Now is the time ...... To Grow Up

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11

It is late spring as I write, and nature has woken up and begun its annual cycle of growth once again. There is the beauty of the flowers and wonderful colours of new growth in the trees, but there is a messiness running alongside all the beauty. The spotted gum outside my home is bursting out of its bark and making a big mess as great chunks of dry bark land all over the gardens and the porch. The branches look like they have a very bad case of peeling sunburn – not very attractive, but very much a part of the process of growth.

For us growing up is often a messy business. If you remember your teen years you can attest to that. If you have a teenager in your home you will most likely understand what I’m saying! Actually growing up as a Christian can be just as messy. Paul says this in Ephesians 4:15 "speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

We should grow up; we must grow up, painful and messy though it may be. You may think that this is a rather obvious statement but it is my observation that sometimes we don’t want to grow up in certain areas because it will mean that we have to deal with things we don’t want to. It means facing the fact that life is not plain sailing; that bad things do happen to good people; that marriage takes work and commitment once the honeymoon is over; that children are a blessing from the Lord but that they can cause you much frustration heartache along the way.

Growing up means that we face the difficulties and challenges with faith and courage, knowing that God has promised he will give us strength that is sufficient for everything we encounter in life’s journey. It means that we don’t run way from the hard things, or decide to take the ‘easy’ way out – which is never the easy way in reality. It means that we decide to do things God’s way, not our way, even if it causes us some pain during the process.

It also means loving people enough to allow them to make mistakes and then come alongside and help them through their mess rather than giving up on them…….. just like Jesus does with us! I read or heard something recently that struck a chord with me. It said that bones grow strong with stress. Weight bearing exercise strengthens bones. In the same way, our troubles and trials can make us strong – if we will face them rather than avoid them. (Look at James 1:2-4)

What difficulties are you facing in your life right now? Are you able to look at them as an opportunity to grow up in Christ through them? If you are, you will be rewarded with a new level of maturity and peace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father please help me to see my trials as an opportunity for growth. Please strengthen me to face it and walk through the darkness with you and into the light. Amen

Now is the time ..... To Be Wise

Fear of the Lord is the foundation all wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Psalm 110:10 NLT

Have you ever had the pleasure of sitting awhile and listening to the wisdom that flows from a sweet spirited older person? The book “Tuesdays With Morrie” tells of the experience of a young man who, after many years, is reunited with one of his old college professors who is dying. The young man penned the story of his encounters and the book was on the best sellers list in the USA for 10 years. It has changed the way many people view their elderly relatives. Now the author travels widely passing on Morrie’s wisdom to help others have hope and peace by making the most of every day they are given.

This verse in Psalm 111, whose sentiment is repeated in Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, tells us that wisdom only begins when we fear the Lord. Psalm 14:1 says “The fool has said in his heart “there is no God”. Acknowledgement of God is a good starting place for developing wisdom, then following God’s instructions will continue the process. Keeping his commandments is not following a list of rules and regulations or legalistically keeping the 10 commandments. Experience has shown us that we don’t have it in us to do that, which is why Jesus had to come and fulfil God’s requirement for perfection. No, keeping his commandments as explained by Jesus (Matthew 22:27-40) is to love God with all of ourselves and to love others. If we walk in love we will fulfill God’s commandments. That is wisdom.

God is the source of all wisdom, he’s our Creator and he knows what will work for us. He has graciously left us with a manual for life in the form of The Bible, and when we hand over our life to God we get his Holy Spirit to be our guide through life. That’s quite a deal!

To walk in God’s wisdom brings peace and joy. Following his ways brings life, and wisdom grows. How do we do that? By changing our thinking to God’s way of thinking through studying His word (Romans 12:2); by deciding to do things God’s way - to walk in love toward God and man (Matthew 22); and finally, to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:6) which is a humble heart that is willing to do God’s will by living like Christ.

If we make it a practice to read God’s word and obey it, we will grow in wisdom which is a beautiful attribute. James 3:17 says this “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure” (as shown in a life of purity), “It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others” (not difficult to get along with). “It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.”

