Spiritual Growth

The New Creation

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We often believe the most difficult battles will come from what the world and others are doing to us.  The actual battle that is most difficult to fight is within, it is the battle against the self.  The self is stubborn, persisent and demanding, always wanting to be at the center of life regardless of how that impacts our actions and others around us.  We are blessed with the opportutnity to choose our attitude, our behaviors, our values and our beliefs.  Self-awareness is the first step in learning our tendencies and noticing the habits we have developed in our thoughts and actions.  Self-awareness is learned through self-reflection, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, understanding your values and learning what situations and people bring about an emotional response from you.  It often helps to keep a journal and it is important to invite God into the process…after all, He created you.  The more you learn the better prepared you are to grow and change.  Peace be with you on your journey.  Amen.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on the shore of Lake Superior near Ashland, Wiconsin)

More And Less

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As we pray and read and learn more about Jesus and the examples He has provided us for living, our spiritual life should take on greater significance.  The development on our faith journey could be referred to as an inside out process.  We profess our belief in Jesus Christ and open ourselves up and ask Christ to come into hearts…we receive the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us change our thoughts, our attitude and our perspective.  A surrendering of self-focused living and an increase in Christ focused living.  The stronger we become in faith the better prepared we are to share the Good News with others in this broken world.  First God restores us on the inside and then He sends us out to share what we have learned.  I pray for courage and wisdom for all of us to be persistent in growing and nurturing our faith.  Amen.

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“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:30

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while driving through southern New Mexico)

Distractions

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It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world.  So easy to lose focus from our purpose and why we are here.  The world is full of distractions and it is when we take our eyes off of Jesus and our faith that we begin to feel things becoming overwhelming.  We need to continually find ways to feed our faith and seek spiritual growth.  To build our relationship with our Savior and keep our focus on living a life centered on faith.  Jesus Christ is with you, even when you aren’t paying attention to Him…turn towards Christ and trust in Him to lead and guide you.  May the peace and love of Christ wash over us in our daily life.  Amen.

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“Lord if it is you,”  Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  ” Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried our “Lord, save me!” 

Immediately Jesus reached our his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:28-31

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

The Narrow Road

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As we move along the journey of Faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus we will begin to see differences in what people are pursuing (ourselves included) and what we read and learn about in the Bible.  When we read things like…“All people will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:22  or  “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10  And there are many other verses in the Bible that make us squirm in our seats…as people living in this world, when we read these things it makes some of us want to ask “really? persecuted? hated? and then forgiveness, kindness and compassion?”

It is at that moment that we should stop and think for minute…close our eyes and see the Cross, see Jesus Christ hanging there…He was beaten, hated, persecuted and crucified and He went through all that and offered a prayer of forgiveness just before He died…He did all of this for me and for you.  A life living in Faith is not a promise of easy street and all happiness all the time…in fact it is the life you will often find that needs to take the road less traveled and know in confidence that there is One who showed us how to travel that road.  May we all find refuge and comfort with Christ. Amen

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“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

The Foundation Of Faith

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We often hear that it states in the bible if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can move mountains and nothing will be impossible for you (see Matthew 17:20).  Well that doesn’t sound too hard.  A mustard seed, that’s really small…oh but wait.  If it only takes such a small amount of faith to do such big things why isn’t everybody full of faith?  Take a look at your personal belief in Jesus Christ…when we face any issues, problems, concerns or difficult people are we able to approach all those situations with a belief and faith that Jesus Christ can do anything with that situation?  God is still working on me for this level of spiritual maturity.  This is a faith that points 100% to Jesus Christ and the belief in the saving grace that He provided at Calvary for every part of your life.  It is a belief that every person no matter how the world has judged them and cast them aside can be redeemed, if we are willing to believe Jesus can change that.  I am focusing my faith journey on more of this and less of me.  May God’s grace and peace be with you.

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“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Romans 12:3

(This photo was taken in October of 2014 on the island of Maui, Hawaii)

Spiritual Growth

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Spiritual growth comes when we continue to devote time to our personal relationship with God.  Reading God’s word, spending time in prayer and in the quiet of His calming presence.  The more we are able to center our lives on trusting God with everything the stronger our foundation of life will be.  I have read about this in several different books, the writer explains a turning point, that point where everything starts to look and feel different…it is much different to read about it then to begin to start experiencing it.  I began listening to christian music on the radio 20 years ago…I started reading faith based books and my devotional bible everyday 8 years ago…and I started this blog 5 years ago…I am just beginning to sense and understand what it means to trust God with my everything (yes I am a slow learner :).  Just like one of my favorite phrases states…it is simple but it is not easy.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Spiritual Food

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When we read the bible we are feeding our spiritual life so that it can grow.  If we only take time to listen to the word of God once a week in worship our spiritual growth is very limited.  Just as the body needs food and water daily to stay healthy.  We also need to exercise in order to be strong to stand up to evil.  For the spiritual food we receive is the verses of the bible, this is the living water that Jesus speaks about in the Gospel of John.  We can be nourished by spending time digesting the Word of God.  The exercise of our spiritual life is the action we take that shows we are a disciple of Jesus.  The actions that bear fruit to the world.  Choose to feed your spiritual life, pick up the bible and feed your spiritual body.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Rest With God

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We all get tired, fatigued and exhausted.  We were not made to go so fast all the time, as a dear friend of mine would say “Mach II with our hair on fire” all the time day and night, day after day after day.  We will break down, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  Even when God created the world it is written that on the seventh day he rested…

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Genesis 2:2-3

The pace of life can easily spin out of control if we let it.  We must be more self-aware of our limits and be Ok with saying no to an invitation that may just be an event or time that will not work for us.  Take time to be with God in your life and learn ways to balance the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts of your routine to present the best version of you.  May God’s love and peace be with you.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

A New Creation

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Spiritual growth comes from change…change in attitude, change in perspective and change in our focus.  When we invite Jesus Christ into our heart and mind receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We begin to surrender our self-serving desires and focus on the needs of others.  We will begin to view people and events with a new perspective and we start to change our behaviors from the old way of being to a new way…one that shines a light on who we are becoming…our true selves, the way God made us to be.  This transformation happens at a different pace for everybody…there is no one way to be transformed…it is between you and Jesus Christ…you just need to spend time getting guidance from Him.  May God’s peace be with you.

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Renew

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“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

1 Peter 2:1-3

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)