IHS-Growth

Growth

•	The Blame

   Most of us much prefer to blame others for the things that go wrong in our lives. Little children seem to come by that early too. I've heard children say "the glass fell over" when THEY had knocked it over.
   The other day Daniel was all decked out in dress-up. Somehow he had managed to add a pair of high heels to his wardrobe. Of course his feet come no where near filling these large shoes and so they were a bit troublesome to walk in. In spite of that, Daniel tried THE STAIRS!
   After he fell down the first two to the landing where the stairs turn, his sister rushed to his comfort and aid. While she talked to him about the dangers of trying such a feat that even mature women often have trouble with, Daniel said, "We need to get some new stairs." In his mind the stairs were to blame.
   As you prepare to start off the New Year, maybe you find yourself wondering if finally this year some of those resolutions will actually stick. You may be tempted to blame everyone or thing other than yourself for having just as unfulfilling a year in '98 as you did in '97. Maybe it's not the stairs but the shoes!
   The Bible says that we should "humble (ourselves) in the sight of the Lord" (James 4:10). This is the end of the progression that begins with "draw near to God," and proceeds with "cleansing" and repentance. "98" would be a good year to start out with the right heart attitude before the Lord. If you place your life in the loving hands of the Lord, He will mold you and make you after the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).

•	Water The Grass

   I have a continuing internal conflict in the summer. In our climate, if you don't water the grass, it tends to get all brown and dry. Some call that state "dead" but I always have faith that it is just "dormant!"
   A logical conflict arises when I remember I am feeding and watering flora so it will grow, but I don't like to cut grass! Mowing bothers my allergies and takes time I don't care to spend on such things. I usually end up fixing equipment more than mowing.
   Maybe you can see the conflict: Why encourage something to grow that you would rather not grow? I personally think concrete's an answer!
   Suffice it to say, we try to make it grow anyway!
   Jesus is concerned about OUR growth. (I'm not sure what He thinks of my grass!) He wants us to become more like Him. When man was created in God's image, that, at least in part meant we would grow more like the Father as we matured. Often we get like the grass I forgot to water.
   Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:14 - 18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (vs. 18a) Some "greening up" and growth should be taking place in our lives. It is sad when a life reminds you of parched ground instead of Jesus.
   Work at growing in grace. Seek to know Jesus better every day. Ask the Lord to help you. He is interested in your growth.

•	A Little Help

   One of the joys of being a father is getting to help your children when they are trying to do something beyond their ability. I'm not talking about their homework either! (As they get older there are times when homework is beyond me too.) I mean like when my two year old tries to carry a sack for me or a teen doesn't know what's wrong with the car.
   I have the joy of reaching down and helping Daniel lift the sack, making him think he's doing most of the work. I get to answer questions about mechanical problems and can enjoy it, because I've dealt with similar things before.
   Paul was a man of great personal confidence before he became a follower of Christ. He was sure that he was right in his crusade against the church. He felt that God was on his side as he tried to destroy Christians.
   Following his conversion, Paul had to learn over a number of years that as a follower of Christ, his power came from God. He was just like the child that allowed an adult to help with the heavy load. He said, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).
   Depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ for the strength to do all things. He will help you. In fact, you can do anything that He calls you to do.

•	Smelly Sock

   While our oldest daughter Sarah was home for the summer, she encountered a brief period where some vermin, possibly a spider, was biting her while she slept. Benjamin wanted to remedy the situation, so he decided the creature needed chased off from bothering his beloved sister. Someplace along the line he had witnessed someone use a smelly repellent to keep bugs away. He knew he didn't have any chemicals available so he would imitate the procedure with the next best thing.
   He told Sarah, in all seriousness, "What you need is something really, really stinky, like Jason's sock!" (Jason is his teenage brother)
   Imitation can be a good thing if there is a true understanding of what is being imitated. The Thessalonian church imitated other great churches of the day (1 Thess. 2:14). Their commitment to imitation cost them persecution. For this Paul greatly commended them.
   Who do you imitate? Does it cost you anything? Is the person worthy of being imitated? Is your church patterning their ministry after a worthy model?
   As you might imagine, Sarah didn't really want Jason's sock in her bed. It wouldn't have been the best approach, but, who knows? There aren't any spiders in his room!

•	Distractions

  I like to listen to music sometimes when I am working. Because of the way my mind works though, I have to listen to just music. There can be no vocals. I don't know why, but vocals wreck my concentration.  I have the same trouble when I try to talk. In our household, with two impatient preschoolers, there are often times when I am talking to their mother and they want to ask a question. As the tiny but powerful voice pushes into my thoughts, I lose cohesion of what I am trying to say.
   When I sing in a group, something that my listeners are thankful doesn't happen too often, I follow the voice I can hear the clearest. If that person takes a flat dive, I am in trouble because I am probably going there too.
  Life is full of distractions. They amount to different things for different people, but we all have them. Depending on how you handle them, they can be a trial or blessing.
  Picture the distractions that came into the lives of Mary and Joseph before Jesus was born. It would have been difficult enough to become parents before you expected to, having had very distracting visits by angels. Now the time for Mary to give birth was getting close and there is that "decree from Caesar...that a census be taken" (Luke 2:1). Mary and Joseph had to make a trip all the way to Bethlehem, many days' journey away. Major distraction and inconvenience!
  But we all know the great blessing that awaited them. As you read the Christmas story in Luke 2 you see God bringing numerous things together so prophecy is fulfilled.
  This Christmas season, look for divine distractions and see what blessings God may wish to give you in them. Watch for the people and events to have the Lord's hand behind them. In doing so you will have a much more blessed Christmas.

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