Growth
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I can't say there was a certain epoch in which I grew the most. Not yet, anyway.
My spiritual journey began at age 5 with salvation, and I grew fast with attempts to convert my friends and constantly learning Biblical stories and concepts. The wonderful part about being a child and learning is that the imagination is not marred by reality. Samson, Noah, Moses, etc don't seem far away. They are fairly close.
In my teens I had the benefit of experience smoothing my rough edges along with a more objective approach toward spiritual questions.
The lessons I have learned since are less coherent; just dealing with the onslaught of adulthood.
My spiritual journey began at age 5 with salvation, and I grew fast with attempts to convert my friends and constantly learning Biblical stories and concepts. The wonderful part about being a child and learning is that the imagination is not marred by reality. Samson, Noah, Moses, etc don't seem far away. They are fairly close.
In my teens I had the benefit of experience smoothing my rough edges along with a more objective approach toward spiritual questions.
The lessons I have learned since are less coherent; just dealing with the onslaught of adulthood.
Haha, I know exactly what you're talking about! Rapid periods of growth are cool, and we can learn SO much if we're attentive, but I'm not sure we would survive if our whole lives were that intense! (although I know His grace is sufficient 
). I think that slow periods can be viewed as a bit of a break.
There was one rather frustrating time I went through that I didn't feel like I learned a thing. Then when it was over, I looked back and saw that it was actually really good for me.....almost like I was able to see in retrospect what I was blind to while I was going through the "trial" (if you even want to call it that). I was learning things without even knowing it!
God knows what He's doing, and He knows what we can handle. The main trick is to keep our spiritual ears attuned to what He wants to show us.....then we'll never stop growing!
). I think that slow periods can be viewed as a bit of a break. There was one rather frustrating time I went through that I didn't feel like I learned a thing. Then when it was over, I looked back and saw that it was actually really good for me.....almost like I was able to see in retrospect what I was blind to while I was going through the "trial" (if you even want to call it that). I was learning things without even knowing it!
God knows what He's doing, and He knows what we can handle. The main trick is to keep our spiritual ears attuned to what He wants to show us.....then we'll never stop growing!
J
I can't remember not knowing about the Lord and having my heart touched by Him, even as a small child. But difficult times in my late 20s drew me closer than ever to Him. His strength is truly made perfect in our weakness and total surrender. I spent every spare moment soaking up the Word for about 5 years straight and have boxes of notes in my barn still from that time. He became so much more to me...as if I'd only been half alive until then.
G
Poetic, telling, powerful, julieannie, there's unwritten greatness in that post I can tell, ways to truly glorify God and help others. Just saying.
The Lord leads.
And, lightnin', hi !
Wassup, Christ bro
Good question. My growth most came in the year 2000 when I got baptized and after was not planning on it, but went to a restaurant and people from.another church was there eating. My buddy from.my church told them that I.was baptized that night after we had ate and were standing outside Shari's.
I'm not saying it's some 'me' experience , and, I'm better, I'm not, none of us are, we all.sin, fall short of God's glory all the time, but, anyway, lightstrike, I was just standing there and, this was when several wanted to pray over me.
One said, 'Do you have the Holy Spirit?'
Isaid, ' no, I didn't know I could have him ? I love God , Jesus, I know of the Holy Spirit, but no, no ones ever prayed like that to me.'
then, about 10 guys all standing in a circle around me began praying for me, laying their hands on me asking me if I wanted the Holy Spirit. I just kept saying 'yes.' Over and over again.
Honestly, lightnin' , that experience was not some blinding moment of 'AWWWWE' with a bright light, but it was revelationary because I grew up in church, had God all my life but never knew I could have the Holy Spirit inside my temple.
It was a glorious experience in the sense that my confidence in God grew greatly, exponentially.
