7/15/97 Growing Up
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
Growing up. Sounds like a wonderful thing, when you are 16. I receive letters all the time from young people who can't wait to grow up. Our youth group struggled for a long time over the issues of growing up. Hurts, pain, and an instant jump to the next thing. Growing up takes courage. Many young people can be in tears one second and ready to take on the world the next. Some of the letters I receive indicate some of the strongest Christianity is just brewing, visible on the horizon in the form of these young people. I have teenage preachers, worship leaders and evangelists no longer waiting for their turn in my view. But these aren't the people I am speaking of, these aren't the ones I am looking at. In the last few days I have seen an onslaught of "older" Christians, whose lives are devastated by the fact, a vehicle won't start, or the job they took isn't what they thought. The list goes on. And the real question becomes; who do we serve? Who do you serve? Has He not equipped you for the battle ahead? Has He not made provision for you in every area of your life? I know God is growing up Christians. The letters, the calls all indicate God is causing us to grow up. And I have learned over my few short years whining and complaining do not help. (For one reason they are against His word.) If any thing there will be another encounter with the same issue, possibly the same person(or another with striking resemblance), or another circumstance. Why? God wants us to mature. To produce His fruit. I know that there older, wiser believers out there nodding their heads. There are some of us with our head in our hands. And there might be a few with their hands in the air, saying hallelujah! (but you are probably in the minority!) Maturing is a process that includes pain. Why because getting older is not with out its share of problems. 15 year olds may begin to drive here in Vermont with an adult.(which is one of the reasons that prayer in Springfield is becoming so strong!!! I have 2 of them.) I hear from many of the youth that they will have new cars, apartments, etc. I look at them in wonderment. (My own vehicle has 200,000 miles on it.) Occasionally, for fun I will ask them how much they will make and then ask what they think it costs to live. WHAT!!! is a usual response. Growing up is even harder when you consider yourself a "mature believer". There is something about being ingrained with what you think God wants from you, and then to find out He has something new for you. My daughter, Amy, tells me I still act like a kid. I turned 42 last week, and there are things I am comfortable with in my life. I wouldn't want to change some of these things. Possibly I won't. But one thing I have learned from the last few years is nothing lasts forever-except forever and your belief here on earth. Being a Christian is no different. I believe revival is coming to the Springfield area. Why? Because drunks, addicts, people with known problems are entering into the church...unasked by man. We don't know why-except it be God. Our church is not the only church experiencing this. But this isn't a church thing, this is God. And this is changing the church. And people are being forced to grow up. The "little, comfortable sins" ("God knows I am trying.") are being revealed. In my own life God has uprooted things that I thought weren't issues, didn't know they still existed, and is causing them to be dealt with. I am excited. I am growing up. God is causing His children to grow. For the next great wave of salvations, there will be a need for mature, fruit bearing believers. If we are still living on yesterday's knowledge, we are not growing. We need fresh manna. God wants us to grow. To stop letting every little thing bring us back to the bottom of the well. Give God the permission to remove all that hinders you. Open yourself up to Him, that you will grow. For some of us that means giving up the complaining, the whining. Perhaps its one of those areas of "comfort". Stand in the fact that you have the victory and let it go. If each one us, begins to release our lives to Him, to grow up, I believe we will see waves of salvation. Why? God will not bring new Christians to a place where they will not be taken care of. I pray for the areas you have been struggling with to be submitted to Him, with the understanding that He wants you to be free of all hindrances. I pray that God will reveal the areas of your life that may not have been apparent to you as a source of problem. And I pray that you will have the courage to change.
Selah.
Shalom.
We pray for you, each and every day. If this is an encouragement to you. Please tell us, and please email it to someone else. If you have a prayer request, please mail it to us. We want to stand with you, battling spiritual wickedness, seeing people made free. We want to serve our brother and sister.
In the Service of Christ for His Glory,
Lee Johndrow
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For those who support us in prayer and deed we appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lee & Tina Johndrow
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