Grow

Vol. 12, No.13 Grow
Dear Friend, I was out running this morning in the early stages of preparation for a 5K run.  There is something glorious about chugging along in the early morning with the beauty of God’s creation all around you. I know my serious runner friends look upon a 5K (three mile) run as nothing more than a warm up.  For me it feels more like a run across the country!  Of course the issue for me isn’t how physically fit everyone else around me may be but how fit I am. It’s easy for us to fall into a kind of stuck-ness in the areas in which we could grow, develop, and get better. Whether you are a person of faith, a runner, golfer, chef, teacher, preacher, parent, policeman or whatever, the question is not, “How well are other people doing at this?” The question is, “How well are you doing?" Are you stuck, pretty much at the same level you were a year ago? Five years ago? Or are you growing? Getting better? Becoming more effective, more fruitful? One of the greatest promises ever made is simply, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6*  Embrace the good work our Lord is doing in you.  Become God’s partner in the development of the person that God sees in you! And remember.  A parent loves the child as much when she crawls as when she takes her first step.  God’s love is not contingent on our growth.  God loves you, period!  Whether you are at the top of your game, or find yourself stuck in some way, or have diminished in some way due to age or infirmity or some life-situation, God loves you just the way you are!
With joy - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2013 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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