Fun at the party last night. By now, I know you know the party I’m talking about! Five Minute Friday Twitter Party with host Kate Motaung. Room was crowded last night. Canada, Australia, USA all represented well. Michigan, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, Tennessee, North Carolina accounted for! How small the world becomes when we are gathered there. Can you even imagine how awesomely wonderful Heaven will be? The mere thought takes my breath away and this week it’s more real because one of our family members entered the gates yesterday morning. I know without a doubt Leo is resting in peace – because he was born-anew in Jesus Christ many years ago as an adult man.
To the word! Seems fitting for this time of year, as we watch everything around us…
00:00
In our years in North Carolina we have done our share of church-hopping. Here, there, and everywhere. We would go one place for a spell and get hungry for more GROWth. Then we’d head over to someplace else for a bit and get hungrier for more GROWth.
We’ve seen a few things on this journey.
We’ve experienced a group that believes you have to be born again every.single.week.
We’ve experienced a group where your spirit-life was a competition. Who heard from the Lord more this week?
We’ve experienced a group where the gifts were more desired than the Gift-Giver.
THEN, we found our home. A well-balanced fellowship where GROWth is not only encouraged but also an under-shepherd of the sheep who believes in discipling!! And, when believers are discipled in The Word?
THEY GROW!
A favorite quote of mine by Jim Cymbala:
If you have only The Word – you dry up!
If you have only The Spirit – you blow up!
If you have both? You GROW up!
05:00
xo
I love the quote at the end- we definitely need both and to keep them in balance.
KEYWORD: BALANCE!
So glad you found a home that you can ‘grow’ in! It really is a wonderful (and often rare) thing 🙂
Quite rare, actually! And, you are here? All the way from down under!
You said so much in so little time. Your descriptions were spot on as was your conclusion on real growth. Thanks Susan.
Sounds like you may have had some similar experiences? 😉
Wonderful. I make the comment fairly often “when something is healthy it WILL grow”…….I’m so glad you have a wonderful church…..I know that feeling of “at last” being in “the one” (for me personally)…….the one where I am rooted and fed. Praise God.
and, GROW!!!
Good stuff! All this growth stuff does take a balance. Yet even in our imbalance, we experience growth when we’re open to it.
Glad you have found a good place to grow.
Happy Friday to you. (Stopping by from FMF)
So many keys here. Balance, “open”, growth. Thanks Rachel.
I love the quote from Jim Cymbala! It all comes down to balance, doesn’t it? Glad I stopped here today!
Joanne, it really does!
So Much Amen to finding Home… to Discipleship… to Growth (and to Jim Cymbala!)
Yes, and amen!
Yes indeed. Amen! God calls us to be Gods disciples in the world. That quote at the end is great too friend. I’m in the #4 spot this week.
The book was good too – but you have too many in your to-read stack so I won’t tell you the name of it!!!
Love hearing that you’ve found such a beautiful home at church. And great quote at the end. Thanks for your continued encouragement.
Anna, thank YOU!
Well-said. The execution of faith can be like exercise…a Lot of people start with balance, and then gravitate toward what they feel fits their self-image…some cut down on running to do weights, and so on.
I love when you visit friend!!! I’ll be here next week too. 😉
Lovely post, Susan!
And how un-lovely the laws that humans make to try to confine, contain, and comprehend an Almighty God.
Laws don’t require faith. They half-heartedly attempt to give us control. Because we long to be gods. That there, is the curse of the fruit.
So thankful for truth well-spoken and how much you add to the FMF community EVERY time!
Love,
Tammy
(#9 on FMF)
My lovely, smart, holy friend all the way across the great plains! xoxo
I’m glad you were able to discern those things about the churches you visited, Susan, and to find one where you could experience the growth you desire! So sorry to hear that you lost a family member — yet grateful that he knew the Lord!
Yes….