Prayer: Dear God, help me to aspire to a life of wisdom which will show your goodness in the way I live my life. Amen

Now is the time ....... To Let Go and Let God

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you….
1 Peter 5:7

This morning I watched a seagull body surf to the shore. It would have been more spectacular to see him standing up on his little webbed feet surfing into the shore but it seems that even water birds have their limitations! Actually it would have been quite ridiculous to see the little bird struggling to make it in by his own efforts when the waves could so easily carry him.

This small incident made me think about the greatness of God’s power and grace and how, if we will only allow ourselves to be carried by him on the waters of life, we would experience far more peace on our own life journey. So often we struggle so much to “make things happen” when most times all that is needed is for us to drop our independent “I can do it” – or worse still, “I must do it” mindset, and say to God, “I give it all to you Lord.” All we need to do at times is to rest on the waves and let them bring us to the shore. (That’s all Noah and his family could do in the flood. They had absolutely no choice but to trust God and ride the waves and wait for his time of release. God, of course, faithfully brought them to a place of safety and peace.)

The apostle Paul was so frustrated with the Christians in Galatia that he said to them “Oh, foolish Galatians…… let me ask you this one question; did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ….. why then are you trying to get things done (author’s interpretation), by your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

We trusted God for our salvation and in our early years of faith it seemed easy to leave God to work things out. Then as we ‘grew up’ we have often decided that we had to take control and work things out for ourselves, forgetting that Jesus said we need to become as little children…. (Luke 18:17).

In every situation I believe that God wants us to experience his grace and faithfulness. Sometimes we are too impatient to wait for his timing, sometimes we think that this particular situation is out of God’s area of interest or control. That is very wrong thinking. God wants us to bring everything to him, just like a little child wants to tell Daddy or Mummy about every little thing. Nothing is too big and nothing is too small for God to be interested in it.

Being carried by his grace is something that many of us find difficult, but we need to learn how to let go and allow God to work things out so that he then gets the glory. What is the situation that faces you today that you should let go of and allow God to take control of?

Prayer: God of love and grace you are faithful in all your ways. Help me to become like a little child again in my faith and to trust in you. Take my cares about …………. today and please help me to leave this situation in your capable hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Now is the time..... To Change Your Perspective

Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Philippians 2:4

This morning as I spent time with God at the lake, I enjoyed the view and the busy chatter of many different birds. Later I moved just a few yards further along the lake edge to take advantage of some shade and was interested to note that the view had changed. Even though it was only a slight change along the curve of the shore, it was actually a prettier view with different things including. Also the jetty and the settlement of Nords Wharf came into clearer focus.

Life is sometimes like that. We need to change our perspective in order to get a better view of a circumstance or situation. I remember an incident many years ago when we were living in close quarters on a mission compound in Papua New Guinea. A situation arose concerning ours and the neighbour’s children, something that had happened on the school bus I think. In my mind the other mother, was being far too sensitive and protective of her children. She blamed my children for something I was sure they hadn’t done (but perhaps they had!).

When I went to bed that night I was ‘stewing’ about the incident and turned to my evening Bible passage, Philippians 2:4. “There you are!” I said to my husband, “That’s the whole problem; she never thinks her kids are wrong, she should care about others too.” My anger had twisted my perspective on God’s word. I can’t explain how I got such a meaning out of that verse, but I did and my anger felt justified and I fell asleep – feeling very self righteous.

Next morning I awoke and went for the verse again. Wham, bam, it hit me like a rock. Suddenly God was speaking that verse to me and I heard the words, “The ball’s in your court.” Oh dear. God had totally turned the tables on me. I saw that I was equally guilty of being concerned about my own ‘things’. I needed to humble my heart and repent of my anger. It didn’t even matter who was right or wrong. God wanted me to forgive and love.

The day before I had felt cornered and defensive; God had graciously allowed me to see that he was on my side as I read his word the night before, but in the light of day, and feeling more secure, he led me to a place of humility that was more pleasing to him than my being “right”.

We are often reminded about walking a mile in someone else’s shoes before we pass judgment on them. That is so true. Things look so much different when we try to put ourselves in another’s place. Do you need a change of perspective today? Don’t let the enemy keep you angry, bitter or needing to be ‘right’. It keeps you locked in your own prison. Forgiveness and understanding bring release and joy, because that’s God’s way of peace.

Prayer: Dear Father, please help me to have a humble and forgiving heart when things don’t go my way. Amen