Growing

As children grow older, they search out ways to increase their maturity, often seeking to make their own mistakes or their own accomplishments. Parents cooperate by giving them more opportunities to make their own decisions, and often must restrain themselves from intervening when they sense a failure is coming. This is the way in which we all grow wiser, more confident and stronger. The same is often true in our Christian lives, as God smiles at us and watches us grow.

Today I know God smiled at me, and eventually I smiled at myself,
but it took me a while to see the humor and put my pride on a shelf.
I started my day with an earnest prayer and sincere desire to grow;
I realized so many shortcomings - so many things I wanted to know.
I asked the Lord to strengthen me, that I might be more as I should,
and I had faith that with God's help, grow indeed, I would!
Well, shortly after I arrived at work, things began to go wrong,
and the hopes I had of having a good day didn't last very long.
I ran up against some tough personalities - my temper, I admit was tried,
but I managed to keep a steady voice, although I was shaking inside.
It seemed that I needed to be in fifteen places all at the very same instant.
I only wanted a calm reprieve, but everything went against it.
I almost cried; I almost screamed; I almost threw up my hands in despair,
but eventually the work day was over, and I could forget about my cares.
At home I reflected on the events of the day and suddenly remembered my request.
Why had the day been so disappointing, when I had wanted to give it my best?
The reason was made quite clear to me, as I thought a little longer --
only through meeting with resistance is any muscle made stronger.
I had asked my Lord to give me strength, and I had met obstacles along the way.
I suppose these are the little ways in which we grow...
Yes, I know God smiled at me today!

"...but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Romans 5:3 & 4

The Road Ahead

With every step that I take forward

I find fifteen more to go,
and when I'm confident in the goal I'm moving toward,
I discover so much more I need to know.
But I can't help getting excited
about the lengthy road I see;
I'm so much more than just delighted,
because God mapped it out just for me.
And even though distant mountains
are my horizon line,
the way passes by flowing fountains
and joys like dandelions.
The hills are steep and the pathway cluttered
with illusions that get in my way,
but God knows of each prayer I've uttered;
He hears me when I pray.
And I know He answers, and I feel Him guide me
as long as I'm staying on this path,
and when I've strayed, He has been beside me--
I have known God's wrath!
I've been guilty of looking back,
and at times I've stumbled and fallen,
but the Lord returns me to the right track
when on His name I'm calling.
You see, God knows my destination;
He knows the curves before me.
He understands my every frustration--
He promises never to ignore me.
I look forward to the travel--
I have no reason to dread,
For God is my companion
as I walk the road ahead.

Newfound Gap, North Carolina View

It takes valleys to make mountain tops;
without depths there would be no heights.
Through life's struggles we gain more wisdom
to understand what's right.
For trials make us stronger;
doubts bloom into faith,
and each new experience provides more substance
to bring us through, unscathed.
In each of life's deep valleys
there's a Lily to be found.
And through this Lily of the Valley
we reach mountain tops, safe and sound.

"In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll:
He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul." -- Charles W. Fry