G.R.O.W.

Ok, here we go. I want to challenge you to grow. The statement I am about to make I believe, without a doubt, that you will agree with: “The number one cause of the problems we encounter is immaturity.” We find ourselves getting into all kinds of problems by saying immature things, making immature decisions, acting in immature ways. I know this may sound simple, but we just need to grow up. Let’s take the letters G.R.O.W. and follow a simple path that will provoke us to grow.

God - It is God’s will for every person that they grow. Hebrews 6:1 says, “Let us go on to maturity.” Simply put, God says, “Grow up.” That is why it is imperative that you belong to a local Bible-believing and practicing church, because the purpose of a spiritual community is to help each of us who belong to it to grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and relationally. One of God’s purposes for His Church is to help perpetuate individual growth.

Read - As a Christ follower, one asset to growing is learning the priceless value of reading God’s Word for yourself. Basically learning how to feed yourself. In Hebrews, again, the writer challenges us by stating, “You have been Christ followers for a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead you still need someone to teach you…” Here is a simple action plan for reading: Pick a daily or weekly plan; get a journal so you can write your observations from your reading; read in a group so you can dialogue if you have any questions; meditate on how you can apply to your life a truth or a principal that you have discovered; and ask God through the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to help you live it out.

Obey - Jesus said, “You say I am the authority over life but you don’t even do what I say.” “Those who love me obey me.” Jesus went on to state that obedience is not following a bunch of church or denominational rules. In fact, it is the total opposite. Our obedience is a reflection of how much we value our relationship and our love for Him. Obedience, when it is relationally driven, is a mark of maturity and growth.

Walk - Make a choice to walk by your God-deposited faith and not your feelings. I can only walk it out by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the company of other Christ followers pushing me on. My walk reflects what God desires for me as His child – to grow… My walk is a direct result from a daily habit of what I am reading…. My walk is a love statement to Him that I not only hear Him, I choose to obey Him…

A little lengthy with this blog, but well worth your time…

Your Choice...

The moment a child is born, they automatically become part of the global family of humanity, and yet that child also needs a specific family to receive nurturing and care to grow up healthy and strong.

Now take that same physical truth and apply it to us spiritually. When a person is born again, they automatically become a part of God’s family worldwide, and yet they also need a local spiritual family to belong to. Here is the difference between attending church and committing yourself as a core member of a church family: Attenders spectate from the sideline; members get involved. Attenders consume; family members contribute. Attenders want the benefits of a church family without sharing the responsibility. It is similar to couples who want to live together without committing to marriage.

Why is committing to a local church family beneficial to your spiritual growth and spiritual maturity? Because it reveals your love and commitment to your spiritual brothers and sisters in reality, not just in theory. God wants us to serve each other, encourage each other, build each other up, spur each other on to spiritual growth, pick each other up when we fall or fail, and to share life with real people not ideal people.

If you are looking for the perfect, ideal church family, you will spend your entire life looking and never settling. Simply put, you will not find one. Yet what you will find in a church family is imperfect people like yourself that God challenges each of us to love. And as we learn to love each other and serve one another, we find ourselves spiritually growing in the image of Christ.

Response-Able Money Management...

Many people have a hard time seeing how money management can help accelerate their spiritual growth. I believe with all my heart that people who experience the reconciling love and personal relationship with Jesus Christ want to take that experience and develop a deeper and more mature relationship.

You may not realize this, but money management has a profound effect on your spiritual growth as a Christ follower. The Bible tells us that money is a tool and money is a test. It is a tool used for good. We are told in God’s Word to use our money to show our love for people. Don’t use people for money, but let your money influence and show your compassion for people. The Bible tells us that we are not taking our money with us. We are going to have it for a little while, so use it now to fulfill God’s purpose’s for your life.

Money is also a test. It is a test of our character. It tests our faith. It tests our priorities. It tests our values. It tests our responsibility. It tests all kinds of things in our life – spiritual maturity, faithfulness, and other things like that. The Bible says that God is watching how we use what He gives us.

God wants us to be blessed in every area of our life; this includes our finances. And yet, for us to be blessed, we have to be blessable. Being blessable results from how we are RESPONSE-ABLE with the resources that God gives us.

Being response-able begins with trusting God as your main source more than trusting other resources. Response-able is giving God the first and best part of our income and not our leftovers. It’s keeping good records, seeing the value of a savings plan, setting a budget, and being content with what you have rather than exhausting yourself for more.

In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus gives us wise counsel: Don’t worry…Your heavenly Father already knows what you need, and He will give it to you IF you give Him first place in your life AND live as He wants you to.”

Start 2010 off with a healthy God-designed plan for your finances and watch God’s blessing upon your life.

Living the Life...

Is there someone we can look to that lived life? Someone who not just existed in life but who lived a life that had meaning, worth, and significance? Yes...Jesus Christ. Is there anyone who can give us solid, firsthand knowledge and advice on the life that Christ lived? Yes...Peter. Peter walked with Christ and saw firsthand how Jesus lived His life. So what can he pass on to us about Christ?

How do we live the kind of life that God wants and designed for us to live? I have always wanted to do something significant and important with my life. I have discovered I am not the only one. When I talk with others, I discover that everyone wants to live a meaningful and significant life. Take time this week and read the book of 1 Peter in the Bible, and you will discover how to live the life of significance that God wants you to live.

The reason this is so cool is that this is the Apostle Peter passing down to you and me what He learned and watched from Jesus Christ. At the end of His life, Jesus was able to say to God the Father, “I have finished the work You gave me to do on earth and I brought you glory and honor on earth.” When He was on the cross, Jesus made a final statement to God: “It is finished…it is done… it is complete.” Wouldn’t you like to be able to say at the end of your life with a real sense of fulfillment, “It is done... it is complete… it is finished”?

What did Peter see from Christ that we can do to start living in such a way that our lives improve their impact and influence?

• Peter saw how Jesus set His goals and went after them.
• Peter saw how Jesus lived significantly in His relationships with other people.
• Peter saw how Jesus maximized and managed His time.

When you think about what Christ did for people, you know His life was in major demand. People needed him, but if He would have used the “people need me” card, then he would have lost focus of His mission… His relationships with all of them would have been casual with no closeness… His time would have been consumed with the urgent or high profile platforms. Jesus never stopped serving… Jesus never got away from being humble… Jesus never worried about life.

If we are going to live a life of significant meaning, then we need to set our focus on serving… on being humble… not worrying. Set goals… Do real, authentic life with others… Control your time with the important and not the urgent.