Spiritual Growth

Some time ago I was lead to make changes in my life. I put my life completely into the hands of my Creator and He lead me to a new path of exploration. With a confidence and peace only He could give me, I jumped into the waters at Bayside Church and began to see what He had for me. Since then I've completed Belong 101 and Grow 201 and joined a Small Group. I can see positive growth and maturity happening! I can see my relationship becoming more intimate and much more meaningful. I've been praying about increased faith for a long time. To see the rewards of me giving my life into His hands is awesomely humbling and uplifting!

My small group has been very instrumental in my growth. We started with a 5 week study of Francis Chan's "Multiply" after completing that we began a 6 week Beth Moore series on Deuteronomy. Our last class in the series is tomorrow (Tues.) evening. I'm going to miss my small group. They are an amazing group of ladies with... a depth of understanding that I have wanted but could not find. Where I was feeling lost and unsure; they have helped me to find my way.

Even my appreciation for church services and the messages and teachings I receive during weekly services has increased! I have always embraced the messages of my pastors and other wonderful speakers; but now I actually reflect upon the words that I hear and look at how they can be applied in my life.

I am humbled and blessed by how I have begun to adore reading the words of the Bible and how my comprehension has increased. Thank YOU Jesus for increasing my faith and giving me the greater understanding and passion to continue to learn Your word! I am humbled by Your response to my prayers! You met me right where I need You. 

I can not begin to thank Pastor Dan Nalley of Church of the Harvest for showing me what Christianity and passion look like. I can not thank him enough for being the Pastor that taught me about God and gave me the desire to have a passion for God and His Word. If not for him; I would not have even had a true foundation to build upon. My past foundations were build upon misconception and the agendas of others. Pastor Dan showed me a rock; and gave me the tools needed to begin building a house upon a rock.  

 "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory."
Psalm 73.24 ESVSee More

I will rejoice and be glad in it!

APRIL 11

THIS IS THE DAY THAT I HAVE MADE.

Rejoice and be glad in it. Begin the day with open hands of faith, ready to receive all that I am pouring into this brief portion of your life. Be careful not to complain about anything, even the weather, since I am the Author of your circumstances. The best way to handle unwanted situations is to thank Me for them. This act of faith frees you from resentment and frees Me to work My ways into the situation, so that good emerges from it. To find Joy in this day, you must live within its boundaries. I knew what I was doing when I divided time into twenty-four-hour segments. I understand human frailty, and I know that you can bear the weight of only one day at a time. Do not worry about tomorrow or get stuck in the past. There is abundant Life in My Presence today.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. -PSALM 118:24

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -PHILIPPIANS 3:13–14

APRIL 3

IN ME YOU HAVE EVERYTHING.

In Me you are complete. Your capacity to experience Me is increasing, through My removal of debris and clutter from your heart. As your yearning for Me increases, other desires are gradually lessening. Since I am infinite and abundantly accessible to you, desiring Me above all else is the best way to live. It is impossible for you to have a need that I cannot meet. After all, I created you and everything that is. The world is still at My beck and call, though it often appears otherwise. Do not be fooled by appearances. Things that are visible are brief and fleeting, while things that are invisible are everlasting.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… -EPHESIANS 3:20

Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting. -2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 AMP

APRIL 2

I HAVE PROMISED to meet all your needs according to My glorious riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live; but there are weeds growing there too: pride, worry, selfishness, unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do My work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart. In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrivel up. I also send trials into your life. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble, Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the Peace they can produce far outweighs the trials you endure.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. -PHILIPPIANS 4:19

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. -2 CORINTHIANS 4:17

APRIL 1 I AM CALLING YOU to a life of constant communion with Me. Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life. You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with Me can be uninterrupted. But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all. Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me.

Pray continually. -1 THESSALONIANS
5:17

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. -PROVERBS 3:6