God's purpose in our life is to grow us up in the likeness of Jesus. But how do you know you're growing? What's God's ideal for us? This week we look at nine areas that encapsulate the areas of grow that God wants to develop in us.
Love God.
Love each other.
Bless & Serve the world.
Be humble.
Be obedient.
Be content.
Be reconciling.
Be generous.
Be missional.
For each of these nine areas reflect on two questions in your journal. First, is this area important to you? Second, how has this area changed in my life in the past two years? Once you've journaled your thoughts on this, reflect on what you see. What do you observe? What does this say about your journey? Do you feel like God is saying anything to you through this process?
3. Reflect.
Come back here and leave a comment sharing your experience of doing this one thing. How did it impact you? Was it hard or easy? What questions did it raise for you? What does God seem to be saying to you through this process?
I did this reflection yesterday afternoon and there was so much writing going on, my hand was shaking. =) It's good to breathe and look at myself closely. I found several areas where I am hoping I will gain some growth this coming year. Specifically learning what humility truly is and how to attain it and being content where I am in life. I also found one area where I had huge growth during the last 2 years... reconciling. Being in this church, this community has been the leg up I needed to climb that wall. I pray that continuing to be vulnerable in this space with all of you will bring me closer to Christ in all the areas of growth I am needing some encouragement in.
It's taken me awhile but I finally figured out how to get in here! This is really neat. I missed church today because of Natalie's soccer game, but this is like getting a little slice of pie, it's great! Betty Ann
Thanks for taking this seriously, Candi, and for sharing. It's so cool for me to hear you share that God has used this little community - with all it's flaws - in your journey.
This process has been much more involved than some of the previous "things".
As I took a personal inventory of my character, I was convicted many times over. :)
I see that even though I feel like I am content...I am not...my inner voice is busy at work, mulling over change I would like to see in my life. Not that change isn't a good thing...however, when it conflicts with a heart at peace...then it's an issue. One I didn't recognize running under the surface. I also noticed areas that I had underestimated myself in. I actually have many of these areas actively functioning in my life..more so than I would give myself credit for. So this was a great way to acknowledge that I am in the game...even if it doesn't always "feel" like I am. Looking inside doesn't frighten me. I want to live a full life and embrace what God has for me and through me. Sometimes I am a bit blind....welcome to humanity Jacqui.
I love this process and it is so much fun to go through it with others...sharing their hearts and discoveries. It helps me to grow so much more than on my own. I feel like God is telling me to keep pressing into the hidden places of my heart. To take time to stop and listen and ponder what He is saying and then take action. Even when it seems too big or random...to trust and obey.
These are good milestones. Some areas were easier to answer than others were but even areas that I am not doing as well in it is still a good exercise. In all humility I fully expect to look back in a year and see all areas have improved not because of me but because I trust the work God is doing in me.
One area that has changed a lot for me this year has been #3. My thinking about witnessing or sharing the gospel has changed drastically since my guilt-driven childhood. I am realizing that just learning to really listen to people, even strangers and simply share concern or an offer of prayer, goes way farther than any speech or sermon I could deliver to a friend or stranger. I continue to struggle with contentment among the tempting "stuff" of this world, but I have felt those bonds breaking away from my heart in a big way. Finally, I'm learning to be missional and intentional about doing what God's asking me. I don't want to sit around and wait for powerful things to happen, I want to go out and do. To make a difference. I'm still praying about what that means for the future, my career, our family, etc. But I know that God is leading us. This is a cool space to share, I am hoping to make more time to be here regularly.
Thanks to the rest of you who are willing to share those places in your heart. I fully connect with some things you were sharing Jacqui & Candi.
Hey Nate, thanks for sharing your reflections. You're a good man, and with a heart committed to new growth, I am very excited to see what God does in and through your family in the coming years.
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Comments (9)
Marc Schelske said
at 8:08 am on Oct 13, 2008
Good morning, all! Welcome to the My One Thing discussion for this week. I'm very much looking forward to your reflections.
Candi said
at 3:31 pm on Oct 16, 2008
I did this reflection yesterday afternoon and there was so much writing going on, my hand was shaking. =) It's good to breathe and look at myself closely. I found several areas where I am hoping I will gain some growth this coming year. Specifically learning what humility truly is and how to attain it and being content where I am in life. I also found one area where I had huge growth during the last 2 years... reconciling. Being in this church, this community has been the leg up I needed to climb that wall. I pray that continuing to be vulnerable in this space with all of you will bring me closer to Christ in all the areas of growth I am needing some encouragement in.
Betty Ann said
at 12:29 am on Oct 19, 2008
It's taken me awhile but I finally figured out how to get in here! This is really neat. I missed church today because of Natalie's soccer game, but this is like getting a little slice of pie, it's great! Betty Ann
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 7:53 pm on Oct 19, 2008
Still working on this one..will report back tomorrow. :)
Marc Schelske said
at 7:30 am on Oct 20, 2008
Thanks for taking this seriously, Candi, and for sharing. It's so cool for me to hear you share that God has used this little community - with all it's flaws - in your journey.
Jacqui Wheelhouse said
at 11:16 am on Oct 20, 2008
This process has been much more involved than some of the previous "things".
As I took a personal inventory of my character, I was convicted many times over. :)
I see that even though I feel like I am content...I am not...my inner voice is busy at work, mulling over change I would like to see in my life. Not that change isn't a good thing...however, when it conflicts with a heart at peace...then it's an issue. One I didn't recognize running under the surface. I also noticed areas that I had underestimated myself in. I actually have many of these areas actively functioning in my life..more so than I would give myself credit for. So this was a great way to acknowledge that I am in the game...even if it doesn't always "feel" like I am. Looking inside doesn't frighten me. I want to live a full life and embrace what God has for me and through me. Sometimes I am a bit blind....welcome to humanity Jacqui.
I love this process and it is so much fun to go through it with others...sharing their hearts and discoveries. It helps me to grow so much more than on my own. I feel like God is telling me to keep pressing into the hidden places of my heart. To take time to stop and listen and ponder what He is saying and then take action. Even when it seems too big or random...to trust and obey.
Carl Shelton said
at 1:50 pm on Oct 20, 2008
These are good milestones. Some areas were easier to answer than others were but even areas that I am not doing as well in it is still a good exercise. In all humility I fully expect to look back in a year and see all areas have improved not because of me but because I trust the work God is doing in me.
Nate Burton said
at 1:16 pm on Oct 27, 2008
One area that has changed a lot for me this year has been #3. My thinking about witnessing or sharing the gospel has changed drastically since my guilt-driven childhood. I am realizing that just learning to really listen to people, even strangers and simply share concern or an offer of prayer, goes way farther than any speech or sermon I could deliver to a friend or stranger. I continue to struggle with contentment among the tempting "stuff" of this world, but I have felt those bonds breaking away from my heart in a big way. Finally, I'm learning to be missional and intentional about doing what God's asking me. I don't want to sit around and wait for powerful things to happen, I want to go out and do. To make a difference. I'm still praying about what that means for the future, my career, our family, etc. But I know that God is leading us. This is a cool space to share, I am hoping to make more time to be here regularly.
Thanks to the rest of you who are willing to share those places in your heart. I fully connect with some things you were sharing Jacqui & Candi.
Marc Schelske said
at 2:57 pm on Oct 27, 2008
Hey Nate, thanks for sharing your reflections. You're a good man, and with a heart committed to new growth, I am very excited to see what God does in and through your family in the coming years.
You don't have permission to comment on this page.