Spiritual Growth, From Mom

How do I know when and if I am growing spiritually?  Compare:  our wrong desires versus the fruit of the Spirit.

WRONG DESIRES (from Satan):  Evil, destruction, easy to ignite, difficult to stifle, self-centered, oppressive and possessive, sinful, deadly.

SPIRITUAL DESIRES (from God):  Good, productive, difficult to ignite, easy to stifle, self-giving, liberating and nurturing, holy, abundant life.  (Mom took this from the Life Application Study Bible)

Lord, mu prayer is to be in Your will, and to complete Your plan for me on this earth.  

Review these questions often:

Do I spend time reading God's Word?

Do I spend time talking with God each day?

Do I look forward to fellowshipping with God?

What "fruit of the Spirit" is apparent in my life?

Do I talk about Jesus with people who do not know Him?

How am I using my spiritual gift or gifts?

Do I have a generous and giving spirit?

How much better do I know God today than I did a year ago?

Luke 2:52  Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Pray and seek continually to be growing in wisdom.  Ask for wisdom, as we need guidance and direction and to know how to apply God's way and will.  

From me.  

As we seek God, following the Scriptures our soul, our lives will be changed and display His likeness.  But it takes work,  it takes dying to self and selfishness on a daily basis.  But God promises that we can do all things through Christ who is our strength.  

Lord, let us examine ourselves...lead us into growth, let our lives reflect Your love and Your glory.  We struggle to lay down our own ways, our own desires, our emotions lead us astray, the world entices us.  Help us to be renewed each day by spending time with You and growing more and more as we do.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Write down these question and go through them every so often....check where you're at on the growth chart.  And remember...it's progress not perfection.  

Soul, from Mom

I wanted to go back to Mom's journal today.  She made an entry on the soul.  I once heard it explained that we, like God are triune.  God is Father, Son and Spirit.  We are spirit, body, soul.  Our soul is the place of our emotions and thoughts.  This is the place the Lord works on us to reflect His character and love.  

Mom started with Proverbs 10:3  The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish.  

Soul: A life, a living being, souls, self, person, mind, personality, inner desires.  

Luke 21:19  By your patience possess you soul.

It is the seat of the affections, will, desire, emotions,  mind, reason, understanding.  

From me.

Knowing these definitions and descriptions of the soul will lead us to her next entry, which is "Spiritual Growth."    I will start with the first three Scripture references she leads off with and then make this a two (or maybe three)  part series.  Spiritual growth is a big topic!  Here are those references.  

Galatians 6:6-10  Those who are taught the Word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.  Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God.  You will always harvest what you plant.  Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature.  But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up.  Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith.  

James 1:2-12  2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.  5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.  9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.  12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to plant and a time to harvest.  A time to kill and a time to heal.  A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to cry and a time to laugh.  A time to grieve and a time to dance.  A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.  A time to embrace and a time to turn away.  A time to search and a time to quit searching.  A time to keep and a time to throw away.  A time to tear and a time to mend.  A time to be quiet and a time to speak.  A time to love and a time to hate.  A time for war and a time for peace.  

Lord, You've created us to be multi faceted beings.  You've created us to reflect Your image, Your holiness, Your love.  You have given us new birth, our spirits are reborn from above through our acceptance of the beautiful gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  We are made new!  But our souls, the parts that make us us, shaped by living, shaped by experiences....we look to You to redeem and renew that as well.  We ask You to help us grow, help us cooperate with You will and Your plan so that every part of us will be a reflection of You.  Lord, as we go through the next entry on spiritual growth, open our hearts and give us the desire to learn from You and change anything that You deem not fitting for Your children.  Let us live fully the lives You designed for us.  We submit to You.  In Jesus' precious Name.  Amen.

Think about these Scriptures and ask God toe reveal any areas that need fixing.  What season is it for you?  

 

Stress!  Normal everyday stress can get us down.  Add in something like selling a house and trying to keep it sparkling and uncluttered everyday and wow, stress takes on a whole new meaning.  LOL  

So I ordered a "Pod" to pack away some things and decluttter the house.  Pods are those large boxes one can have delivered to their property to store things.  Well I had a delivery set up for a certain day.  Truck came, my little storage helper sitting on top of the flatbed all ready to be dropped in my driveway and boom...complication.   Because my tenant's car was there and he was not home with his keys, the delivery person couldn't place the container in the driveway.  Ugh!  Now what do I do.  I couldn't reschedule this service for another three weeks and my open house was in three days!  

