Growing Pains...

Do you remember being young and having growing pains? Your stomach or legs hurt for "no" reason? It was simply your body doing what it was supposed to do-grow. One of my favorite pastors, Johnny Ellison, Green Acres Baptist Church, said this about growth and rebirth, "In order for something to grow... something must first die. A seed has to break open to grow a tree. We must die to ourselves in order for spiritual growth to occur." Isn't that true!

I am seeing God bring a harvest of new, unchurched people and I don't have enough room in my apartment or car. My church is scrambling to absorb them with excellence, we are meeting to decide strategies for the new things God is doing. We are having to die to the old "way" of doing things, the old plans, the old thoughts we might have had. I need to die even more daily because I think I need a van and a two or three bedroom apartment and I still have no job and can't work because I can't walk due to my injury. I am only a spectator (remember my Shepard "broke" my leg...) watching God do His thing. I cannot see how the puzzle is going to fit together. But praise God- Matthew 21:44 says, "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken..." Break us again God! That was His plan all along! Help us to fall on You in dependence and humility.

Growth is such a blessing! The problem is in our limited vision of what God wants to do. We don't even have a firm grasp of what God has done in us yet, much less what He's willing to do through us for His glory. We just have to roll out the red carpet with Christ-like mercy and grace and then get in the position to receive orders, much like a catcher crouched with glove ready, on our knees reaching out.

Growth is not easy, please don't misunderstand me as though I am making light of all the concerns that come with the responsibility of new souls to guide and disciple. Oh no, quite the contrary! Again, Jesus shows us what this costs when He said at the last supper, 1 Corin. 12:24 "... this is My body,which is broken for you..." In order for us to live and grow and overcome sin, Jesus Himself was broken. What an amazing consideration! Let us meditate these next days on what growing pains really are-Jesus took them for us! Now we line up with Him in the death of our will, broken vessels, to intercede for these in fervent prayer that they come to know Him as Savior and Lord. Waiting for His instruction on the details.

Would you pray with us that God gives us instruction and wisdom to deal with the new souls we are entrusted with? Pray that we are all blessed in the reconstruction of ourselves! Grace and peace to you these next days.
To God Be the Glory,
Jamie