Growth In Unexpected Places.

Isaiah 45:2a "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight"... (KJV) 

I recently went on a great and challenging 12 mile hike through the Tillamook Trail Head. 

The forest was beautiful. Got to love the beauty of nature/creation!

It started out as a cloudless morning, followed by fog one way, and on the way back, heavy clouds rolled in, followed by heavy rain and wind which made for a challenging hike back to the beginning. One cool feature on this hike is there is a viewpoint that is the closest you can get from the Oregon Coast to the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. 

I captured this tree on the pathway as I found it interesting...an elbow or crooked shaped tree next to a crooked and very uneven pathway with some fog rolling in. 

It made me think of the reality of how sometimes our personal growth comes on the paths we're on that we think start off straight but one circumstance to another it becomes crooked, challenging, or less clear.

The physical path I was on that day was full of rocks, roots, divots, muddy patches, and more and then the skies opened up with very heavy rain and a little river ran through it due to heavy rain and wind! lol.

It's kind of like life as it wasn't a smooth pathway but growth often comes from some of the crooked or uneven pathways we travel on as life isn't always clean cut or smooth and as we persevere we grow in many ways through the process.

Whether it's a crooked path, or it feels like you've come to the end of the path and you're at the edge of a cliff, trust that God is on your side and will lead you to safety, because, with God, the path ends up being straight in the end even though while we travel it, it sure doesn't feel like it! :-) 

So, here's to growth and here's to more adventures in this thing called life! Now on to the next adventure and time of growth! 

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,

Randolph Koch

The Bible is Essential Part 3 - Scripture Memorization and Tips.

Read: Psalm 119:9-16

In the last communication we took a look at studying God's Word, specifically Bible Study methods  as an important part of making God's Word a priority. 

In this communication we're shifting our focus to the importance of scripture memorization in the life of a follower of Christ. 

Memorization is vital:

It's The Here We GROW Again Times!

Life as we know it comes with no shortage of trials, tests and hard times doesn't it?!

I don't know about you but it's as real struggle sometimes to have a clear perspective when we're going through the thick of things!

We can choose to see them as times of opportunity instead of agony...

We can choose to see them as times of hope instead of hopelessness...

We can choose to see them negatively or positively...

The Spiritual Barometer of your life

Hello,

Here's a great and very practical reminder via a quote from James Gleason, the pastor of Sonrise Church in Hillsboro, Oregon and then a prayer for you from my heart to you, praying over our lives:

"The barometer of your future spiritual life is all about the things you actually participate in spiritually." -James Gleason  

In order to grow spiritually you and I have to actually put out the effort to do so through doing the right things such as reading/studying our Bibles, Giving of our time, talents, finances. Communicating with God through prayer.  Engaging in the family of Christ through corporate worship, fellowship and things like small groups or serve teams. There isn't a magic bullet to growth but all these things mentioned here and more contribute greatly to our spiritual growth and we should include them in our walk and journey with the Lord. Not in a legalistic way but as a practical way just like we nourish ourselves physically, we ought to be nourishing ourselves spiritually as well!  

There are many things we can devote ourselves to but let us be found devoting ourselves to the things that are lasting and truly impact eternity such as our spiritual growth!

My Prayer for you and I:
Lord, through the help of Your Holy Spirit please help us invest our time each day in doing the right things that will help us grow in wisdom, knowledge, grace, love, maturity and most of all - bring You glory. Help us to grow in every way possible. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Blessings in Christ,

rlk

#truth #wisdom #life

The "Here we GROW again" times...

When things are tough - whether it's in times of trial or when I go through a time where I feel very stretched, I refer to these times as the "Here we GROW again times" instead of the "Here we GO again times"...

We all know that Life is full of these times and these are very hard times but we can either choose to look at them as something that will inevitably work something good in and through our lives - make us stronger... or we can see them as see them as "the sky is falling" and "I'm never going to make it through this time"... 

To be real, when we go through things, it's hard not to have a first reaction of the more negative spin because what we're going through is real and raw but, during these times may we pause for a moment, collect our thoughts, emotions, and maybe our sanity too (LOL) and be encouraged and realize that we will make it through each battle of life as we press forward and come out the other side stronger because of what we just went through. 

Something to think about for when the next "Here we GROW again" time comes your way.

Blessings,

rlk


#lifeexperiencereflection

The Well

Scripture:
Read: John 4:7-14

The Well  
by Randolph Koch
 
Each day we draw from one well or another and just like the woman at the well we seek to quench our physical, intellectual, and spiritual thirst from one source or another - whether the right or wrong wells.
 
Jesus reminds us through His conversation with the Samaritan woman that our thirst cannot ultimately be quenched or satisfied apart from Him. 

The world would have us believe otherwise like the commercials that say "stay thirsty my friend" as they use that to try to get you to purchase more of their beverage - a beverage that wouldn't even quench ones physical thirst really! :-)  All other sources or a cheap substitute to the real "Source" The Well that truly satisfies.

We all need reminders of where we draw our strength from and we need to assess each day - "what well or wells am I drawing from today? 
 
I heard this great song appropriately named "The Well" by Casting Crowns and you can hear it via this Spotify link or another online source. I encourage you listen to this song, read John 4:7-14 and then assess where you are. 
 
Song Link: http://open.spotify.com/track/17vJ8PfHJ0hcqqO4nJ9ES3 
 
You're either going to stay "thirsty" or you're going to find the right well and have your thirst quenched and we need to daily draw from the right well, the well that Jesus offers you and I!
 
Questions to Get Started with:

1. Are you thirsty? Is your day-to-day life seemingly dry?
2. Whose well are you drawing from each day? 
3. Who or Whose well should you be drawing from each day?
4. Do you think you can do life on your own without help from God and others?
5. What changes do you need to make today to drink from the right well? 
 
Blessings,
rlk