie Holcomb (This picture book is jam-packed with Truth and Beauty and Comfort.)
Live with open hands
BOOK: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
“Here I am, Lord All devoted to You.
Make me according to your heart.” - Bro Lawrence
3. Battle
We are at war, but we wrestle not against flesh and blood…
The enemy doesn’t care if he has your heart-trust. As long as God doesn’t get it.
The last thing the enemy wants is for us to rest in the love and acceptance of God.
This is the battlegrounds: to make us doubt that He is FOR US & ENOUGH FOR us. That we trust Him with our hearts and rest in His delight. He convinced Eve she couldn’t trust God. He even tried it on Jesus!
How did Jesus fight? With the Word!
“ For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
4. We are busy
Seeking unhurried rhythms of grace.
BOOK: Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
BOOK: Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons
To reframe God’s love for us, we need to reframe our time with Him.
BOOK: Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland Jr.
Devotions aren’t for God – they’re for YOU!
Quiet time is a gift to yourself; Do something you love
There is a whole menu of options – you don’t have to choose them all in the same meal.
We must slow down and take the time to tend to our souls.
BOOK: Margin by Richard A. Swenson, M.D.
BOOK: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
A MENU OF DELIGHTS
(Don’t forget - there aren’t any rules about this. Any time you spend time with Jesus and the Word - IT COUNTS! )
Figure out what you love.
Note: Please understand that the recommendation of a resource here does NOT indicate that I agree and endorse everything you may find connected with that resource. As your soul grows, you will be able to take what fits you and simply leave what does not. You don’t have to get your bloomers in a bunch if you read a book or listen to a podcast that says something with which you disagree. Spiritual growth develops the ability to filter and sort with quiet grace.
THE WORD
Reading goal or plan (Use any plan! Just work the plan. Discipline pays off)
One Year Bible (many versions available)
Inductive Bible Study (so awesome with friends)
Topical Bible Study (study your struggle!)
Beautiful Bible Study (beauty motivates me)
Group Bible Study (start one!)
Scripture set to music (also helps memorize)
Think Up App (Skip the recommended affirmations, record yourself reading Scripture and listen as you go.)
Scripture cards to carry with you (Also inexpensive options on etsy.com and amazon)
Memorization (keeping your sword close!)
Visual Scripture (on your mirror, wall, fridge)
PRAYER
Days of the Week (each day/different topic)
Pray & Walk (helps keep you focused)
Change positions or locations
Sing your prayer (hymns/worship)
Prayer Journaling (talk to God by writing)
Prayer Apps (this helps me when I have insomnia)
Contemplative/Centering (Silent) Prayer
5-finger prayer (each finger represents topic)
Book of prayers (pray them aloud or silently)
Prayer List (paper/journal/app)
Breath Prayer (short prayers as you breathe)
Drive, Prayer & Coffee (do what you love!)
COMBOS
Praying Scripture (check out Amazon for books)
Good books with lots of scripture
Spiritual practices in nature (my favorite)
Daily Office/Praying the hours (stop several times a day to focus on prayer & scripture)
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES
Breath Prayer (Breathing in peace. Breathing out strength.)
Lectio Divina (what sparkles in the passage?)
Centering/Contemplative Prayer (simply sitting with Jesus with no words)
VIDEO: Thomas Keating instruction & practice of Centering prayer
Silence & Solitude (A life-changing practice)
BOOK: Invitation to Solitude & Silence: Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence
Spiritual Retreat Center: The Springs Indiana
BOOK: Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God by Ruth Haley Barton
OTHER
Nature
Music/Worship
Water
APPS
Pause App (John Eldredge)
Think Up (Skip their recommended “affirmations” and record your own voice reading your favorite scriptures and truths!)
Contemplative at Home (This is actually a podcast, but I put a shortcut on my phone with my devotional apps and treat it like an app.)
SUPPORT & COMMUNITY
Mentoring
Pastoral Counseling
Personal Coaching
Fellowship of believers (Go to church and get plugged in!!)
At least one very safe friend
RULE OF LIFE (Rhythms of Grace)
Break out of your old thinking & develop a rhythm of walking with Jesus in an unhurried way.
RESOURCE: https://practicingtheway.org/practices/unhurry (download a free Rule of Life Workbook)
WEBSITE: Sacred Ordinary Days - Rule of Life
BOOK: Crafting a Rule of Life: An Invitation to the Well-Ordered Way by Stephen A. Macchia
Daily
Weekly
Every two weeks
Monthly
Every 3 months
Every Year
TRUTH FOR BATTLE
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with lovingkindness. I will build you up again, and you…will be rebuilt, says the Lord. You will take up your tambourines again and go out to dance with the joyful.”
Jeremiah 31:3-4
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
Instagram: Sarahmfry
Website: www.FlourishingFaith.net
Facebook: Sarah Wolf Fry
Email: sarahmfry@hotmail.com
Contact
sarahmfry@hotmail.com
(765) 242-8500
https://www.facebook.com/sarahmfry
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Board Certified Mental Health Coach (BCMHC)
AACC Board Certified Mental Health Coach - First Responder
International Board of Christian Care (IBCC)
BCC - Credentialed by the Center for Credentialing & Education
