A Letter to Seasoned Christians

Dear Seasoned Christian,
Have you ever seen an "adult" that clearly stopped growing at a certain age? Like a thirty year old that's still acting like they're in high school? They continue to "relive" their glory days but never move past them. They're stunted and annoying and you almost feel sorry for those poor saps.

They say teenagers know everything, but I think it starts earlier than that. Have you ever tried giving information to a seven, eight, or nine year old? Their response is, "I know. I know." As adults we sit back and shake our heads thinking, you really don't know. What would happen if these 7 year olds stopped growing? I don't mean physically, but mentally and emotionally. Our society in a few years would be run by adult children. Can you see the disaster that would await us?

And yet, this is the norm in our churches. What do I mean by this? I came across a statistic that I'd heard at a conference 6 years ago. Rereading it I was just as astounded by it as I had been when I first heard it. The speaker said, "The average Christian stops growing 7-9 years after getting saved."
I've been a Christian for almost 28 years, but am I really only 7 or 8 spiritually? What about you?

As I've been pondering this thought some things hit me. Here are 10 ways to judge whether you've stopped growing:

1. Do you listen to a sermon and think, "I know this, I know this" instead of allowing God to talk to you or show you something new?

2. Are your prayers generic? Thanks God for this day... Forgive me for my sins, I'm not sure exactly what I did, but I know I must've done something because everyone sins... Watch over us... Amen.

3. Do you read your Bible just because that's what you're supposed to do, but never really expect to get anything out of it?

4. How are you serving? Is it out of a heart of love for God and people or just a duty to be crossed off your spiritual checklist?
Church of Ephesus - Revelation 2:1-7
The church of Ephesus had this problem. They were full of good works. They were doing all the right things, but they didn't love God or each other the way they should've. We weren't meant to serve just to serve. If it doesn't come out of a heart of love, love for God and a love for people than it's pointless.

5. How is your faith in the face of persecution and trials? Do you stand strong trusting in God or do you question "why me" and run away?
Church of Smyrna - Revelation 2:8-11
God warned the church of Smyrna that they were about to be thrown in prison, but anyone that endured would receive the crown of life. We aren't always warned that we're about to walk through a specific trial, but we should know they're coming. God tells us "in this life you will have trials and tribulations, but take heart, I have overcome the world." Don't allow your trials to stunt your growth!

6. What sin do you tolerate in your life and in the lives of the people around you? Do you justify sin by saying things like, "I'm only human" or "everyone struggles with that"?
Church of Pergamum - Revelation 2:12-17
The church of Pergamum were tolerating sin. We say, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." But tolerating sin isn't loving the sinner, it's ignoring the sin. There is right and wrong. There are clear black and white guidelines and we need to stop justifying sin in the lives of others, because sin spreads. I heard a quote as a teenager and have seen the truth of it, "what parents allow in moderation, children will do in excess." What we allow in our churches and in our lives will spread and multiply, it will stunt our growth and the growth of those around us. We need to call things what they are. And sin is sin.

7. Who are you listening to? Do your friends encourage you in your sin or do they gently rebuke you?
Church of Thyratira - Revelation 2:18-29
The church of Thyratira clearly had a problem. They were listening to Jezebel. Sometimes the things said to us are blatantly wrong like Jezebel teaching "them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols." But other times it's subtle. Don't allow mediocrity to creep in. Don't allow your heart to be hardened to sin. Don't let others encourage your sin. And definitely don't encourage other's in their sin. Also realize if someone is being convicted of something don't try to convince them that it's ok to do, because the Bible clearly says, "what's sin for some may not be sin for others." So don't try to legalize what God is doing in that person. As we grow, God is pulling us closer to Himself, which means things in our lives, even good things might be required to go.

8. Are you dead? Or spiritually sleep walking?
Church of Sardis - Revelation 3:1-6
The church of Sardis had a reputation for being alive. I assume that meant their worship was hopping, their sermons were lively. The church was full of "Hallelujah" and "Amen." Yet God, who sees the deeper picture, says, you're dead. Have you ever went through the motions and yet your heart wasn't in it. I've been there. Do all the right things, say all the right things, nod and say amen; and yet, inwardly I was dead. There was no life in me. I was a white-washed tomb. Thankfully, we have a God who is the Resurrection and the Life and He's calling to you to WAKE-UP!

