Maturity

[ANM29]

What a wonderful testimony! God is able!.

 

[ebedadonai]

It's a careful balance that must be struck between realizing that God is gracious, accepting us for where we are at, wanting us to grow as his children, but totally patient as this growth takes place. We have complete self-worth because God has given us worth, there is no condemnation, and we must not condemn ourselves...

...and recognizing that God is holy and we are often far from that holiness, if not in his eyes, in our actions. The closer we get to God, the more we will fall on our knees saying, "Depart from me, a sinner."

I find as I grow in my spiritual maturity, I am less prone to flip back and forth between these two emotions. While I don't always follow this, I should continue to struggle, strain, and chase after growth wholeheartedly, but never despair when I fall short.

Where am I in my maturity? I'm where God knew I'd be at today, and I'm fine with that, as long as I'm not here tomorrow.

 

[ANM29]

I so agree with the above. Amen!

I can also remember just a few years ago wanting to kill myself. Asking God to show me why I had to suffer so much most of my life. Asking God to give me a reason to want to live. Asking for a reason to keep getting up ever morning when life was seeming to get worse and worse. This went on and off for years. Even after being a Christian.

God had so much work to do in me, I didn't ever see myself as coming out at one point. I just knew that the grace of power of God was not enough for 'me'. But, I learned it was more than enough.

I have grown so much I can't put it into words. God has shown himself to be mighty in more ways than one in my life.

God is calling me to preach the gospel now. I think I had to go through certain things in order to be able to reach the people he will have me to reach. I had to experience being dirt poor from a child, sexual molestation/rape as a child for years, foster care for years, not knowing where my mother or father were ( any of my family )..being abused in foster care as well, being mistreated by everyone it seemed for so long. Being neglected, never having enough. Being picked on because my clothes were rags.

Becoming a woman of the night eventually. Becoming an alcoholic, drowning myself in alcohol and drugs and sex with I don't even know how many people. My drug of choice was 'alcohol' though.

I had no idea I was going to be a 'late' bloomer. You can see me now and never believe that that testimony fits my life. You will never believe that I once was that little girl who nobody wanted, and who everyone seemed to mistreat and hate.

I have grown and matured. I am what I am in Christ now because of every mountain I had to climb, and still climb. His grace has been sufficient. I know him as a God who is more than enough.

I don't worry about not getting everything right, I am the righteousness of God. What I don't get right, he takes the slack.

This is a journey. I learn more about him in every trial and test. I learn more about myself as well. I would not change a thing, I would not take any of it back. God allowed it, and he now is being glorified in spite of it. So I say Hallelujah!...I am growing and he is being praised!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

God bless you in your jouney with Him. Thanks for sharing your testimony.

 

[ebedadonai]

This is a journey. I learn more about him in every trial and test. I learn more about myself as well. I would not change a thing, I would not take any of it back. God allowed it, and he now is being glorified in spite of it. So I say Hallelujah!...I am growing and he is being praised!

That's so awesome! And what's amazing is that through all that pain, God has cultivated you to be able to reach people in a beautiful and unique way that lets them feel accepted and loved rather than judged. Very cool.

Romans 8:28...And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose

 

[fieldlily]

Humble..God is so faithful. I praise Him for what He is doing for you and what plans you have to serve Him.

The old is behind you. You are a wonderful new creation in Christ Jesus.


It is such a great grace.

May you continue to grow in wisdom and grace even as Jesus grew in wisdom and grace all the days of your life.

Blessings on your heart's desire that I pray will surely come to pass in His good timing.

birdfiend...a Christian 52 years and every day is a new beginning.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

How do you define maturity, Birdfriend?

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

I'm where God knew I'd be at today, and I'm fine with that, as long as I'm not here tomorrow.

Quote of the week.

ANM: Nice! Well, not nice that you went through all that, but I love hearing how people overcome such lifestyles with the help of Christ. Late boomer or not, it's better too late than never.

I'll just never forget making that committment to actually kill myself within a couple weeks, but asking God around the same time if He even exists or cares, and to reveal himself to me in someway that I'd know for sure was Him. Woke up a few days later feeling great, no depression symptoms whatsoever.

Today I actually learned that I needed to take another step to being a bit lower, a bit more humble. In the workplace, I try sometimes to hard to make myself too social, too involved with ppl, because I worry that ppl will think that christians are the boring type, or some stereotype thing. I realized that I was just slightly and little times trying to speak myself without God speaking for me. I worry about the example I set as a christian, though only one or two ppl actually know that I'm a christian, I still worry about not bearing my fruits. I've learned that I shouldn't worry, and don't need to worry. If I'm to be a humble servant, I should be the least among the ppl there, when I sometimes try to be more in the middle.

