Some Thoughts on Maturity

Physical Maturity happens without us having to put much thought into it.

However, for Spiritual Maturity to take place we need regular attention & application of God’s Word.

It is possible for us to be a Christians in name only.
If we stop following & learning from Christ we stop growing.

It is possible for us to read God’s word & it not result in spiritual maturity.
If we do not apply what we hear from Scripture we cannot grow.

o   Matthew 7:21-27 ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ ²³ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ ²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell–and great was its fall!”

o   James 1:22-25 ²² But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³ For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴ for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵ But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act–they will be blessed in their doing.

Let’s give attention & application to what He says & enjoy your lives!

Have a Great Day,

Deny

The Box

I’m sure we’ve all heard the expression “thinking outside the box” or “getting out of your comfort zone.” I would say most everyone has a box or a zone of comfort and if we venture too far from that place, we begin to notice it.

As a believer in Christ, I feel strongly that we should never leave the bounds of Scripture. I’ve often said, “God’s word is as deep as you want to go.” It is defined as both milk and solid food. It is for the infant Christian and for the mature. It is enough. We never need to venture outside of it to find what we need for life and godliness. Some passages are more difficult to wrestle with than others. Some things contained within it may make us feel as if we are venturing too far from our boxes.

This is what I’m picturing…..
I’m thinking of Scripture as being a huge box and contained within it would be my much smaller box. My box contains my favorite Scripture verses, how I view certain issues, and the tradition(s) to which I have grown accustom, you get the picture. I can spend all my time
protecting my box so that no “uncomfortable” Scripture gets in. This would allow me to become “dull of hearing” as the Hebrew letter says. As a result, I would never grow beyond the borders of my box. Never being able to go on to maturity.

It is comforting to know that I can think outside my box and still be safely inside the boundaries of Scripture. Wrestling and struggling to
understand Scripture is not a bad thing. If it causes me to be uncomfortable, I can deal with that because it is Scripture. We should not fear anything contained in it. Scripture is truth. There is nothing to fear.

Have a Great Day,
Deny

Would You?

I’ve been studying the book of Job lately.

An interesting question from chapter 1 has come to mind: Would you serve God for nothing? I mean, if the blessings stopped flowing today, would you still be interested in Him. In other words, where does your faith really come from? Is it only wrapped up in the good things you receive from Him?

Satan believes that you are so shallow that if the blessings stop flowing you will turn from God. He really believes that you are that superficial. What if the blessings not only stopped flowing but, they are taken away?

“But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” Job 1:11 (NRSV)

So, not only would he be angry at God, he would curse Him to His face! That’s what Satan believes about Job. I believe he thinks this way about all of us. We are so wrapped up in ourselves that we become self-centered and shallow thinking. When the good stops we become angry and turn and bite the hand that feeds us.

I love the confidence God has in Job. He knows the real relationship they have. He knows Job very well. This is about having extreme faith in God. Job’s faith is in God alone, not in his blessings.

So, the question remains, would you serve God solely because He is God? Is that enough for you? Hmmmm, interesting.

Have a Great Day!
Deny

Oh, That’s What You Want?

I’m working on giving God what he wants instead of what I think he wants.

I was asked a couple years ago, “what do you want for Christmas?” I offered my reply only to discover that the giver gave a completely different
gift. OK, I can live with that….don’t want to seem ungrateful. The following year came the same question. This time I circled it in a catalog and said, “this is all I want.” It felt odd being so bold to do such a thing however, this person was wanting to get me something I wanted. I believe one of the problems was the individual couldn’t believe this was the only gift I wanted, there had to be more. I found that the giver consistently gave me gifts that they actually liked & assumed I would like them as well.

Finally, it happened. I was presented with the gift I had specifically asked for. It was a wonderful experience to receive just what I wanted. After I opened the gift the giver said, “I would have gotten you more but, that’s what you said you wanted.” Yes it was & it made me happy. I still have the gift & use it on a regular basis. What a blessing!

Why not give God what he’s asking for?
Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Eph 5:10 (NRSV)

Have A Great Day!
Deny

It Looked Good on the Outside!

I had a tree that the Electric Company said had to come down. It was a big walnut tree 3′ in diameter, very tall, very straight. I told them I wanted to cut the log and sell it. I knew it would be a good money maker. They cut the tree and it was hollow inside with only a 2-3 inch ring around the outside. Bummer!

It’s so easy to look at the exterior and make decisions and plans based on what we see. That tree looked like a money maker on the outside. You couldn’t tell from looking at it, but it was actually dangerous.

I don’t want my life to only look good from the outside. The relationship with God works from the inside out. A person professing Christ but void of the relationship can actually be dangerous to those around them. Think about it. I want to have a solid relationship with Christ; don’t you?

Gal 1:18-24 (NIV) Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles–only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later I went to Syria and
Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.

Question: When people see your life are they inclined to praise God because of you?

I’m not trying to make you feel bad about your life. Don’t beat yourself up if you suspect you’re slightly hollow on the inside….. start now and build the relationship back. You can do it! He will allow it. No doubt He’s been waiting on this opportunity. There’s nothing that the walnut tree could have done to be good again. We are worth Christ’s death according to the Father. Just like Paul, we can be restored and be made whole and cause people to praise God in the process.

Have A Great Day!

Deny

So That’s What Those Are For!

A great friend of mine solved a mystery for me today. The oddly shaped thing-a-ma-gigs on the back of the van seat are for holding the handles of plastic shopping bags. Now something formerly useless has become useful.  So that’s what those are for!

Someone actually designed this to be useful and for years I’ve wondered what purpose they served. They were worthless to me until today.

Sometimes it takes people years to figure things out. I imagine God smiles when we finally figure out the designed purpose of his creation.

What is your designed purpose?

Have A Great Day!
Deny

I’ve Discovered…..

I’m not perfect
I don’t always do what I’m supposed to do
I’m better than no one
I can’t go it alone
I need help
I need forgiveness
I need to grant forgiveness
I am loved
I need to love
I need God
He does not need me to take His place
He doesn’t need me, but He wants me and has given all to secure me

What have you discovered?
Deny

Starting is the Hardest Part

I need more exercise, so I walked almost 2 miles today. I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I finally figured out that knowing all the reasons I should and desiring to do it wasn’t enough to make it happen. Those are very important things, but I still needed to actually start walking.

I feel better, I’ll be sore tomorrow, but I feel better. I feel better mentally. Getting started is always the hardest part, whether it physical or spiritual. When I make the decision to begin, a million things suddenly compete for that time allotted for walking.

Is it this way for you? What have you been putting off? Today’s a great time to actually start!
Have a Great Day Deny

Stolen Identity

The Fraud division of my credit card company called the other day. Someone out there was posing as me and trying to wire $900 to California from my account. Someone tried to steal from me. Now this ticks me off!

Maybe this has never happened to you, but let me tell you it makes you feel sick.  I guess I should be happy I have an identity worth stealing and good enough credit to draw the attention of thieves. I am thankful to God that I am employed and my family is taken care of. What a huge blessing!

I do hope that this person is caught and turns their life around. Until then beware……..Judas is on the loose! I hope this never happens to you, but if it does the following link will be helpful. “http://clarkhoward.com/topics/identity_theft_guide.html

Deny

Learn to Be Still

Take every opportunity…to be still.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil
devices. Psalms 37:7 (NRSV)

Be still, and know that I am God Psalms 46:10 (NIV)

Sometimes being still is just what we need to do.

When it is in the context of being “before the Lord” and “waiting patiently
for Him”…it is worth while…it is something.

Learn to be still!

Deny