9. Are you indifferent? "I have everything I need... I'm going to heaven... That's all that matters."
Church of Laodicea - Revelation 3:14-22
The church of Laodicea was luke-warm. As a kid I remember thinking why would God want them to be cold toward Him. I feel like I got some insight today as I was contemplating these verses. Have you ever met a person who's just a breath of fresh air. They revitalize and refresh you. That's what cold water does. As for hot water, we all know that person who is passionate and driven. But what about lukewarm... Lukewarm water negatively effects everything it touches. If you put it with cold water it spreads it's little bit of warmth and makes the cold water no longer refreshing. If you mix it with hot water it sucks the heat out of it, and again makes it no longer useful. Have you ever been around someone that sucks the life out of you? That's what lukewarm looks like. Are you a life sucker? Then it's time to decide, either be passionate or refreshing, but either way it's time to change!

10. Can you honestly say you're faithful? Even in your weakness you're continuing to trust and obey God? God is opening doors for you in ministry? If that's you great, you're still growing. Keep growing. Hold tightly to what you have.
Church of Philadelphia - Revelation 3:7-13
The church of Philadelphia was the only church that God didn't say I have something against you. Even in their weakness they were faithful to God. They didn't let the things of this world diminish their love for God or each other. They were faithful. They were growing and God was opening doors for them.


I don't have it altogether. There are times in my life where I can look back and see tremendous growth. Then there are times like now where I feel stagnant. The great thing about God, is He loves us so much, He provides us with warnings and wake up calls. If you realize, wow I really haven't grown in awhile, well now is the time. Start over. Pick up your Bible and ask God for fresh insight. Ask Him to help you. He's not going to say, "you did this to yourself, now figure it out." He's going to say, "My son, My daughter, let Me prune you. Let Me cut off the dead branches, so you can begin to grow again. Let Me shower you with My Spirit and feed you with My Word. Let My love radiate in your hearts."

Take an honest evaluation of where you are right now. Not where you were 5 years ago when you went through that enormous trial, but where you are now. Because you might've been growing then and aren't now. Or you might've already realized wow I've not really grown in awhile and are taking steps to start growing again. Don't get discouraged, just decide to push forward today. Decide today, I'm going to begin growing again. Let God wash over you in a new way and refresh the work he wants to do in you. It's time to grow again.

"Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." Revelation 3:22

God's Not Done Yet!

I've been going through my writings and have felt the stirring to begin writing again, but.nothing has come to me. At least not in the usual way. Normally, I'll have a thought and it will roll around in my head until a thesis is well formed. Once that has been thoroughly developed the arguments or reasoning to back up my statements will come. Once the idea has been thoroughly argued and the thought has been firmly cemented I will sit down to write and it will just flow. As it flows it will change and grow, but the original idea has primarily stayed in tact.

But not this time...

This time it's 4:54 in the morning, I'm sitting in the dark on my couch, the only light coming from my computer screen, and my cat is randomly jumping up to attack my hands as I type.

So what is it I want to say...

God's not done yet!

Almost 3 months ago I got married. It has been amazing. I'd be lying to tell you that everything has been perfect and I'm always walking on cloud nine. But I knew that. I walked in to marriage with my eyes wide open. I knew we'd disagree. I knew we'd have our spats. And so I don't feel like I was surprised by them when they happened. But I don't want to talk with you about my marriage. At least not today.

What I want to share with you is that marriage isn't a destination, it's another spot on the journey. Instead of my walking the path God has for me alone, I'm now walking it with another person. But God isn't done yet!

If marriage was the destination, then I could sit back with a sigh and say, "Ahh,,, I've arrived." If that were the case I wouldn't feel this stirring. This desire for more. Not that my marriage isn't satisfying because it is on so many levels I didn't even know about. I'm talking about that God restlessness... The kind that comes from knowing you have a job to do. Knowing that God is calling you to something more but not being sure how to get there.

For a few years I was content. I was working in ministry and I was exactly in the place that I knew God wanted me to be. Last year I began to realize that my time there was coming to an end. At first I fought it and thought there must be something wrong with me for feeling this way because I'm right where God wants me to be.

And then God began bringing me new work to do, and my excitement for ministry grew in a new way. One I'd never have thought of. God was showing me that even though I was done in one area didn't mean He was done with me yet.

