Maturity-How do YOU define it?

The one.

Ever notice the one at the ball game, the one who forgot it was a game and is acting as though the world has stopped spinning because the ref made a poor call?  How about the one at the bar, the one who has aged in years, but yet is whining like a toddler?  How about the one who has put so much stock in learning, the one with a rich mind but empty soul?  How about the one who gets angry and takes it out on anyone or anything in sight?  Or, maybe the one who can't put the potato chips down each time life gets hard.

The one.  The one everyone seems to notice.  Immaturity does that.  It magnifies our weaknesses.

We all start here.  We've all cried as babies, thrown tantrums, felt the disappointments of life for the first time.  It looks alright on a baby, but it does not look good on an adult who is fully capable of maturing.

Maturity.
How do you define it? 

We all have seen the difference between those who simply grow older and those who choose to grow up.  We can mature in many, many ways.... physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.

To me, maturity is simple.

It is learning to do with what we feel.

When you choose to follow Christ, maturity takes on a whole new meaning.  Because you are committing not only to a lifetime of learning, but maturing as well.  And the scales change.  What the world (or culture) accepts as mature, Christ may not.

Don't get me wrong, Christ fully accepts us right where we are, just as we are..... but He also knows growing in His likeness is in the best interest of anyone who is able, and all those surrounding them.

This addresses the most common salvation defense question I've encountered.  If God will forgive my everything, then why not just keep "living it up" and then "get right with God" just before I die?  Well friend, we've talked about many reasons for that question, but today I'll remind you of just one.

His ways aren't just perfect for heaven.  They are perfect for earth, too.  Doing life His way brings heaven to earth every single day.  Who really wouldn't want a little more of heaven here on earth?  Only pure evil.  The rest of us should want to welcome it with open arms.  We all have the chance to do so......

We all can turn the other cheek when we are wronged.
We all can choose to love unconditionally.
We all can be the bigger in our relationship strife.
We all can extend grace and mercy to those undeserving.
We all can see the hurt of another, even if we are hurting too.
We all can die to our own reputations for His sake.
We all can take the path of integrity no matter the cost.

We all can bring a little more heaven to earth each day.


That's how we all can become the one who gives grace to human refs, even after a bad call.  Or become the one to face life's problems rather than drink until we don't feel.  Or the one who is rich in both mind and soul.  Or the one who doesn't give full vent to our anger.  Or the one no longer chooses to soothe ourselves with food.

Because, let's face it!  No matter the struggle.... 30, 40, 50, 60 year old tantrums just aren't pretty!



So where are you struggling to follow Christ?

Where is He stretching you to learn how to do with what you feel?

Where are you being tempted to follow the world instead of Christ?

I know where mine is right now, and following Him there this week was not easy, nor without struggle.  But, every single struggle presents an opportunity for a victory in Him.... and every single victory in Him brings a little more heaven to this earth and to those all around me.  And He delights.

Jesus Christ.  The only One who can transform and earthly weaknesses into a heavenly touch.  There is none like Him.

Waiting Rooms-Home of the Easily Annoyed Heart

 

Ever need a healthy dose of perspective in your life?  Well evidently I needed one today...... As I was sitting in the waiting room today it occurred to me how many hours I've spent in the last dozen years in the waiting room with several young children in tow (or within) me.  Please understand that I am a healthy young mom with healthy young children, but even in a healthy family there are still many times that you find yourself in that all too familiar waiting room with the clock never far from your mind.

First, let's stop and think about the term patient.... orthodontist, or chiropractor, or doctor, or dental, or any other area... you are someone's patient.  Ironic title, isn't it?  It certainly does not describe the tone of the waiting room I was in today.... or ever, as a point of fact. 

Think about the last time you spent a great deal of time in the waiting room.....remember it??.... surrounded by rolling eyes, loud sighs, sarcasm, people checking the time frequently, whispers for children to be patient from their own not-so-patient frustrated parents, restless children, people complaining, schedules being adjusted, and far from private phone calls or posts that seem to increase at the same rate of frustration ensuring that everyone possible can share in your temporal affliction.

Truth is, I'm just as guilty as the next guy.  Even if I don't wear it externally, there have been many moments where I've boiled inside over the time I've spent waiting in an exam or waiting room.... especially in those emotionally unstable moments as a new or very expectant mommy.  According to Jesus, internalizing it is just as bad as all the adult temper tantrums I was surrounded by today.... for the Lord above all cares about the condition of our hearts.  Today for the first time I was given some healthy and needed perspective.....

We all have seasons where we have needed urgent attention and been the one to affect someone else's schedule, yet we all struggle to give grace to those who are affected by this daily.  Today as I sat in my waiting room, I wondered what it would look like to follow Jesus here.

God knows everything.... He sees the person that was in our room before us.... He knows the bad news the doctor had to deliver earlier that day..... He knows the urgency and affliction that is all around us...  I wondered if He was sitting in any given waiting room today, offering all that He knew, how much that the tone of place would change..........  how quickly we'd all go from annoyed to grateful.  Grateful... we would all be grateful.  We'd be thankful for the small treatable sicknesses, the well baby visits, the immunizations that we have the terrible freedom to argue about, we'd celebrate our pre and postnatal care, and repeating our medical insurance information for the ten-millionth time. 

Sure, many of us will likely face a medical giant at some point, but most of us will likely spend a great deal of time as someone's relatively healthy (and annoyed--at least internally annoyed) patient first.  Sadly, I don't think it is until that giant arrives that we gain the perspective we should have had all along.  I'm choosing not to wait for it.

I remember one of the things that stood out to me as I watched a young friend battle cancer, was that somehow God had given her an incredible perspective in her suffering.  Even though she was facing this giant cancer, and even though in many moments in the hospital she may have been the most critical patient, He had given her more perspective than most adults to realize that even in those moments, it still wasn't all about her..... even up to her last breath she was praying for those around her.  Wow.

It's time for me to break past being easily annoyed.... and break through to seeing the world around me, and offer my smile and my prayers.  Anybody with me?

I can't speak for you, but I'm following Jesus into my next waiting room....


Heavenly Father,

Lord, you know me... inside and out, and you want to tend to all of me, not just part of me.  Thank you for pursuing my easily annoyed heart.  Father I need you to search my heart and lead me... even and especially when I am easily annoyed.  Give me your perspective to remember that even when I am someone's patient, the world doesn't revolve around me.  Help me to extend grace, offer a smile, and pray for those around me who may be dealing with a medical giant.  Empower me to do these things in good health and in sickness, and replace my annoyance with Your peace.

In the patient name of Jesus I pray,
Amen