What a privilege!

It was a bit after five this morning when I began.  After a good bit of time, digging and turning from this page to that page like a starving child digging into a soup bowl, I brought my head up -- leaned it back on my chair - and looking up said, "God, growth is such a privilege!"

How does a plant, or a child, or really anything for that matter grow?  It must consume something and then convert that something into usable energy that feeds cell growth.

May I ask humbly: How is your spiritual growth these days?

Are you skipping meals?
Eating the world's junk food?

Shudder the thoughts!

A good nutritious meal takes time; time at God's table.

(And may I say from experience it also goes a long way with the Cook to say "Thank you" when the 'meal' is served, and again after it is eaten!)

Growth doesn't "just" happen, and it certainly does not happen when nutrition is ignored or forsaken.  I think now of the pictures I have seen of teenagers in third world nations who don't even look ten, stunted from malnutrition or no nutrition at all.

I implore you, dear ones, in a land where there is plenty.... choose your spiritual substance wisely.   A good nutritious meal takes time to eat and digest, but such apprehending of a gift is a privilege.  The wise know what God offers, the real elements we need to grow and then GO.  They take it with gratitude, eat it joyfully, grow strong, and GO.   

Remember, dear ones, responsibility comes with growth.

The gift of feeding from God's buffet is NOT so you can be a spiritual glutton. I dare say we could all think of a face or two, perhaps even ourselves -- yikes!, that fit this lifestyle.  They run from one "table" to another, taking a bite of this food and that food from one ministry or conference to another, rarely leaving the buffet! Sadly, their lives do not demonstrate the love or life of Christ, giving all for the sake of another.  Theirs is a selfish mission with much intake, but little to no outpouring. They easily begrudge those who ask for a share of what they have should it not line up with what they want to give, when they want to give it, how they want to give it. Such people are perhaps willing to go to the mailbox with you, but don't ask them to go a mile with you. If you only take bite after bite after bite  -- seeking to fill yourself with little to no post-eating action, all you'll end up as is a spiritual glutton. 

Spiritual food is not meant to be stored in your "fat cells."  It is meant to be converted into ENERGY..... energy that is used to fuel outpourings. 

Take an athlete.  They don't just eat anything.  They monitor what they eat. They weigh the nutritional substance against the calories.  They weigh the calories against their workout.  Eating is a very conscious, deliberate act for the sole purpose of building up the body and equipping it to perform the workout, and ultimately, tackle the demands of competition.  So too must Christians approach their spiritual eating!

I'll leave you with these three pictures, BUT  look at them as representatives of spiritual conditions.

Eating the world's junk food?
 Or perhaps not taking the time to eat from God's table?

Do you eat and eat and eat,
but rarely, if ever, leave His table?

Or do you eat and then GO,
energized and ready to share Him with others?

It's not something we like to think about, is it?  The pictures perhaps make you cringe. They may have even been a little like shock therapy.

(I truly hope you won't write me off!  I do love you.  My prayer before God is that He would always use me as a conduit between Himself and people. I love people ....even to the measure that I am willing to risk you leaving my company over offense, than to stay your friend by remaining silent.  If you ask me, there is too much incoherent noise and too much deadly silence in the world today, while real communication from the heart is sorely lacking!)

You have to know that God sees the inner 'us' first and foremost, and if we truly desire to be like Him, we have to be willing to take an honest assessment of our habits. Spiritual habits have BOTH physical and spiritual consequences.... impacting our individual life AND the lives of those surrounding us.  

Before departing, ask yourself, "What picture best represents me, spiritually speaking?" 

If it is either one of the top two, humbly may I ask: 
What are you going to do about it?

I implore you to get together with God .....He has your answer, but be prepared after eating to then GO!  It's the only way to stay spiritually healthy and growing!

Love,
Deborah