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wellness

Dealing with stress…

February 1, 2019January 30, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Have you ever dealt with stress? Wow, all of your hands just shot up at once! Dr. Tim Cantopher explains that the word “stress” is from the world of engineering. Think of a bridge. When it is bearing a load that is heavier than it is designed to carry, it is “under stress.” With that … Continue reading Dealing with stress…

Diet and God

January 25, 2019January 23, 2019 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Speaking to the young Timothy, Paul wrote that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things…” (1 Timothy 4:8). When people look at that verse they usually see Paul’s advice to take godliness and spiritual training seriously. And that’s good. But that isn’t ALL he says. He also says that … Continue reading Diet and God

Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples?

November 14, 2018November 13, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples? Of course not! If a tree is hollow it doesn’t have any of the strength it needs. Plus, it can’t draw water from the ground that is supposed to flow into the branches to help produce fruit. Well, you’re the tree. In John 15:16 Jesus says this to … Continue reading Can a hollow tree grow healthy apples?

For a healthier and better grounded you

October 10, 2018October 9, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about mental health. According to the Canadian Association of Mental Health, mental illness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths for 15-24 year olds. And by age 40, about fifty percent of people in my country will have or have had a … Continue reading For a healthier and better grounded you

Tirritated

May 22, 2018May 18, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Every once in a while people feel compelled to invent a new word. One of them is “Hangry.” Have you heard of it? It’s a combination of “hungry” and “angry.” As you may very well know from personal experience, when you’re hungry you’re not at your best—and sometimes angry. Hence, hangry! Lol So recently I … Continue reading Tirritated

Why doing nothing is doing something

May 19, 2018May 18, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Rest. It’s something many of us think is a good thing… but don’t do as much as we should. Even though it’s a command. Yup, God commands rest. In Exodus 20: 8-9 God says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day … Continue reading Why doing nothing is doing something

To make life richer…

March 9, 2018March 8, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / 1 Comment

At a recent small group gathering, a friend named David shared something he had seen on a fridge magnet: “To make life richer, make life simpler.” We all nodded in agreement. But HOW do you make life richer by making it simpler? Here’s a tip for those among us who resonate with this idea deep … Continue reading To make life richer…

An avalanche of gadgetry

January 18, 2018January 17, 2018 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Sometimes, habits that seem totally unrelated to your “spirituality” are totally spiritual. Let me tell you what I mean. We live in a time of increased gadgetry. You might even say that we live amidst an avalanche of gadgetry. For example, smart phones have become ever-present. And they can do everything except fold the laundry! … Continue reading An avalanche of gadgetry

Help for the relaxation impaired

December 29, 2017December 28, 2017 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

I have a confession to make. I’m not very good at relaxing. What I mean is that it takes some work to calm my mind. When I’m supposed to be mellow in a semi-trance of blissfulness with my uber-cool sunglasses, my brain easily wanders back to my gargantuan to-do list. Can you relate? If not, … Continue reading Help for the relaxation impaired

In the shadow of a stingy God?

December 12, 2017December 11, 2017 / MatthewRuttan / Leave a comment

Theologian Kosuke Koyama once said in a speech that “every Christian must decide whether we serve a stingy God or a generous God.” I wasn’t in the audience when he said that. But my guess is that he was talking about how our understanding of God impacts how we treat other people. If we think … Continue reading In the shadow of a stingy God?

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Hi everyone! This is just a reminder that Up! is now on snooze until April 22nd. I know, I know - it's a long time away, right? But after 3 years of writing daily devotionals I'm taking a much-needed rest. But you can always but the book on Amazon, or peruse back issues at www.TheUpDevo.com. Peace be with you! -Matthew
Dealing with stress... The "Up!" Devo for February 1 Have you ever dealt with stress? Wow, all of your hands just shot up at once! Dr. Tim Cantopher explains that the word “stress” is from the world of engineering. Think of a bridge. When it is bearing a load that is heavier than it is designed to carry, it is “under stress.” With that in mind, here is how he defines stress: “Stress is experienced when a person is pulled or pushed in a direction that they would not normally take, or at a pace at which they would not normally proceed, or with an impetus that they would not normally experience. They are enduring a force for which they are not designed.” Yup. So what’s to be done? Quietness. Psalm 46:10 famously says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” Lamentations 3:26 also comes to mind: “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” It can be hard to hear God’s voice of grace when you’re running at a breakneck pace. Quietness. It doesn’t make all your stress go away. But it can slowly re-introduce a more peaceful perspective when your brain is full of frantic voices and pressures you were not designed to bear. Go for a walk. Shut off your phone. Go for a drive in the country. Saunter. Carve out some alone time. Close your eyes to pray… and just listen. Cultivate quietness. Listen for the Lord. And rise above a load you were never designed to bear. By Matthew Ruttan ---Please note that after today (Friday, February 1), “Up!” will go on pause until April 22nd. I know, it’s a long time! But after three full years of daily devotionals I’m taking a much-needed rest. :) Back issues are all available at www.TheUpDevo.com!
How do you know you're on the right track? The "Up!" Devo for January 31 How do you know you’re on the right track with your faith? After all, we SAY we believe in Jesus, but are we LIVING like it? When you read through the New Testament, one of the ways you can tell you’re on the right track is if you’re showing evidence of God’s presence in your life. The biblical language is “producing fruit.” If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters into you in a new way and goes to work. The most frequently cited passage about this is Galatians 5:22-23 which speaks about the fruit of the Spirit. The behaviours and characteristics listed are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Are you starting to see those at work in your life? Some may appear more slowly than others. And they may not all grow at the same speeds. And sometimes there are set backs... But inevitably, growth will occur. A respected Bible scholar named N.T. Wright says: “salvation only does become what it’s meant to do when those who have been saved, are being saved, and will one day fully be saved realize that they are saved not as souls but as wholes and not for themselves alone but for what God now longs to do through them.” It’s a reminder that God enters into relationship with us not only to get us from earth to heaven, but to get heaven to earth through us. None of us are perfect. We make mistakes… daily! And it needs to be stressed that what makes us right and acceptable to God is definitely not how morally well we perform in life. But we can receive the encouragement that we’re on the right track with our faith when we see—by God’s grace and great patience—that we are showing evidence (however fragmentary) of his presence in our lives. It’s not about being dramatic; it’s about being faithful. Be encouraged. God’s work through you is evidence of God’s presence in you. By Matthew Ruttan
A major stumbling block to faith The "Up!" Devo for January 30 Yesterday I talked about having a relationship with Christ, and whether or not it is authentic. Today I’d like to focus on something the Bible identifies as a major stumbling block to that relationship: Money. In Luke 16:13 Jesus says it with his usual eye-opening candour: “You cannot serve both God and money.” It’s a tricky subject. None of us would admit we serve money. But isn't that what we do when we accumulate, save, and use money in a way that just builds up our own little kingdoms instead of God’s? So the question we need ask is this: Do we use money carelessly and in a way that focuses exclusively on our own comforts and status? Or are we using money wisely and in a way which contributes to God’s will in the world? I’m far from perfect, that’s for sure! And if this idea is new to you the point isn’t to make you feel guilty; it’s to help you. But I truly think that using money to simply serve my own needs and without considering the needs of others, the local church, and those under my care, threatens the integrity of my relationship with Christ. Why? Because it shows how much in my life is self-centred instead of Christ-centred. I’m not saying you can never have fun or treat yourself. (You can.) I’m simply highlighting the fact that money issues are spiritual issues. They both trace back to the heart. So be deliberate. By Matthew Ruttan

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