“Never Stop Growing” by Daryl Denham
Matthew 18:3-4 – “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
This summer I spent a week working at bible camp for 3rd and 4th graders. It is both exhausting and energizing. It is great to see the children’s energy, excitement and curiosity. I also had the privilege of hosting a question and answer class for that age group. These children asked some wonderfully insightful questions. You can see them really trying to connect all the dots in their minds and really put together the pieces of the puzzle of life and faith.
I wish we could all capture the enthusiasm these children have for life and for learning. Too often we lose the desire to learn. We stop studying and we stop asking questions and, as a result, we stop growing the way we could. Sometimes we lose our energy and excitement as we get caught up in our daily routines and the struggles of life.
Let us all try to retain or recapture the energy and enthusiasm for life and learning that we had as children. Let us maintain the humility that reminds us we do not have all the answers and we can still be growing in a way that pleases God. Let us all strive to glorify God and his kingdom.
Keeping the main thing the main thing is not always easy. Mockingbirds are not only known for their ability to mockingly mimic other birds, insects, and amphibians. They are most known for their dive-bombing behavior – intended to distract predators from their nests.
At times our lives can seem like an out of control Hurricane. We can become so overwhelmed by the cares of life. It is during these tumultuous times we need to know our Savior still walks on water.
Since I was off work this past week we decided it was the perfect opportunity to do some work on the kitchen. The biggest part of this work was refinishing the cabinets. After all the work they look pretty good if I say so myself. But that good finished product didn’t come easy. Contrary to popular belief the painting was not the hard part. Matter of fact it was the shortest part with the least amount of work. It was the prep work that was the hardest and took the most time. I was two days into the project before I pulled the trigger on my spray gun. The doors had to be pulled, cleaned, de-glossed, sanded, and primed. Then the entire kitchen had to be masked off; anything that wasn’t changing color had to be covered. In the end the painting took five minutes.
With every passing birthday, I feel less at home in this world. With God’s help I have fewer regrets than most – but still, forgetting what is behind I forge forward to the prize – the upward call of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Today I am blessed to celebrate another birthday. Throughout my life, I have always strived to do more and learn more than the previous year. Of all the things I have learned over the years one thing that is required for growth is honesty. Not just honesty with others, but honesty with oneself. I find myself often in deep thought about situations that have taken place or could arise. At times I ask myself, “Did I handle that situation correctly?” “What else could I have done?” “Was there something I missed?” “What should I do if particular situations arise?” Honesty can aid in answering these questions. It may not be an answer we want to hear but is necessary. We need to be honest about our faith.
In 3 days we will celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day. There will be parades, hotdogs on the grill and plenty of fireworks. On July 4th, 1776 the United States declared their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain; we were no longer being controlled by them. As Christians we should have an Independence Day every time we worship our Lord and Savior; we are no longer controlled by outside influences that can lead us astray.
A bull rider once remarked on what made him successful: “You’ve just got to want to hang on worse than the bull wants to throw you off.”
Philippians 3:13-14: Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 