So as I began this new journey while still wrapping up the old, I found the one my soul loves. God brought me my husband. And we began a new journey together. We dreamed and we talked both about the wedding and the future. We planned a most beautiful day. But that's all it was just one day. It was perfect even the little hitch of the cake falling on it's transport to the reception hall was not a big deal at all. I was marrying the man God had just for me.

But God's not done yet!

And so as I sit contemplating the next phase of our journey, there's only one thing I'm sure of...

There's still more work to do. God still has a plan for our lives and He has a job that He wants us to accomplish. I'm not exactly sure what that is or how we will get there. As a planner this bugs me a little. You think I would learn after all these years of trying to "help" God. But I sometimes (a lot) fall back in to that habit of "helping" God accomplish His plans. Which generally involves me messing them up and having to repent and go back and wait on God anyway, but I digress.

God's not done. Marriage, as wonderful as it is, is not a destination. It's a pit stop. A pit stop where you pick up an extra passenger on the journey where God is the driver. And so as I feel the car being started and the momentum starting to build, so does my excitement.

A life in pursuit of marriage, career, children, money... is meaningless. Solomon calls it vanity.

But a life in pursuit of God is fulfilling and full of wonder. And so as of right now I'm not sure of where the next portion of our journey will take us, I am sure of who is leading us. I know God has a plan and that He's not done yet.

So be encouraged, if you're resting at one of the God ordained pit stops or travelling down the highway at top speed or maybe you're on the back country road with many twists and turns you didn't see coming or wherever you are on your journey. Be encouraged because God's not done yet! He still has a plan. He's still in control.

Remember, nothing we come to here in this life is the destination. Our destination is, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21).

Heaven is our destination. Don't lose sight of that while travelling on your journey.

God's not done yet!

Dreams Embraced

We all have dreams; whether, we admit it or not that's a separate issue. There are dreams that dwell deep inside of us from our earliest memories. Our dreams may change as we grow older. When I was six my dream was to be a firefighter or police officer, as is the case with most kids.

As Christians, we're told that God has a plan for us and so we may begin seeking God's dream for our lives. But often God's dreams are hard or confusing. We don't necessarily understand them right away. I'd like to share with you a little about my journey of embracing God dreams for my life. But first I'd like to share the story of another dreamer.

Joseph... (Genesis 37:3-11 NKJV)
   "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

   Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

   And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

   Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

   So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

There are a couple things that I want to highlight with this. First is Joseph's dreams were God dreams. He literally went to sleep and had these dreams. They were God-given. I want you to forget for a moment that you know the end of the story. God gave Joseph a dream and in that dream his family was bowing down to him.

God showed Joseph a piece of the puzzle that God had for him. In Joseph's dream, God gave him a destination. Joseph's "destination" was that he the second to youngest son would rise up and be ruler over his entire family. Naturally his brothers guffawed, they were incredulous. "How dare you, you little pip squeak, think that you will lord over us?" Even his father rebuked him, but his father had walked with God for a long time, and so "his father kept the matter in mind" (37:11).

We all know that the quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line.  And so, Israel, who "kept the matter in mind," sends Joseph to "go check on your brothers" (37:14). I feel like Jacob (Israel) knew that God was giving Joseph these dreams and that God was going to put him in charge of the family. So Jacob decides to help God out. He gives Joseph some leadership and tells him to go check on his brothers.

God dreams done in our understanding - at the very best - can only become a good dream.

At 15, I felt the call of God on my life to go into ministry. That meant I was going to be a pastor. I had it all figured out. As I grew I met a lot of opposition, because "women shouldn't be pastors." And everyone had "Biblical" explanations for why I couldn't be, but when I challenged their views with other Biblical insight, I was quickly dismissed. God helped me to stand firm on what He was calling me to do, despite the naysayers.