Ok, breathe I tell myself (after a slight mini meltdown).   I call another company.  Wow they can delivery one the next day.  Yaay.  And they have a smaller one, which is cheaper, which is all I really need anyway....see God's working this out.  Go God!!!  

The next day rolls around, and hour after hour passes with no phone call from the company as to when this container will be delivered.  I went to work with still no box in my driveway.  My husband comes to work that night and said it was never delivered.  Geez!!  I get on the phone the next day and was told there had been a problem with them getting a delivery of containers and they were supposed to call to let customers know.  Ha!  But they can reschedule it.  Okaaay....for Saturday!  No!  That will not work at all!  Saturday is my open house.  UGH!!!  

Ok.  Once again, breathe...this time no mini melt down.  I think I'm finally getting this "Gods got this" thing.  LOL  So I scramble in the garage...clearing space, putting things in there, putting things on top of things and on top of cabinets, and on and on and on until I had enough floor space to set up crates for my cats who needed to be kept safe from all the door opening and closing of the open house.  The house got decluttered, the cats had a safe place to stay while all the chaos was going on for those few hours and I was able to see God's hand once again.  He really did have this all under control...as He has had every step of the way.   

Friday afternoon's drive to work brought me such a beautiful God visit.   I started the drive by thanking God for all He was doing to make this time in our lives work out.  I was so happy to be able to be grateful even though things, as they usually do, did not run smoothly or according to "Madeline's plan."  Then "Fires" by Jordan St. Cry came on the radio and I knew God was once again using music to touch my heart, bringing comfort and peace.  I then proceeded to pass by a local church which had a sign out front, "...I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."   Jeremiah 31:3   Our Lord is so incredibly tenderhearted and kind.  

Our God is so sweet, so amazing, so loving.  I was in awe and just couldn't help but worship and praise  Him.  Nothing was working out according to my plan...but everything was under His control and it was beautiful.  

Lord, it takes us so long to get to the place of trust...and so often we leave the safety of that place and return to the chaos of "our own way."   We forget how wise and loving You really are.  But You do have us in the palms of Your hand.  You do take care of us in the perfect way.  I've seen this so clearly during this hectic, crazy, chaotic time in my life.  And I am so grateful.  I share this in the hope of helping others to breathe, to trust, to rest in You Father.  Open our eyes to Your work...and even if we can't see help us to remain at peace, knowing "Gods got this."   In Jesus', (our wonderful Prince of Peace) Name I pray.  Amen.  

Stop leaving the place of faith.  

Be Big

My Pastor had a most timely sermon on Sunday.  We are still studying Jesus' sermon on the mount.  Oh  my goodness, this is a great in depth study to take on.  So many spiritually nutritious goodies in there!  

We focused on Matthew 6:30  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  Little faith.  How many of us walk around with "little faith?"  My Pastor explained it this way, little faith is the faith we use to get saved.  It's the faith that makes us say, "Yes, I am a sinner in need of a Savior and Jesus is the Savior I need.  I trust Him to get me into heaven."  Big faith is the faith that gets us through life.  That carries us when the going gets tough, and boy does it get tough sometimes down here on earth.  Big faith is what keeps us believing God when everything around us is crashing down in a big chaotic heap.  Big faith knows God is good and only has good plans for us when we feel buffeted from every direction.  It brings us through the storms because we know the One who is in the boat with us.

Mark 4:35-40  35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.  38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”  39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

All night before listening to this sermon, I tossed and turned, worrying over all the details of getting my house ready for sale.  The tenants apartment is an especially difficult area and I fretted most of the night about it.  So when I heard this sermon Sunday morning I knew God was bringing correction...why was I worrying.  He has this all worked out....before I even came into being!  Is my Father not the one who said, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

Big faith seeks after God not after worldly concerns.  Look in Matthew 6:31-33 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  Big faith focuses on God and His Kingdom and lets God take care of the rest.  We do our part in a godly way, shining His light as we go and leave the "working out" part to Him.  Pray, believe, give thanks, obey, and rest in His care.  The little faith we had when we were saved needs to be exercised to grow and become big faith.  Use it or lose it!  

And the second part of this God visit was yesterday's devotional verse Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 

Jesus told us in John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  We have peace when we have faith. 

Thank You Lord, for another timely and much needed lesson.  I confess my faith is often tiny, often lacking.  Please forgive me.  I know You are growing me in this area, and it's been a long road to get here.  I thank You for progress, I thank You for the care You give to my life.  I will trust Your way of working out my days and situations.  You never do anything unkind or unwise.  Lord help us all grow some big faith in our hearts!  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Start working on Your faith.  Take God's promises that speak to your situations (look them up!) and write them down, memorizing and believing them.   

