Growing

This week, I took my 11 year old to the shoe store. His foot had grown, and he needed some new shoes for Easter. I took him to the boys’ section where I ALWAYS take him, and they didn’t have his new size—a size 7. I was at a loss as to what to do. I searched and searched for the “pre-teen section” (just in case you go looking for it…no such thing exists for shoes). Then, I went back to the children’s section and had him try on the 6s again, just to make sure he couldn’t squeeze his foot in them one last year. Finally, I realized that the 7 was in Men’s shoes. I think that was the hardest walk I’ve taken yet as a parent—that walk up three aisles to the Men’s Shoe department. Ben was so excited about getting to wear men’s shoes. I wanted to put a brick on his head to keep him from growing up. No such luck.

It was a reminder to me that we are growing—each one of us every day. We can’t stop growth. We are living, breathing organisms. God designed us to grow. But, it also caused me to stop and think about HOW we grow.

Basically, in our spiritual lives, we are growing in one of two directions—either growing closer in relationship with God, or increasing separation between us and God. Even though our salvation is secure through our belief in Jesus as Lord, the Christian walk is so much more than that. It's kind of like a garden. If you weed it, and don't plant anything, weeds will grow back. If you weed it, plant flowers, but then don't maintain it by watering it, giving it sun and nurturing it, the weeds will grow back and overtake the flowers. We have to give that same love and care and nurturing to our relationship with God. We feed it and nurture it through prayer, living in and by the Word, relationship with believers, worship, service, fellowship with believers.... And it's absolutely worth it. There are so many joys and wonders and miracles to experience by being in growing relationship with the Father.

In my college days, I spent some time away from the church. Those were the darkest days of my life. It wasn’t because the church building was some magical place to be, but it was because the church was the place where I could be taught in the Truth, worship corporately with the people of God, be held accountable and encouraged by brothers and sisters, and experience the joy of seeing God at work. Because I wasn’t growing in my relationship with God and with God’s people, it was a very unhappy, dark time in my life.

Now, having spent the last decade+ of my life invested in my relationship with God, and thus invested in the church, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I receive so much joy from being here. I am taught new things every day. My perspective is broadened. I get to hear the amazing stories of God working actively in people’s lives. I watched the DVD that Daryl put together “Becoming”, and I couldn’t stop smiling because of the joy I felt in being a part of this place—the diversity, the energy, the future. I look forward to the challenge of our mission as a church: Making Disciples.

We had over 3600 on campus Easter Sunday, and almost 140 at Brown Blvd. What a blessing—a milestone, really! Now our challenge is to greet and make welcome the visitors, disciple them—visitors and members--continue to reach our community and our world. Easter was a big day, but we are needed in our places EVERY week so we can continue our mission. We must continue to grow in our individual relationships with God and as a corporate body. It was a reminder to me that every morning, I need to seek Him fresh so that I can be a vital part of this Church and His Kingdom! What a joy it is to serve alongside my brothers and sisters each week in this place!

Lord, thank You for the church. Thank You for knowing our every need--especially the need to be surrounded daily by people of God and by Truth seekers. I thank You for our Pastor who seeks You and is a vessel for Your Word. I thank You for each of the faithful members here who encourage me in my walk week by week. I pray that You will continue to challenge us with new lives that need to be won to this Kingdom. Help us to continue to faithfully grow in You.