To Grow or Not To Grow?

To Grow,
-or-
Not To Grow...

That is the question...
I was finishing off my cup of coffee this morning and as I did, you could see the levels of the coffee as it left the cup.  With every sip/gulp it showed how much coffee was consumed.  It brought to mind the annual rings of a tree.  The annual rings develop at the beginning of the tree's life.  Each year, you find another ring.  The space in between the rings shows how much the tree grew.  Scientist use this to determine if it was a wet year or a dry year or if there was something that took place in the trees life that caused a scar, such as a fire.
      I wondered what each of us would look like if you could open us up and see our "Spiritual Annual Rings"?  Think about it for a moment, spiritual growth is not normally taking place as much in the rich times of great rain, but more in the dry times.  Even more than that, during the fires of life, growth may be unprecedented!  So it would be the opposite of the tree's rings.  Most often, when we are in the dry times, the "Valley Times"  the times that we are in search of an answer from God or divine intervention in our circumstances, we don't feel that it is a time of growth.  We feel like we are at the end of our rope!  But in reality, this is when growth is taking place.  This is when faith is stretching us!  This is what is allowing us to see God move on a whole new level!

     I am reminded of James 1:2-12

(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (5) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. (6) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (7) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (9) The brother in humble circumstances out to take pride in his High Position. (10) But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. (11) For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. (12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

     When I go to the gym to workout, if I don't get sore from it, then I get upset.  I feel that I haven't torn down my muscle tissue as much as I could have to produce more growth.  In the same manner, how can I expect it to be any different in my spiritual life?
      So when life throws us a curve ball or we get hit with a line drive we can choose to find growth in it, or we can fold up and stop.  Growth hurts a lot of times.  Can you remember the "growing pains" during your growth spurts as an adolescent?  With a lot of growth, it is usually accompanied by a lot of pain.

     I don't know where you are at this morning in your spiritual walk, but know this, we have a loving Father that wants you to be complete and not lacking anything!  The trick is to look towards our loving Heavenly Father for strength, direction, and faith.  This is where growth is taking place, if we allow it to!

May God strengthen you, stretch you, grow you and root you soundly in His Word; that you may stand through the trials, increase your faith, persevere to the end, mature, and become complete not lacking anything!  Amen!

Blessings,
Phillip

Where Is Your Song?

Over the past 11 months, our lives have consisted of many challenging moments.  Not to say all bad, because when you find victory in the challenges it is a mountain top moment.  But I must say that while you are walking in the challenges, it feels like a deep valley.  Our family has been putting together a support team for our missions work in Alaska.  This involves a lot of letter writing, a uncountable number of phone calls, personal meetings and traveling constantly all over our state to present our calling to churches.  Through it all, I felt like we had maintained good attitudes of faith and optimism.  I have been very happy about that come to think of it...  But this last weekend, brought a new perspective for me.  Our family had the opportunity to spend a couple of days at the "Barnabas House" in Edenton, NC.  This is a house/ministry that allows ministers in transition or in need of vacation to stay there.  This is to allow a season of rest.  We were speaking not far from there at the Inner Banks Outreach, and their Pastor set it up where we could stay at the Barnabas House.  This place is what brought my perspective... During just the first day, I found myself sitting on the deck overlooking the Chowan River, and I found myself singing... I felt as though peace had overwhelmed me.  Well, as time was going on and I was walking through the house when my oldest daughter said, "Wow Dad, is everything o.k.?"  I asked what she meant.  She said, "I haven't heard you sing like this in a long time."  You see, even though I have been trying to maintain a positive attitude.  Even though I have been trying to be a voice of faith and optimism, I had allowed the cares of life to take away my song!  It wasn't until that moment that I realized it.  I would like to encourage you this morning.  If the cares of life have silenced your song, or if your song has changed from one of praise to one of "Gloom & Despair", you need to do as the Bible teaches and cast your cares upon Him!  I thought that I had been doing that, but in reality, I as the head of my household, the husband to my wife, the father to my children, was holding on to some of the control thinking that I had to fix it.  That I had to provide and make things happen.  I have come away from this past week/weekend with a renewed childlike faith in my creator!  I am sure that our Heavenly Father can do a lot more than this earthly father can!  We are in His hands; for His purposes.  All Praise and Honor and Glory to Him... and my song has returned to sing praise to His Name!  He tells & shows us throughout the word, "It is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God"...

Be encouraged, and find your song again!!!

Blessings,
Phillip