I hope this makes sense, as it is a good question , and, made me think because I also grew in 1996-97 but that time was less spiritual growth, and, more just learning, re-learning, really, to trust God and to realize how much He loved me, after I'd said to self in 1995 in my car that I.was short steps in life away from.a house, wife, kids, nice afgluent life. Wham! Not even 10 minutes after.that thought I crashed my car and hurt others, no insurance, it was truly a God happening, Christ bro. I know I've told my 'car' story before but will.tell it again if you ever want. That accident was the seed , as I then watered that seed with work/work/work to olpay off my sudden debt and church/church/church, tues., wed. Sunday, morning/evening, church for 2 years , including, an awesome mission trip to north Carolina that God just showed up at throughout, and so, yes, then in 1997 I going to.altar several times in that time before borning again my life to Christ, and, then the baptism experience after that 3 years later.
The Lord leads.
And, lightnin', hi !
Wassup, Christ bro
Good question. My growth most came in the year 2000 when I got baptized and after was not planning on it, but went to a restaurant and people from.another church was there eating. My buddy from.my church told them that I.was baptized that night after we had ate and were standing outside Shari's.
I'm not saying it's some 'me' experience , and, I'm better, I'm not, none of us are, we all.sin, fall short of God's glory all the time, but, anyway, lightstrike, I was just standing there and, this was when several wanted to pray over me.
One said, 'Do you have the Holy Spirit?'
Isaid, ' no, I didn't know I could have him ? I love God , Jesus, I know of the Holy Spirit, but no, no ones ever prayed like that to me.'
then, about 10 guys all standing in a circle around me began praying for me, laying their hands on me asking me if I wanted the Holy Spirit. I just kept saying 'yes.' Over and over again.
Honestly, lightnin' , that experience was not some blinding moment of 'AWWWWE' with a bright light, but it was revelationary because I grew up in church, had God all my life but never knew I could have the Holy Spirit inside my temple.
It was a glorious experience in the sense that my confidence in God grew greatly, exponentially.
I hope this makes sense, as it is a good question , and, made me think because I also grew in 1996-97 but that time was less spiritual growth, and, more just learning, re-learning, really, to trust God and to realize how much He loved me, after I'd said to self in 1995 in my car that I.was short steps in life away from.a house, wife, kids, nice afgluent life. Wham! Not even 10 minutes after.that thought I crashed my car and hurt others, no insurance, it was truly a God happening, Christ bro. I know I've told my 'car' story before but will.tell it again if you ever want. That accident was the seed , as I then watered that seed with work/work/work to olpay off my sudden debt and church/church/church, tues., wed. Sunday, morning/evening, church
for 2 years , including, an awesome mission trip to north Carolina that God just showed up at throughout, and so, yes, then in 1997 I going to.altar several times in that time before borning again my life to Christ, and, then the baptism experience after that 3 years later.
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K
I have loved the Lord since I was a child, but the real deepest growth that I have experienced came my freshman year of college (Fall 07). It is a year that I am very thankful for and though a foundation was set before that year, this was the year that solidified who I am in Christ.
My beliefs were tested my senior year in college and though I'm still coming out of that, I know the Lord did and is doing a great work. This is a season of growth, ,so it seems. Praise Him for that!
My beliefs were tested my senior year in college and though I'm still coming out of that, I know the Lord did and is doing a great work. This is a season of growth, ,so it seems. Praise Him for that!
G
I have loved the Lord since I was a child, but the real deepest growth that I have experienced came my freshman year of college (Fall 07). It is a year that I am very thankful for and though a foundation was set before that year, this was the year that solidified who I am in Christ.
My beliefs were tested my senior year in college and though I'm still coming out of that, I know the Lord did and is doing a great work. This is a season of growth, ,so it seems. Praise Him for that!
My beliefs were tested my senior year in college and though I'm still coming out of that, I know the Lord did and is doing a great work. This is a season of growth, ,so it seems. Praise Him for that!
G
I couldn't agree more, I've grown all my life, just some times I've grown more.
YOur answer is....
.....awesome , Reesepeace
How them kids treatin' ya ! <-- Great!
And, your other stuff, schooling, you know, seguing music, etc. etc. and, etc. ? <-- Pretty Good!
How's 'business?' <--- Sustainable.
YOur answer is....
.....awesome , Reesepeace
How them kids treatin' ya ! <-- Great!
And, your other stuff, schooling, you know, seguing music, etc. etc. and, etc. ? <-- Pretty Good!
