How have I matured relationally? This has been a long and often scary and painful journey for me. It has not been quick and easy. I am sharing with you 13 key individual steps that freed me to be able to mature from a relational infant and child into a relationally mature parent and elder….
Category: Discipline
Peaceful Pain
Is pain a good thing? …… Or ……. Is pain a bad thing? Should I try to avoid pain at all costs? As a relational child I will try to avoid pain through alcohol, drugs, BEEPS …… I may even run away. I equate pain as being the opposite of pleasure. I see pain as…
Digging For Riches!
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how fathomless His ways!” Rom.11:33 One of they ways that I know that I have a vibrant, living relationship with God is that I eagerly await the hours of the day when I can talk with Jesus,…
Following His Purposes For Me!
“God has chosen us for His own! … so God is for us! …This is wonderful! … Having chosen me He calls me to follow him with all my heart. He then gives me right standing with Him and covers me with His glory! … So I shouldn’t condemn or pick on others for it…
My Walk Back In Time
As I return from vacation to a time of sharing with you some of the many thoughts and insights and learning and maturing that I have been experiencing over the last few weeks; I start by sharing that I am on a walk that continually transforms me. The transformation has points, times, and circumstances that…
Interacting With Jesus
The Psalms are a treasure chest of interactions with Jesus. Jesus wants to hear what we are feeling and thinking about. For many and as a relational “infant” that is as far as my communication with Jesus goes. A lot of time (years) can be spent at this level as I tell Him what I…
I Just Can’t Wait
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. … While you are waiting for the things (promised) to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives…
This Pain ….
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful IN all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus, the Messiah.” 1Thess.5:16-18 OR “If I belong to Jesus, God wants me to always BE joyful, to never stop talking with Jesus about everything, and to be thankful in all circumstances. God’s will…
I Have an Enemy?
Life is not neutral. There is an enemy of our very being. And he is trying to take us out. He has attempted to take me out several times. Four times he has attempted to physically kill me. The first time was when I was born and not breathing; the most recent was only a…
My Morning Prayer!
“Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust You. Jesus, I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.” Be my Guide today. Ps. 143:8 “You are my only God. I am not following any other “god.” Illuminate to me what you want me to do, and let your gentle…
—Fear—
God does not use fear to guide His people. Fear is a paralyzing place and a bad place to stay. Our enemy, the evil one, uses fear as one of his primary weapons against us. He wants to keep us in fear. Fear is undermined trust. Enemy mode with God is when I fear that…
How Difficult Do I Make It?
Discipline of the Lord is part of the maturity process. Perseverance is required for maturity and healing to take place. James1:4,12 Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite the difficulty involved in doing it. God is healing and maturing everyone who is pursuing Him. However, I hinder His process. I am the one who make…
Wholehearted!!
“It’s ALL of me for ALL of You, in ALL I say and ALL I do ….. !!!! “Lord, teach me how You want me to live! … Make me wholeheartedly committed to You. … Then I will do what You say and follow your commands. … For you alone are great and do amazing…
A Beacon Of Hope!
Having been born and raised in the mountainous jungles of South America, I loved exploring and discovering all the hidden birds, animals, streams, plants, trails, and I even found a quartz vein of gold down in a bend in the river where the rock cliff was exposed. It was all my secret world that only…
The “Tree” I am Picking From
FORBIDDEN FRUIT: The tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Gen.2:8,9,15-17 This tree is largely forgotten and slides under the radar of most evangelical Christians. It is the most inconspicuous malfunction that we have. There is only one directive given about it. DO NOT EAT FROM IT, DO NOT USE IT. ….. Why? ….. Because, the…
Jesus, My Suggester?
As a born again believer, I walk with Jesus through life. He is always with me. However, I have the choice of totally letting Him be my Guide or I can just let Jesus be the one who suggests things and then I decide what and how to follow His “suggestions”. This is the big…
A True Relational Parent!
Should I be thinking about Living, or dying, or retiring?.. “I am torn between the options (as to what to do). ….. I am often just tired ….. I really long to depart (from the struggles here) and just relax ….. I could just retire with Jesus and not deal with anybody. …… However, if I live…
Let Me Punish You
Jesus taught us principles which are better than and higher than laws. However, as a relational “child” I like the laws because with laws I can be the judge, punisher, and the controller of you. With religious laws I can think or say; “You are doing it all wrong and need punished. I feel like…
The Lost Art of Following
Jesus came to earth looking for who? And what did He find? One of the strengths of children is that they can do it themselves. “I don’t need help, I can do it by my self. I will take the lead and show you. A relational level mature child will want to lead! They will…
Whenever I Am Afraid
Whenever I am feeling anxious and fearful; I dash about, I scream and shout, and flail about. To calm myself I grab my phone and text my friends about my cares and woes, I hit search and what to my wandering eyes should appear but 8 tiny reindeer and look at that! I need one…