As we see it, outgrowing things in life is a sign of health and maturity. When our athletes were babies, we found them graduating from one diaper size to the next, then to bigger and bigger shoe sizes right along with jean sizes. This process of things becoming TOO SMALL means change which is often costly. Our children are helplessly dependant on us to provide the next size of outgrown clothes until they become self-sufficient adults.
As a child it was always a race as to which would happen first....would I outgrow my shoes or would they get holes in the bottom? Either way, I would need a new pair in order to maintain happy, healthy feet. Even if they were too small, I would squeeze my foot into them because I was used to them and often liked them very much. The old comfortable-but-too-small shoes had to be replaced.
Sometimes our relationship with God becomes TOO SMALL. For those of us who struggle with the old shoes of trusting where He is taking us . . we remain in our old and way-too-small shoes - shaking in the outgrown boots of fear, discouragement or mis-trust. J.B. Phillips offers this perspective, "If you can't believe in God the chances are your God is too small."
"The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!" 2 Cor. 6:11 The Messsage
There is one thing that we can never outgrow. . . it is our dependance on God. Our helplessness brings a smile to His face as we grow in Him. The life-long process of spiritual growth takes us from size to size - but we can never outgrow God!
"... precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little..." Isaiah 28:10 KJV
Blessings . . . as you grow into new spiritual shoes!
11-4-10 MUD-MUD-MUD
The E-votional from November 4th took a welcomed turn at the end going from "Stuck in the Mud" to "mighty Mud!!!" and from "...Mud on your face, a big disgrace!" to "We will, We will rock you!". As I read, I gegan to visualize the blind man and his great faith in Jesus the healer. He was looking forward ot receiving his sight. He is a great exampkle of how to handle Mud!. Thanks for the "mud bath" from your E-votional Spa!!! - Gwen Jordan
Athletes often identify themselves by the position they play on a team. For instance, I am a quarterback, I am a pitcher, I am a point guard etc, etc. In turn, we often relate to them in terms of that specific function. Each team member fitting into a defined position brings clarity and boundaries as they practice and play games.
Our grandchildren love to say how old they are . . . I am 5 (with five fingers in the air) or I am 7-almost 8! Their age is very important to them. Me? Well, at my age I remain in the year as long as I can! Okay . . . I am 64! (with only a few days until I'm 65 . . . often unsaid but clearly inescapable). Our age along with the many other "I am" statements define how we view ourselves and in turn define and limit our relationships or position.
In the book of Exodus our Creator defines Himself too . . . but it is without any limits! He simply says that He is the "I AM" - the beginning and end of everything. This places Him in an all-inclusive category of one without boundaries, beyond our comprehension, all in all for all, awe-producing in every way. . . . He simply IS!
"By his power we live and move and exist." Acts 17:28a NCV This without-boundaries "I AM" connected with us, His boundary-laden creation. He is this by sending His Son, Jesus, who walked this earth as a man with clear and simple boundaries. Even though He was the Son of the limitless "I AM", He spoke to us in ways that specifically defined his purpose and relationship to us...
"I am the light of the World ." John 8:12 NIV
"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."John 14:6 NIV
"I who speak to you am He." John 4:26 NIV
These "I am" statements provide placement and position for us to experience the intimate love that the Source of all creation - the great "I AM" - has for each of us. Jesus came so we can see, feel and understand God's perfect love within the boundaries of our human limitations - so that we get it! We live and move and have our being in Him.
May your "I am's" be wrapped up in THE GREAT "I AM".