Message from the Stream: Go with the Flow

By Ruby Radford

Ruby Radford, in her book, Message from the StreamGo with the Flow, takes the reader on a spiritual journey by way of her encounter with a stream at a spiritual retreat. Her book is filled with inspiration and motivation for Christians who may become stalled on their spiritual journey. Using her gift as a poet, she interjects poetry and short stories to help tell her story. In the introduction she asks the reader to trust in the Creator of streams of life, as a prerequisite for the faith journey that unfolds in the book.

As a student in a spiritual direction class while in seminary, the class, along with the professor, traveled to a retreat site in Pennsylvania to practice the presence of God. Following the instructions of the professor, the students stood on a hillside in silence overlooking a stream of water. While looking at the stream, Ruby engages in a dialogue with the stream. Obedient to the voice from the stream to, go with the flow, she relaxed and spiritually flowed with the stream. During the flow, situations and circumstances that had caused a leak in her faith became plugged with the knowledge that God knows and is with her. In other words, she was not walking alone. The voice from the stream encouraged her to stay on the path that she was traveling and made it clear that the Holy Spirit would help navigate her through the debris and obstacles that sought to interrupt her flow. She comes away from the stream with a better understanding of her call to ordain ministry in light of the physical, mental, and spiritual interrupters that sought to alter her walk. She comes out of the experience advocating for spiritual direction teaching as a means to aid Christians in establishing a closer relationship with God. She comes away from the retreat with her own personal definition of faith, Faith is not just a statement that one makes but is the life that one lives in concert with the Holy Spirit.

As the book comes to an end, Ruby offers spiritual disciplines suggestions of retreat (alone time with God), and praying (talk to God about everything, all the time), as necessary practice to draw closer to God. Adding these disciplines to those of reading the Bible and meditation, the reader has a good starter kit for spiritual direction practice. Practice is at the core of spiritual direction. Practice does not make perfect but it does make closer our relationship with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781467062084

Ruby Radford

Ruby Radford is the owner of RLR Enterprises Training and Development and an Ordained Minister. She is the author of, “Teaching…But Nobody is Learning: Create A Teachable Moment,” a tool for teachers and “Remember Me…I Am the Customer,” a human resource tool. She is also a poet and has produced a CD, “Don’t Just Exist— Live.” As a motivational/inspirational speaker, she has inspired many audiences and congregations. She holds the following degrees, a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Human Relations and Business; a Master of Education and a Master of Arts in Family Ministry. She is a graduate of Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio. With a passion for teaching and a background in instructional design, Ruby customizes and facilitates workshops on a variety of subjects. She resides in Toledo, Ohio. Visit her website: rubyradford.com. Email: [e-mail] .

Book preview

Message from the Stream:

Go with the Flow

Ruby Radford

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AuthorHouse™

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© 2012 Ruby Radford. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 2/24/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6209-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6208-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011960701

Printed in the United States of America

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8:

Chapter 9:

Chapter 10:

Chapter 11

Chapter 12:

References and Resources

About the Author

Message from the Stream:

Go with the Flow

A Spiritual Direction Reflection

By

Ruby Radford

Contributing Editor

James C. Radford

This book is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Irene (Nanie) Findley (1915-2010)

A beam of light on my spiritual journey.

Thanks

Dr. John Nissley, Professor, Winebrenner Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Langston Bannister, Spiritual Director

A special thanks to my children, James Christopher, and Dana Lynne. God’s special gift to me.

Introduction

Have you ever experienced a feeling of oneness with nature? This oneness sees no lines of separation. You see it and it sees you. Both of you are created by the same Creator. If you have ever shared such a moment with nature then you will understand the spirit involved in the sharing of my story and in the writing of this book. You will understand why I titled this work "Message from the Stream: Go With the Flow: A Spiritual Direction Reflection."

While executing a spiritual direction class assignment that took place at a retreat, on a hillside overlooking a stream of water, the flowing stream and I established a dialogue heard only in my spirit. It spoke and I listened. Responding to its invitation to flow, I surrendered to the voice from the stream and took a spiritual journey that revealed valuable instructions for my life while strengthening my faith.

In this book, I reflect on the practice of spiritual direction because of its transforming power in my life. As I seek to live my life as a humble servant of God, I find that the practice of spiritual direction enhances my efforts.

Readers of this book are asked to trust in the Creator of the streams of life. These streams contain our life’s flow—our going. These streams are so unpredictable and at the same time so necessary as we seek to live out our God-given purpose. A word of encouragement to the readers: These streams are directed by

Reviews for Message from the Stream

[Nancy Vail · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very christian book which I usually don’t relate to but am interested in certain topics she touched on. But it was a quick read.