Growing.......
Growing, that word says a lot!
Things that grow...
Kids, faith, marriage, bodies, plants, animals.....The list is endless!
Lets start with kids.
In 14+ years as a Mom, I have seen some serious growth in my kids.
Not just physical growth either. But spiritual growth.
One child has simple faith and rightly so being so young.
One child has a deeper knowledge than we will ever understand.
Yet another child has a difficult time seeing past self to understand the depth of Christs love.
And finally another has a faith and understanding of Christs love that shows much growth in the last few years and much more will come as time goes on.
Our own personal growth...
Some times we as christians have moments of growth and moments of just standing still.
Other times we refuse to grow because of our own selfish ways.
But Growth is important. It is how our Faith in Christ deepens.We do not know the depth that God wants us to reach, if we dont reach out to Him and seek those depths.
I know years ago I was in stand still mode. I didnt want to go deeper. I didnt want to grow. I just wanted to skirt around on my family's beliefs and hope for the best.
But God had bigger things instore for me, He still does.
In the last 6 years my faith has grown by leaps and bounds. I can look back and see its growth.
There are some things about the growth I have no words for.
But there are others I have simple words for.. words like:
Grace...Showing it to my husband, my kids, my parents, my in-laws, everyone around me. Oh that was a hard one to learn(and keep learning).
Thankfulness...being thankful for what we have not constantly seeking out wants.
Contentedness...finding contentment in life and the situation we are in day by day.
To further explain these, lets go to the verses God showed me.
For GRACE:
Psalms 103:8 (NIV)
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger abounding in love.
God was trying to show me that I needed to have more grace and compassion in my relationships, to be slow to become angry and in doing that show love.
Some times showing grace to those closest to us is hard. They see our day to day moods and typically get the short end of our grace and love stick. Its easy to lashout and throw all our internal junk at those close to us because we know they will forgive and love us any way. But we hurt those around us deeply and God wants us to show those around us grace and mercy the same way He shows us grace and mercy.
For THANKFULNESS:
1Thessalonians 5:18(NIV)
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.
We have been on many roads in 19 years of marriage. And I have found that regardless of the circumstances that God is always there. He wants you to be thankful when you are "rich" and when you are "poor". Money helps yes...but money is not everything.
Being thankful in ALL things is what God wants of us. Can I be completely honest here.....I look back at our broke years and those years contain so much joy. I look back at our "rich" years and yes there is joy there but its centered around things. I love the poor years, they contain so much depth and less "stuff".
Being thankful is a choice.
For CONTENTEDNESS:
Philippians 4:12-13(NIV)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
It didnt matter in the past where we were at, be it in a trailer in a small trailer park, in a house 30 minutes from family, in a camper 6+ hours from home, or on the family farm. I have made every place home. I find life much more enjoyable when I am content in where I am. But being content in certain situations was harder at times. God was trying to show me that being content in Him was more important, than being content in the place I was in. He is where true contentment comes from. I want His contentment.
Growth can not happen unless we are willing to put our selfish stuff aside and focus on how God wants us to grow. And that requires, time in scriptures, time in prayer, seeking and asking God what areas we need to grow in. And when we ask to grow....WOW!! How God grows us!
Growing in Him is the most Amazing ever. It contains every emotion.
It has good moments and bad moments. The bad is God weeding out the stuff that we've allowed in that is hurting us. The good is God filling in those bad places(that have been cleaned out) with His Goodness.
His goodness, His love, His Grace.....Everything from Him Is AMAZING....Because HE is an AMAZING GOD!!!
So with these thoughts in mind.....I want you to be bold to step out in faith, and ask God to grow you. Then while waiting, seek Him in the scriptures and on your knees. Then prepare to grow, because He will grow you!
God Bless you!