How's 'business?'
<--- Sustainable.
^ Now, my young favorite candy name guy , I can't stress this enough, and, you already know you know this but just being ae the Lord leads me....
I used to do one job for 12 years straight and I did a lot of other FULL.time jobs too, butnthis job, like yours, indirectly, but , like yours , was working with young people, and, how I ciuld work a 40 hour work.week, sometimes 50-60, and, still be perfectly able to continue this God work I.do not know but it was uncanny the way God ALWAYS worked it out , I hope , in your going to school--i.assume you took summeroff--u continue pastoring thosr kids IF He provides a way. The Lord leads, God bless your great work, Reesespeace
)()()()()()
Sorry, lightnin', I do not mean to derail your great thread that is growing with a lot of.great responses.
Reese, I am going to become journalist on you now, what time of your life, per lightnin's chart, did God show you Himself most, where you understood the spiritual reality of Him.most?
P.s. I think this is a great question to ask.youth, about when, in their young life, have they seem the most spiritual growth. Since they are 13 to 19, if teens, then ask them for a specific AGE God grew them the most. Tjis asking will.challenge their faith, and, walk, and, realizing they haven't grown much while, for othets, they will be able to understand clearer their growth . I.would not compare answers either, but, pray about that, hmm, yeah. Either have them.answer in their bedrooms thst night or just, as your doing message to them, in middle of it, ask them at what age, 10,11,12,13,14,etc. they grew their (measure of) faith in God
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G
Amen, Reeces. Your teaching the generational leaders of tomorrow will be of tremendous blessing by Him
Better thank, lightnin', really, I wouldn't have ever thought, the Lord leads, but, yeah, God used brolightnin' to strike that fanciful, probing, perhaps, 'inspiring' Q for your youth to think for a bit about....
What age can you remember your experiencing the most spiritual growth,vwhere you were on fire, gung-ho, yeeee-haw, for God? Are you still crazy for cocoa puf--oops, stomach chimeth yhere, sorry, think'er 'bout time for a latenight snack , but yeah.....Are you still crazy about God things? If not, what halpened?
How do you think you can get back to putting God first in your life?
Reeces, buddy, your job is a great one, the Spirit working through you will fall on all kinds of fertile (soil-rich) and unfertile (rocky) ground, and, your being used by God to help these kids go from liking songs that can only imagine human love to God Love , which their truly is no comparison of that Truth .
Ooooh, I can only imagine, what I want to do.with you, I can only imsgine what it'd be like.
AsIf, THIS song is battling the spiritual in a deep way, not only is is surely not speaking of JUST KISSING A GIRL, this David Guetta song, is attacking one of the most popular pop song's all time...
When one used to do a google search with words: I can only imagine Guess what song always came up Mercy Me's great christian message song !
But, now, nooo, and, Satan is really hammerin' in THIS way , this is but ONE example.
I do not list this song for any other reason than to let others see HOW Satan is nailing this generation to yhe wall, getting them away from imagining what HEAVEN will be like to imagining things, like premarital sex messaged in Guetta's song that grow kids in worldly ways and keep them from choosing Him
Note: I don't care what music you listen to as long as the Lord leads you,band, that truly means, I DON'T CARE. YOU , though, must pray that your music brings glory to Him in your mind when you listen.
This song is devastatingly shooting down God's way of Love, where man and woman do NOT have sex hefore marriage. And, THIS song IS speaking of imagining sex which is WRONG , fornication, call it whatever one wants. Again, this is not judging anyone, I hope and pray, and, I will NEVER list a song like this on c.c. (I personally when alone only listen to Spirit 105.3 FM ) except IF the Lord leads and Reece (Asifinpassing) DOES work with today's youth as a youth pastor, at least has in past.
Only IMAGINE Jesus things, and, GUARANTEED, your life will be unimaginably AWESOME, THE BEST from Him
Amen, Reeces. Your teaching the generational leaders of tomorrow will be of tremendous blessing by Him
Better thank, lightnin', really, I wouldn't have ever thought, the Lord leads, but, yeah, God used brolightnin' to strike that fanciful, probing, perhaps, 'inspiring' Q for your youth to think for a bit about....
