MATURITY

Consider the following when seen through the eyes of a toddler:

1.       If I like it, it’s mine
2.       If it’s in my hand, it’s mine
3.       If I can take it from you, it’s mine
4.       If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine
5.       If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way
6.       If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine
7.       If it looks just like mine, it’s mine
8.       If I saw it first, it’s mine
9.      If you are playing with something and you put it down, it’s    

automatically mine

1. If it’s broken, it’s yours

A child will always add a half to their age, because they want to be older.  An adult, however, will be QUIET about their age.  If they DO announce the number, it’s their current one with no “halves” mentioned.

We’re never too old to grow up – to become “mature!”

Webster defines maturity:  grown up, experienced, prepared, developed, cultivated, ripened … kind of sounds like a tomato that’s been on the vine awhile, doesn’t it?

In the broadest sense, it’s a fruitfulness that God Himself longs to develop in His children.  It’s a process of caring, pruning and lovingly working in all of the circumstances of our lives.  The good, bad, ugly, and the unexpected … what’s been fair and unfair. 

Our walk of life on earth with the One who died for us, prepares us for life with Him eternally.  We need to choose this option.  God is not only preparing a place for us, but He’s preparing us for that place.

God invites all people to a relationship with Jesus.  But it’s an invitation with an RSVP.  A relationship with Jesus Christ begins a process of turning away from a selfish, childish life and turning to His leadership and a new life.

A baby grows physically by taking in nutrients.  This begins with milk, progressing to pureed or “baby food.”  But this is only meant for a short time.  Soon, teeth appear for more than a cute smile, but for chewing real food.  Our new life with Christ follows a similar process spiritually. 

As adults, we are blessed with a tremendous array of foods!  There’s pasta, produce, chocolate, meat, fish, chocolate.  Then there’s one food that I find difficult to get down because I think it resembles a huddle of trees in the forest – broccoli!

Like many of you, I enjoy and take great delight in some foods, but others are rather “hard to swallow.”  In spite our dislikes, we plan and prepare nutritious things to eat for our families so they’ll grow strong healthy bodies and grow up.

Because I hate broccoli, I have had to make some attitude changes.  I “choose to eat it” because it’s good for me.”  Though I’m happy to share some with you too!  Mom’s favorite line at the table: “Eat up, it’s GOOD FOR YOU!”  (Even if it’s broccoli?!!).  Of course, I’d rather have chocolate, but too much chocolate isn’t good for me.  Sometimes I’d like to begin with dessert, but that’s not the best choice either.

I’ve been addressing some childish attitudes – beliefs or mindsets that produce unhappiness.  Life isn’t always fair and unfulfilled expectations can be hard to swallow.  Life isn’t as carefree as we’d like, and there are seasons when we’re sad.  Life has some real pits to it.

Ever been in a situation where you have really been hurting, and you look around and see others hurting too?  It doesn’t take away your pain, but you know you’re not the only one that’s feeling that way.

God shows us all through his “saints on display in the Bible” that they weren’t walking alone.  He was IN their experiences and WITH THEM.  He uses their life-stories to touch and encourage us.

In 2004 I was a student in the “Character 101 class.”  It began with my mom’s cancer diagnosis.  A few months later, my dad had a stroke that paralyzed half of his body and much of his mouth and jaw.  For two weeks I was with him 10 hours a day attending to him and icing his mouth every 30 minutes.

Three days before he died, my mom was told her cancer had returned and she needed surgery.  I attended to them both on and off in separate locations.  I planned his funeral and handled most all of their affairs by myself.

I can’t begin to tell you how powerfully personal God’s presence and peace settled me and comforted me.  He brought strangers into my life that reached out to me in my pain.

My Heavenly Daddy reminded me, “I’m here.  I know.  I understand.”  In those moments we have something that an unbeliever doesn’t have.  We have Some One who can cuddle and hold us deep within, when our emotional seams unravel.

Have you noticed that life happens — while we’re making other plans?

When things don’t go our way, our hearts can get cool toward God.  We fail to see Him at work in our lives … in the little things.  In reality, if God seems distant, it is not Him who has moved away … we have.

It is no accident that our difficulties, disappointments, tragedies and pain can bring our hearts back to Him.   Our pride and self-sufficiency rob us of seeing God in our circumstances.  Our hearts deceive us into thinking “I can do this ALL BY MYSELF!”  That has a CHILDISH RING to it!

When life does not follow our plan, we seek those who have walked through this before, and want to hear their loving counsel as they tell of God’s provision of unimaginable peace and inner strength.

While still here on earth, God often needs to activate a few “ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS.”  Our lives are HIS GIFT TO US … but how we live them is OUR GIFT to HIM.

Each day we’re writing the chapters and verses.  Most of us will never have a book written about us, but people are reading us just the same.  Our lives speak volumes; and since God is the author, we need to be active participants in the story, which speaks of His encouragement and draws attention to HIS love, care, faithfulness and wonderful provision amidst it all.

God wants to write His story through each of our lives.  If we give Him complete “editorial control,” He’ll write an epic.

