Time to Ponder

Decided that I'd like to work on a simple project this afternoon. It's one I started on my July retreat. I'm using fruit and veggie fabrics and a pattern from Loose Change called Nickel Bricks. Petty easy mindless piecing...so mindless that I sewed 23 five inch blocks together before I noticed I was out of bobbin thread!

Then somehow I got a few blocks twisted and turned and now need to frog (rip it rip it) seven blocks. Not too bad. I have 30 blocks complete of the 42 needed to make a lap size quilt, but I'm thinking I'll keep making blocks as long as I have fabric -- I had purchased a 10 inch "market" collection and added a few quarter yard cuts that I collected earlier this year....what else would I do with these novelty prints? Might as well use 'em up. But this is as far as I'm getting today...will have to wait for another day off ...

Hubby is always telling me to slow down and enjoy the process as I tend to think in "production mode" most of the time. I guess I did that a little today. I stopped and checked in with facebook and a few online longarm lists, and I even did a little internet shopping -- wanted to find just the right fabric for the backing and I've found it! Jellybeans on black background! Yep, had decided that I needed something from a different food group (grin) and I'm going to call it "life is short, eat dessert first"!

In away that's a perfect example of today's sermon on "Growing Up" taken from I Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. My thinking of hurrying through something is very childish, as is the instant gratification of wanting my dessert first! Pastor Dan did an excellent job of bringing these points home ...(Pastor Ron was filling in for another Calvary Chapel today out of town).

He explained the difference between being childlike and childish. Children are trusting, joyful, optimistic with a zest for life, happy go lucky. These are good physical qualities and a part of spiritual childhood too, after all, Jesus blessed the little children and said we should come to Him in childlike faith (Mark 10:13-16). What is not desirable is childishness - when we are immature and speak like a child - you know, when you are tactless, brutally honest, and don't hold back what you really think without worrying about the consequences. It's sorta excusable in a child, (sorta) but when an adult acts this way it is disturbing. Funny how many of us never grew out of this stage, or worst, have reverted back to it because we think that somehow our age has earned us the right to speak our mind.

Pastor Dan went on to talk about how children think - irrational and all about self. Hum....then the childhood years turn to teenhood (he said he was adding that word to the dictionary so I want you to credit him with this new word HA). Yes, just as we physically grow so we are to spiritually grow. The teen years are when we are in the process of changing from a child to an adult. He shared a funny example of a young man's voice changing. It's during this time that responsibility is learned (reality check) and the change of perspective of who you are and who God is. Its time to learn that the word doesn't revolve around you and that concern for others needs to outweigh the concern for self. Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself, do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interest of others.

We must be willing to grow up. Spiritual adulthood means putting away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13 is the "love chapter" and the verse for today is right in the middle of that chapter. The keyword is love - it's the mark of spiritual maturity, it's the bond of perfection. Ephesians 4:13-14 talks about being tossed to and fro (children, or immature Christian) but if we move on from the child stage as we grow up in Him we will show maturity by love. Christ's love.

Pastor Dan went on to speak about encouraging one another (Hebrew 10:24), having fellowship with one another (Hebrew 10:25) and how we should desire the "meat" of the word and not just desire the milk (for babies). Mature Christians show Christ's love through the "fruit of the Spirit" that's discussed in Galatians 5. We are to walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16) and be in God's Word (Psalm 1) We can't just hear the Word and expect to grow, but we must get 'into it' for ourselves on a regular basis (James 1:22) and be 'doers of the word'. Otherwise we just deceive ourselves.

Jesus gave up heaven for us, the ultimate example of selflessness - God's love for us while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Wow. Romans 8:29 tells us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Hum...I was left with the challenge of "are you ready to grow up?"

Maybe as I ponder this I should think of naming my quilt "the fruit of the spirit" or at least let it remind me of today's sermon of putting off childish things and growing up to reflect the love given to me by Christ's ultimate sacrifice...If you'd like a copy of today's sermon, or information on how to get a podcast check out CalvaryH.org

Have a blessed day!