Listen and Look

Last Friday I had one of those nights at work.  A lot of times they all feel like "one of those nights."  But this one was especially trying, tiring and overwhelming.  I finally just felt my mind stop.  Thinking, moving, doing....I had to just stop.  I said to my partner at work...I need a break  I just need to take a few minutes to breathe.  So I did. 

It was about close to nine o'clock when I stepped outside to sit on the steps leading to the truck area off of our loading dock where I work.  I sat down and took a couple of breaths and then I heard them.  A few birds had decided to sing their last songs of the night.  So sweetly, so beautifully they reminded me of the teaching we were in during our Sunday services.  Matthew 6:25-30  That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.  Isn't life more than food and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds.  They don't plant or harvest or store food in the barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And why worry about your clothing?  Look a the lilies of the field and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you.  Why do you have s little faith.  

Wow.  As I sat there listening to the bird song, I was reminded of this and felt the Lord's peace and Presence in that moment, soothing and comforting me as I sat resting.  Those few moments of basking in God's care was just what I needed to restore my spirit and my outlook.  Nothing had changed after I got back inside the building, but my heart did and it was lifted and at peace.  

Sometimes we need these physical reminders of God's care.  Jesus sat instructing His followers to look at the birds, the flowers....look around and then look up.  "He will certainly care for you."  

And to add to this message, the Lord brought Philippians 4:6-7 to me yesterday. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   

Thank You Lord, for Your ever present help and care.  Thank you for the little reminders you give us each day.   Teach us to breathe and look for them!  You have restored my soul.  Thank You.  So many things bombard us each day....but help us to remember that You are with us..  Nothing is a surprise to You.  Let us work for righteousness and Your Kingdom and let You handle the rest.  Increase our faith.  Thank You again for those sweet moments Friday night.  What a blessing.  In Jesus Name.  Amen. 

Take Matthew these verses and bring them with you into your day.  

The Mug

Yesterday morning I went in the kitchen to get my much needed morning coffee.  As usual my husband left a couple of mugs on the counter to choose from.  ( I have no idea why he does this, since I only need one and don't really care which one I use as long as it's filled with that wonderful, eye-opening brew.)  Anyway, I chose the one pictured below, the one that says JOY.  

Me and my coffee now wander inside to do a little God time.  Out comes the devotional I've mentioned a few times recently and I started to work on the day's entry.  Of course, it was on JOY.  LOL  The Scripture referenced was Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  

So as I worked my way through the question given, (it had to do with what blocks the contented joy Jesus wants us to have), I started to list the things that seem to steal my joy.  Circumstances, consequences, emotions, concerns, attitude, stubbornness....just to list the few I came up with.  And then I realized that the times I had experienced the most contentment, the most joy was in the mornings with the Lord.  He is my focus then, He is present and I am aware that He is, sometimes by feeling but mostly by choice, by knowing.  

As I thought this through (with a lot of prodding by the Holy Spirit I'm sure), I was led by Him to realize, since He is always with me, that contentment is always available. If God is always with us, and he is joyful, then......hmmmm. Simple right?  Something we know right?  But is it something we consciously live with, experience?  

So then we get to the mug.  And we know that with God there are no coincidences.  There was a reason I chose JOY that morning.  He was going to use it as an object lesson in less that fifteen minutes.  LOL He is always with us, but it's our job to choose the joy of being in His Presence.  No matter the circumstances, consequences, emotions, concerns.  It's the attitude and stubbornness we need to lay down so that we can pick up the joy that comes from being with Jesus, His living in us.  God' joy is not the absence of sadness that often comes with living in this world.  We all know that bad things happen.  But we still hang on to that joy because no matter what happens He is with us.  No matter what happens we are still His cherished, heaven-bound child.

I'm really having to practice this lately.  I've written on all the upcoming changes that are happening in our lives right now and I have to continually choose to remember God will work all things out in just the right way.  I have to moment by moment choose joy just the way I chose that mug yesterday morning.  I will choose to remain trusting and joyful and let God work out His perfect plan.  

Lord, thank You for the very physical, neon sign type reminder and lesson You gave me yesterday.  Help me, and all of us to choose joy, choose faith, choose to enter Your rest because we know You have our lives in Your loving hands.  It's so hard for us to let go of the worry and fear and concerns.  We want to wallow in sadness sometimes, feel justified in our anger, but this is not what You want for us.  Lord, help us to open our hands to release all things to You and open our hearts to be filled with Your joy.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Choose joy.  God is with you and you are in His Presence always.  

Psalm 118:24  This is the day the Lord has made, We will rejoice and be glad in it.