When a collection of CIRCUMSTANCES comes our way; and it’s not packaged as we would choose, we wonder: “God, are you aware of this?  Has this taken you by surprise?”  This is when our Character 101 class is in session.

This is when our “talk” about trusting the Lord begins to become our “walk.”  If our beliefs are socks simply to keep our feet warm, we need to put on shoes and get going!  Because WHAT WE DO … DETERMINES WHAT WE BELIEVE, no matter what we say with our lips. 

MATURE BELIEFS are based on our relationship to God – through His Word and His character.  These beliefs are not based on how we feel, what we have seen or read on social media or what others do to us.

Years ago, someone’s behavior and words “swept me off my emotional feet.”  My thoughts and feelings went into overdrive, and my response ranged from devastated, shocked, overwhelmed, saddened … and more.  Thankfully God had been at work in me long before this took place, to get me ready.  It wasn’t done by a stranger, but a friend.

Remember the pop quizzes we had in school.  In this Character 101 Class – this was mine, and had one simple question: “How are you going to handle this?”

At first, I bawled like a child … and that was okay with my Daddy!  But after the tears, I had a GROWN-UP DECISION TO MAKE.   How would God want me to handle this!

My response needed to indicate my complete dependency on God, because I also knew that this was given to me for His CONSTRUCTIVE PURPOSES in my life and character?  Of course, this person was responsible to God for their behavior, but then, so was I.

I’m learning through my years of walking with Jesus that He is far more concerned with MY CHARACTER … THAN MY COMFORT.

The evil one longs to take all the unfairness, stresses and pain and use it for DESTRUCTIVE purposes in our lives.  And he provokes us to think: “God doesn’t care and this incident has slipped past Him.”

But our loving God allows and uses all the unfairness, disappointments and pain we encounter in a CONSTRUCTIVE way … as we allow Him.  What the Devil doesn’t seem to get is that we belong to and serve a LOVING Father.

As His kids, the MATURE perspective we need to maintain is that our loving Father can and will use all the disappointments, stresses, and heartache like a Divine Potter.  Thus, we are Squeezed, Shaped, Turned, and Molded into something useful.   When this process is complete, we realize a more wonderful CLOSENESS of INTIMACY with Him.

Though Satan tries to discourage us through our own thoughts or those of others – into thinking that God has abandoned us.  Here is where we need to keep real close to Him.  Our relationship with God, perhaps still developing, should remind us that nothing can touch us – not even separate us from God’s love and purpose for each one of us.

In the Bible, David knew that God’s work is perfect because of his personal relationship with Him.  David knew that God does no wrong, and that He’s faithful (regardless of what we’re going through).

Our disappointments or unmet expectations are way markers on our journey to maturity with Jesus.

In our Christian life, we eventually all encounter the decision: “Am I going to let God be God?”  I look back and smile that whenever I encountered problem and difficulties, I simply resorted to take control of the situation, and tried to push God out of the driver’s seat of my life.

Since God is concerned with character, we are given open-book tests.  Our responses to how we handle THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO WRONG, determine whether we advance … or repeat that lesson.

Thus, when a situation stirs us to lash back, get even, or murmur: “you’re going to pay for this.”  If instead we respond like Jesus, WE KNOW WE’RE GROWING … and ready for harder challenges.

The trials and pressures we face may make us feel like a rubber band for a while.  But our Daddy is in “sovereign control – fully in charge” of the TRIAL, but also its TEMPERATURE and DURATION.

While studying and reflecting on “character,” and allowing the various life experiences to “marinate in my mind;” there’s a personal story I hadn’t planned to share, but which parallels the Biblical story of Hannah’s sorrow and her joy!

This is part of my story.  The name has been changed and the ending is different, but the same wonderful God who works all things together for His good plan and purpose is still involved.

I remember when I first realized that Jesus is God … with skin on, and how responding to Him makes you a chosen person, and given a PURPOSE as found in Jeremiah 29:11.

“I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to PROSPER you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God’s purpose is to demonstrate, or put on display, something very special in and through EACH OF US.

God never lumps us all together, but speaks to us individually.  We are not just a crowd, but individuals – dearly loved by Him.  The truly strange thing is that His love is NOT conditional.  It does not depend on our performance, accomplishments, title, or address.  You are loved – just for “being you.”

This photo spoke tenderly to me.  It’s a photo of a lovely friend just a few days after she was born.  There were two ways this touched my heart.  

This young mother exudes gladness and joy as she embraces her newborn daughter with all her hopes and anticipation of how her life would unfold.  She had no idea of the plans God had for this child.   But God did!  And oh, the joy God had when He designed each of us and caused you and I to enter this world as He gave us our first breath.

This little baby is now a beautiful woman who has become a doctor.  God has used this woman in many wonderful ways in the country of Afghanistan. 

God is also using her as she communicates her “experiential journey” in her walk with God through her writings to encourage others.  In this photo she appears like most other newborn babies, but here’s where it leans in so beautifully in the arena of “maturity.”  

God’s longing is that as we mature in our walk of faith, we begin to take on the features and characteristics of our Savior.  God’s goal is that we “resemble Jesus” in our everyday lives, so others are drawn to Him.