What age can you remember your experiencing the most spiritual growth,vwhere you were on fire, gung-ho, yeeee-haw, for God? Are you still crazy for cocoa puf--oops, stomach chimeth yhere, sorry, think'er 'bout time for a latenight snack , but yeah.....Are you still crazy about God things? If not, what halpened?
How do you think you can get back to putting God first in your life?
Reeces, buddy, your job is a great one, the Spirit working through you will fall on all kinds of fertile (soil-rich) and unfertile (rocky) ground, and, your being used by God to help these kids go from liking songs that can only imagine human love to God Love , which their truly is no comparison of that Truth .
Ooooh, I can only imagine, what I want to do.with you, I can only imsgine what it'd be like.
AsIf, THIS song is battling the spiritual in a deep way, not only is is surely not speaking of JUST KISSING A GIRL, this David Guetta song, is attacking one of the most popular pop song's all time...
When one used to do a google search with words: I can only imagine Guess what song always came up Mercy Me's great christian message song !
But, now, nooo, and, Satan is really hammerin' in THIS way , this is but ONE example.
I do not list this song for any other reason than to let others see HOW Satan is nailing this generation to yhe wall, getting them away from imagining what HEAVEN will be like to imagining things, like premarital sex messaged in Guetta's song that grow kids in worldly ways and keep them from choosing Him
Note: I don't care what music you listen to as long as the Lord leads you,band, that truly means, I DON'T CARE. YOU , though, must pray that your music brings glory to Him in your mind when you listen.
This song is devastatingly shooting down God's way of Love, where man and woman do NOT have sex hefore marriage. And, THIS song IS speaking of imagining sex which is WRONG , fornication, call it whatever one wants. Again, this is not judging anyone, I hope and pray, and, I will NEVER list a song like this on c.c. (I personally when alone only listen to Spirit 105.3 FM ) except IF the Lord leads and Reece (Asifinpassing) DOES work with today's youth as a youth pastor, at least has in past.
Only IMAGINE Jesus things, and, GUARANTEED, your life will be unimaginably AWESOME, THE BEST from Him
Actually, nah, I don't even want to list the Guetta song. Knowing it's title is knowledge enough .
God covers ALL our sins so if you done pre-marital thing, so what, you ARE covered by His blood. Repent and abide and walk with/in Him, He's tossed 'it' into 'the sea of forgetfulness.' ONLY Satan dredges up your past sins, not God Confess it and FORGEDABOWDIT 1 John 1:9 He is faithful and just and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness by His blood
Better thank, lightnin', really, I wouldn't have ever thought, the Lord leads, but, yeah, God used brolightnin' to strike that fanciful, probing, perhaps, 'inspiring' Q for your youth to think for a bit about....
What age can you remember your experiencing the most spiritual growth,vwhere you were on fire, gung-ho, yeeee-haw, for God? Are you still crazy for cocoa puf--oops, stomach chimeth yhere, sorry, think'er 'bout time for a latenight snack
, but yeah.....Are you still crazy about God things? If not, what halpened?How do you think you can get back to putting God first in your life?
Reeces, buddy, your job is a great one, the Spirit working through you will fall on all kinds of fertile (soil-rich) and unfertile (rocky) ground, and, your being used by God to help these kids go from liking songs that can only imagine human love to God Love , which their truly is no comparison of that Truth .
Ooooh, I can only imagine, what I want to do.with you, I can only imsgine what it'd be like.
AsIf, THIS song is battling the spiritual in a deep way, not only is is surely not speaking of JUST KISSING A GIRL, this David Guetta song, is attacking one of the most popular pop song's all time...
When one used to do a google search with words: I can only imagine Guess what song always came up Mercy Me's great christian message song !
But, now, nooo, and, Satan is really hammerin' in THIS way , this is but ONE example.
I do not list this song for any other reason than to let others see HOW Satan is nailing this generation to yhe wall, getting them away from imagining what HEAVEN will be like to imagining things, like premarital sex messaged in Guetta's song that grow kids in worldly ways and keep them from choosing Him
Note: I don't care what music you listen to as long as the Lord leads you,band, that truly means, I DON'T CARE. YOU , though, must pray that your music brings glory to Him in your mind when you listen.