Not that it's a big problem, but it's still a tiny step of maturity that I've learned, that will probably make a huge difference either tomorrow or down the line. I've become a tiny bit more humble and a now trust in God a tiny bit more as of today.

So what steps in maturity did you take today?

 

[gier12]

...my maturity goes up and down ya know. Sometimes I feel like I'm a complete nut, sometimes I feel like I'm one of the most serious people ever. It's awesome though because weither you are mature or not God doesn't judge us on that, the question is how close to Him are you walking right? I believe I could be closer, I think I will always think that as years go on, there is no human spiritual perfection, but we can most certainly get as close as possible eh? God bless you guys.

YBIC,
J

 

[ANM29]

God bless you in your jouney with Him. Thanks for sharing your testimony.

Your welcome. To God be the glory forever and ever

 

[ANM29]

That's so awesome! And what's amazing is that through all that pain, God has cultivated you to be able to reach people in a beautiful and unique way that lets them feel accepted and loved rather than judged. Very cool.

Romans 8:28...And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose

Yes, all things work together for good. All things. I would have never believed it years ago.

I feel I am not worthy at times. I don't know why he choose me. I would have been the least likely candidate at one time. His ways are not our ways.

 

[ANM29]

Quote of the week.

ANM: Nice! Well, not nice that you went through all that, but I love hearing how people overcome such lifestyles with the help of Christ. Late boomer or not, it's better too late than never.

I'll just never forget making that committment to actually kill myself within a couple weeks, but asking God around the same time if He even exists or cares, and to reveal himself to me in someway that I'd know for sure was Him. Woke up a few days later feeling great, no depression symptoms whatsoever.

Today I actually learned that I needed to take another step to being a bit lower, a bit more humble. In the workplace, I try sometimes to hard to make myself too social, too involved with ppl, because I worry that ppl will think that christians are the boring type, or some stereotype thing. I realized that I was just slightly and little times trying to speak myself without God speaking for me. I worry about the example I set as a christian, though only one or two ppl actually know that I'm a christian, I still worry about not bearing my fruits. I've learned that I shouldn't worry, and don't need to worry. If I'm to be a humble servant, I should be the least among the ppl there, when I sometimes try to be more in the middle.

Not that it's a big problem, but it's still a tiny step of maturity that I've learned, that will probably make a huge difference either tomorrow or down the line. I've become a tiny bit more humble and a now trust in God a tiny bit more as of today.

So what steps in maturity did you take today?

Yes, just allow him to work through you. You don't have to try so hard, his light is already in you. It will shine even when you don't realize it is shining.

I can also remember praying for God to just allow me to die in my sleep, and when I would wake up I would be very upset that I was still alive. There were times I would pray so hard, I would be in tears asking God to just take my life; not feeling I could make it or had anything to keep waking up for. I have went through this many times. I can remember planning to kill myself a few times. I would have it all planned out, I was going to get sleeping pills and just end it. I would get the pills and the spirit of God would stop me..or he would send someone knocking on my door at the time I was about to do it. I tell you, he never allowed me to go through with it. I can now see why.

You just keep on being humble and serving God, and your light will shine. It already is.

Lesson today:
Today I got upset with someone for no reason, it was my impatience. I had to repent about that. I realize God is teaching me some serious patience these days in ways I would not have expected. He seem to put me in some situations where normally I would not choose for myself. I see why, I am learning patience much more.

 

[JPPT1974]

We go through bumpy roads but
That is what leads us to maturity
As well as well God wants to put us!

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

Bump, this thread needs to be resurrected (har har).

I'm maturing more through the bible. God keeps giving me wisdom and I've been able to put it into practice. How have you been maturing lately?

 

[blankgirl]

Hi HumbleUnderdog,

Months ago, i too was thinking of killing myself. it was a dark period i was going thru. the Lord is merciful isnt He! i love ur testimony. it just shows how much Love and Mercy He has!

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

Hi HumbleUnderdog,

Months ago, i too was thinking of killing myself. it was a dark period i was going thru. the Lord is merciful isnt He! i love ur testimony. it just shows how much Love and Mercy He has!

Well, what was it that stopped you from killing yourself?

 

[blankgirl]

my family, at that point. yeah it was my family.

 

[pilgrimage]

bump

 

[HumbleUnderdog]

What I've learned in the last few days is that I try to hard to do too much. I've been trying to be resonsible for too many things that possibly can't be responsible for, such as other people's actions. I've learned that I can only do my own job, and the other ppl can only do theirs, no matter how bad of a job they're doing. If they don't want to be helped, then there's nothing I can do about that.

While my heart is set on the objective ideal, other ppl's aren't, but I can't change that will for them.

 

[Laloni]

Some people need to start with baby steps to build up discernment and that sort of thing. Maturity doesn't just come by over night. There's a lot of dedication to the Lord involved. The Father watches over even our baby steps.