Seth, our nine month old, loves being mobile. He crawls around as fast as lightning. He pulls himself up on whatever he can find...a chair, my pant leg, his sisters hair...and he stands. More and more he let's go of what he used to help stand himself up. And each time he let's go, he stands a little longer before he falls. As a parent this is exciting and a little sad all at the same time. On the one hand, you want the boy to be able to stand on his own two feet, but on the other hand you want to make these moments last as long as possible and with each stand he makes you know your baby will not be a baby forever. But being a parent means learning to let go, doesn't it?
It seems that spiritual growth is also about a life-long process of letting go so that you can increasingly experience God for all he is. See if you can relate to any of these letting go spiritual growth steps:
Letting go of my way to stand for God's way.
Letting go of hurt to experience God's healing.
Letting go of fear to find God's courage.
Letting go of doubt to accept God's power.
Letting go of selfishness to be used by God to touch others.
Letting go of money to let God be my financial planner.
Letting go of lies to live in the truth.
Letting go of hate to be free to truly love.
Letting go of my comfort zone to not miss out on his adventure.
Letting go of isolation to embrace others and let others embrace me.
Letting go of thinking I am in control so that God can be in control.
The list could go on and on, couldn't it? Letting go is a beneficial part of life. For each time we dare to let go, we get to find out for ourselves what it is like to stand with Christ in a whole new way! Hey...Don't be a baby...let go! :-)
Check out Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
"It's True"
I just left "The Gathering" (it is our Wednesday evening time of communion, worship and prayer). Every week I rediscover that what Jesus said is true: "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them" (Matthew 18:20). It's true! I just had a fresh encounter with Christ. Jesus shows up where his Body gathers to seek him.
If there is one truth that is hard for we individualistic, private American Christians to hear it is that Jesus' is where two or three gather. We want to experience him all by ourselves. Perhaps we lack God's presence not because God is withholding himself from us but because we do not believe him. O, we say, we do, but our actions say otherwise. We say we want God to be close and real. We say we pray for God to give us his peace and his strength, but then we neglect the path he has given us for experiencing his presence. What is that path? Community; Connecting with other Followers of Christ in a way that goes beyond "Hi and How are You". We cannot grow spiritually in isolation. He has given us the Church not as a place to go on Sunday, but as a Body to grow in and with for good or bad, pretty or ugly.
To those of you who know what I am talking about, I encourage you....press on! "Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing" as Hebrews says. Rather keep on connecting. Keep on being real. You will find Jesus presence and because of you others will find the same.
To those of you who do not know yet what I am talking about, I encourage you...Go find out for yourself that it's (Matthew 18:20) true!
If there is one truth that is hard for we individualistic, private American Christians to hear it is that Jesus' is where two or three gather. We want to experience him all by ourselves. Perhaps we lack God's presence not because God is withholding himself from us but because we do not believe him. O, we say, we do, but our actions say otherwise. We say we want God to be close and real. We say we pray for God to give us his peace and his strength, but then we neglect the path he has given us for experiencing his presence. What is that path? Community; Connecting with other Followers of Christ in a way that goes beyond "Hi and How are You". We cannot grow spiritually in isolation. He has given us the Church not as a place to go on Sunday, but as a Body to grow in and with for good or bad, pretty or ugly.
To those of you who know what I am talking about, I encourage you....press on! "Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing" as Hebrews says. Rather keep on connecting. Keep on being real. You will find Jesus presence and because of you others will find the same.
To those of you who do not know yet what I am talking about, I encourage you...Go find out for yourself that it's (Matthew 18:20) true!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
"72 degrees in November"
With election day behind us, we can answer the phone without hearing a political call and we can open the mail box without receiving a hundred political mailers. So, take the signs out of the yard, turn off the news and just may be you and I will not miss that it is November and it is 72 degrees and sunny outside!
Did you hear me? It's 72 outside. Need I remind you we live in Ohio?! There cannot be very many sunny, 72 degree days left. Before long, the cold will come to stay for winter and gray will color the sky. But today, friends, it is sunny and 72!
I wonder how many people will miss this rare November day? Some will be so busy celebrating or mourning the election results that they will miss it. Some will be so busy working till it is dark to notice it. Some will be so focused on today's crisis that this nice day is not worth enjoying.
It is easy to miss the little, but truly special gifts God gives us every day, isn't it? I am convinced that the greatest things in life are the smallest things. Things like...the colors of a sun rise splashing across the sky, the giggle of a child, the time to eat your favorite ice cream nice and slow, a little prayer to God that brings him up close and personal...you know...things like a 72 degree day in November.
The Bible says, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it." How do we do that? By not missing the "72 degree days of November" in our lives.
Can I be really honest? In the last two week I have been gone working too much. Too many nights away and not enough time at home...I have more than put in my hours . I looked at the weather forecast for tomorrow. It is suppose to get colder. So, I have made a decision. I am leaving and I will be back in time for the Gathering.
If you call, you won't reach me. If you email, I will not reply. If you stop by the church, I will not be here. Ask me where I'll be and I will tell you...I went home to make up on time that I will never get back with my 2 favorite kids and my beautiful wife. After all, 72 degrees in November is something that is here one day and gone the next, so you better enjoy it while you can.
Did you hear me? It's 72 outside. Need I remind you we live in Ohio?! There cannot be very many sunny, 72 degree days left. Before long, the cold will come to stay for winter and gray will color the sky. But today, friends, it is sunny and 72!
I wonder how many people will miss this rare November day? Some will be so busy celebrating or mourning the election results that they will miss it. Some will be so busy working till it is dark to notice it. Some will be so focused on today's crisis that this nice day is not worth enjoying.
It is easy to miss the little, but truly special gifts God gives us every day, isn't it? I am convinced that the greatest things in life are the smallest things. Things like...the colors of a sun rise splashing across the sky, the giggle of a child, the time to eat your favorite ice cream nice and slow, a little prayer to God that brings him up close and personal...you know...things like a 72 degree day in November.
The Bible says, "This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it." How do we do that? By not missing the "72 degree days of November" in our lives.
Can I be really honest? In the last two week I have been gone working too much. Too many nights away and not enough time at home...I have more than put in my hours . I looked at the weather forecast for tomorrow. It is suppose to get colder. So, I have made a decision. I am leaving and I will be back in time for the Gathering.
If you call, you won't reach me. If you email, I will not reply. If you stop by the church, I will not be here. Ask me where I'll be and I will tell you...I went home to make up on time that I will never get back with my 2 favorite kids and my beautiful wife. After all, 72 degrees in November is something that is here one day and gone the next, so you better enjoy it while you can.
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