This song is devastatingly shooting down God's way of Love, where man and woman do NOT have sex hefore marriage. And, THIS song IS speaking of imagining sex which is WRONG , fornication, call it whatever one wants. Again, this is not judging anyone, I hope and pray, and, I will NEVER list a song like this on c.c. (I personally when alone only listen to Spirit 105.3 FM ) except IF the Lord leads and Reece (Asifinpassing) DOES work with today's youth as a youth pastor, at least has in past.
Only IMAGINE Jesus things, and, GUARANTEED, your life will be unimaginably AWESOME, THE BEST from Him
Amen, Reeces. Your teaching the generational leaders of tomorrow will be of tremendous blessing by Him
Better thank, lightnin', really, I wouldn't have ever thought, the Lord leads, but, yeah, God used brolightnin' to strike that fanciful, probing, perhaps, 'inspiring' Q for your youth to think for a bit about....
What age can you remember your experiencing the most spiritual growth,vwhere you were on fire, gung-ho, yeeee-haw, for God? Are you still crazy for cocoa puf--oops, stomach chimeth yhere, sorry, think'er 'bout time for a latenight snack
, but yeah.....Are you still crazy about God things? If not, what halpened?How do you think you can get back to putting God first in your life?
Reeces, buddy, your job is a great one, the Spirit working through you will fall on all kinds of fertile (soil-rich) and unfertile (rocky) ground, and, your being used by God to help these kids go from liking songs that can only imagine human love to God Love , which their truly is no comparison of that Truth .
Ooooh, I can only imagine, what I want to do.with you, I can only imsgine what it'd be like.
AsIf, THIS song is battling the spiritual in a deep way, not only is is surely not speaking of JUST KISSING A GIRL, this David Guetta song, is attacking one of the most popular pop song's all time...
When one used to do a google search with words: I can only imagine Guess what song always came up Mercy Me's great christian message song !
But, now, nooo, and, Satan is really hammerin' in THIS way , this is but ONE example.
I do not list this song for any other reason than to let others see HOW Satan is nailing this generation to yhe wall, getting them away from imagining what HEAVEN will be like to imagining things, like premarital sex messaged in Guetta's song that grow kids in worldly ways and keep them from choosing Him
Note: I don't care what music you listen to as long as the Lord leads you,band, that truly means, I DON'T CARE. YOU , though, must pray that your music brings glory to Him in your mind when you listen.
This song is devastatingly shooting down God's way of Love, where man and woman do NOT have sex hefore marriage. And, THIS song IS speaking of imagining sex which is WRONG , fornication, call it whatever one wants. Again, this is not judging anyone, I hope and pray, and, I will NEVER list a song like this on c.c. (I personally when alone only listen to Spirit 105.3 FM ) except IF the Lord leads and Reece (Asifinpassing) DOES work with today's youth as a youth pastor, at least has in past.
Only IMAGINE Jesus things, and, GUARANTEED, your life will be unimaginably AWESOME, THE BEST from Him
Actually, nah, I don't even want to list the Guetta song. Knowing it's title is knowledge enough .
God covers ALL our sins so if you done pre-marital thing, so what, you ARE covered by His blood. Repent and abide and walk with/in Him, He's tossed 'it' into 'the sea of forgetfulness.' ONLY Satan dredges up your past sins, not God
Confess it and FORGEDABOWDIT 1 John 1:9 He is faithful and just and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness by His blood
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V
I can't answer the poll because I think God has drawn me closer in two major ages, my 20's and 30's. Even though I grew up in a Christian home, I was not saved until I was a teenager, so while I knew about God, I didn't really know Him as a child. In my 20's, I went through some rough patches that God used to grow me closer to Him. And then in my 30's, it was more then just rough times. I think in some ways my ears and heart was more open, because of my past, but at the same time, God still had to shake me up at times, because well, I'm a little stubborn and like to have things my own way. As if y'all didn't know that.