I know this “baby” as an adult, and it’s ever-so-clear when I see her and then look at this photo, I see the “strong resemblance of her mother in her.”  That’s “exactly what God is looking for in each of His children is the resemblance of Christ in our lives.”

A compass goal for my life is this: “After people spend time with me, (working, speaking, living my life) what do they think of Jesus Christ?”

So, you see, this photo is a vivid reminder that God is working in every crevice of my life and yours, working as a Divine Potter, shaping us into the likeness of the character of His Son.   Each of our lives “influence others” toward Jesus, or away from Him.

We understand from that verse in Jeremiah 29:11 that God says: “I love you because I designed you and gave you your first breath and each breath thereafter.”

In my story, the Lord gave my husband and me a gift much more valuable than a few biological children.  Instead, He has given us more children than we ever thought possible.

For years, I wondered if God truly loved me, because we had not been blessed with a child.  The Bible tells us that children are a gift from the Lord … others have these gifts!  Why don’t we?

From God’s perspective, my experience is somewhat like what happened to Hannah.  God needed me to have a change in attitude. 

Since we are created as individuals, God has an individual plan for each of us.  It can never be compared to someone else.  Just as Hannah looked at Peninnah’s life, I looked at others with a child.

God kindly, gently and consistently began to “operate on my eyes.”  I though my WOMB was the problem.  The GREAT PHYSICIAN knew better, because He had other plans.

Our life and home are filled with guests who come and stay with us throughout the year.  One day after yet another group of guests had left … I finally began to see … something.  It was as if the BANDAGES FELL OFF … and I began to see things from HIS PERSPECTIVE on why we did not have children.

God quietly spoke to my heart:

          “You love having people in your home, don’t you?  Had you

          ever thought that each person that comes into your life or

          your door is a CHILD, sent by ME for you to love?”

So … how do we get God’s perspective on our situations?  Of course, God is committed to providing that for us, but we need to ALLOW HIM to do that … without taking control!  This is a learned discipline and takes time.

My expectations were continually frustrated since God did not provide what I wanted in the packaging I had anticipated.  For years I didn’t RECOGNIZE His gifts due to my pre-conceived definition.  I wanted one that weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz.

Once I began to really see His gifts, my life has NEVER been the same.  Now I SEE that EVERYONE IS A CHILD.  We’re just different heights and sizes. 

In the Bible, God said “yes” to Hannah’s prayer for a child, and after she weaned him, she gave her child back to God, and she was filled with joy.

In my situation, God had said “no,” but continues to bring people to me, whom I nurture and give -back to Him … and I am filled with joy.

God has opened my eyes to see the inner child in all of us.  He has given me a task of caring for and loving these taller ones He brings into my life.  Of course, I am only a means of transferring His love to other.

How can we tell others He’s wonderful and good and can be trusted if we’ve not EXPERIENCED HIM FIRST HAND?  Our commitment to give control of our life to God, requires a “letting go.”  Once He is “holding the ropes” of our lives, we realize that He is in charge, AND we are NO LONGER IN CONTROL.

Gradually, through circumstances and personal experience, we begin to mature – becoming contagious and convincing to others of the power of God – for we know Him personally.  Yes, there may even be joy in our tears, we realize that He is WONDERFUL!

Studying and learning about Him is great, but our real growth begins when He begins to stretch our character by gently pushing us out of our cushy and feathered “comfort zones.”  It is then we begin to EXPERIENCE GOD HIMSELF AND WHO HE IS AND LONGS TO BE in our “daily living.”

We have seen photos of a huge eagle’s nest high in the tree or in the crag of a cliff.  Most of these nests are out of reach, and few of us have seen the construction. 

The nest begins with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks and other items that seem entirely unsuitable for the project.  Soon the nest is lined with a thick padding of fur and feathers, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs and soon the chicks.

However, as the eaglets mature and reach flying age, they become comfortable and enjoy their free meals, which makes them reluctant to leave.

That’s when the mother eagle begins “stirring up the nest.”  With her strong talons she begins pulling up the thick carpet of fur and feathers, bringing the sharp rocks and branches to the surface.  As their environment becomes more uncomfortable, the eaglets get restless in their discomfort.

Not long after, through some serious prompting and urging the now growing eagles are encouraged to leave their once-comfortable abode and move on to behave like the eagles they are meant to be.

When giving control of our lives to God, we also need to understand that His parenting skills are perfect.  As we learn to trust God, we understand that in those situations where we, like the eaglets, are

uncomfortable, it is because we are reaching the end of one level of our maturity.  It is at these stages God is actually EXPRESSING HIS LOVE TO US.

Yet, we need to ensure our “compass attitude” holds us close to Him since He is so aware of the “temperature” of each of our hearts’ emotion.

There is no verse that promises a trouble-free life.  God does want us to know that our every “hurt and pain” concerns Him.  He invites us to cast all of our cares and pains on Him,

                                    BECAUSE

                                          HE

                                                CARES

                                                        FOR

                                                              US.