As my high school graduation came up, I began to get confused. God you called me to be a pastor. Now what do I do. A lot of people got frustrated with me because I hadn't put in applications for college. But every time I prayed about it I felt God telling me no and wait. Soon it was fall and my friends were going off to college, but I still didn't know what to do. I worked for a whole year, continuing to pray. My friend Sarah came home from an Assemblies of God university and spoke with me about it. I looked it up and decided I would apply. I could feel God telling me "no." But I justified because someone in authority over me said, "Sometimes we just need to take a step and not worry about if it's a wrong step. We need to be willing to allow God to direct us as we move forward. We can't just sit and wait, afraid of taking a step." I thought ok this seems, logical, God's calling me to be a pastor, so I have to go to Bible college. I was too late to make it for the fall semester so I enrolled in the spring semester and flew to Texas. It was an experience. I loved it and I hated it. Deep down I knew it's not where I was supposed to be, but what other choice did I have. I was going to be a pastor, so I had to go to Bible school.

I knew a tiny piece of the puzzle about what God's plan was for my life, and acted like I knew everything. I had the whole puzzle put together in my mind. I look back and am embarrassed at my arrogance. I spent one semester there and didn't return.

God dreams turned to Nightmares... (Genesis 37:14a, 18-28)

   Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.”

   Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

   But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father. So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

   And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Jacob in his understanding sends Joseph to check on his brothers. He gave him this leadership role, and asked his son to report back to him. But the timing was wrong. It wasn't time for Joseph to lead his family. So trouble arises. Joseph is captured and sold into slavery by his brothers. And so now the dream dies for Jacob.

God dreams for your life don't just matter to you, they also matter to the people around you.

Joseph was his father's favorite. Jacob had great dreams and plans for his son. He understood that God was going to make him a leader and that's why Jacob poured into his son. And then just like that the dream that Joseph had for his son died.

There's going to come a point on your journey with God, that God is going to require you surrender the dream He gave you. This usually comes with a lot of "why God's?"

Obstacles to God Dreams

We are going to face obstacles to God dreams. There are three types of obstacles that we can observe from Josephs life: dead ends, roadblocks, and detours.

Joseph being thrown into that cistern was a dead end for him. There was no place for him to go. I'm sure when his brothers brought him up he had a moment of relief before he realized what was going on. And at that moment he probably too felt like his dream had died. He was sold as a slave. He was no longer their younger brother he was brought even lower. He was now a slave.

When I finished my one semester at Bible college and clearly felt God saying no when I was preparing to go back. I felt like I came to a dead end. I had no idea what to do or where to go. I began floundering. I asked God over and over to show me what to do, but had no clear direction. Then my dad said, either you get a job or you get out. I got a job at McDonald's. It was definitely a humbling experience to be working at McDonald's at twenty years old. Most of my friends were almost done with college and here I was taking a job that high schoolers usually take. But I decided that I was going to do my very best. I had learned early that "whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men" (Colossians 3:23).

Joseph took on this same attitude. (Genesis 39:1-4)

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

God used Joseph's seemingly dead end, to begin training Joseph for leadership. If Joseph had decided to curl up and die at that dead end, he would've not been able to be used by God. We're going to face obstacles. We're going to come to points where we look up and say, "Really God. You've got to do something." But God is not finished. Things begin going well for Joseph, he's put in charge of everything. He chose to work his hardest and God was with him. He gave him favor.  And people begin to take notice. I'm sure he was dreaming of the day that his master would set him free. Or maybe he'd be able to purchase his freedom. Then he could get back to the dream God gave him. He'd go back and show his brothers. This is all my speculation, of course, but sometimes we forget that the people of the Bible were human just like us.

At 25, I began looking into schools again. But I could feel that same roadblock in my spirit. I could feel God saying, "no this isn't what I have for you." I got frustrated. Because I knew that I was called to be a pastor, but God had also put me into a position of leadership in my church and so I couldn't understand how God was going to move. I didn't understand how he was going to accomplish this. So after wrestling with it for several months, I finally surrendered it to God. I said, "Fine God, You can have it. I'm done looking. When You're ready for me to be a pastor, You can show me what to do. But can You please use Pastor Siegfried to show me, so that I know it's You." Can I tell you, there is peace in truly surrendering something to God. I had been wrestling and trying for months to figure out what God wanted me to do, and I couldn't figure it out. But in that moment of complete surrender to God there came peace. And do you want to know what happened two weeks later? God answered my prayer. Ten years to the month (December), God gave me the next piece of the puzzle. I was to begin taking classes at DSOM.

Joseph's Roadblock (Genesis 39:11-20)

But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

   So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

   So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

I'm sure that if Joseph had been dreaming of his freedom, his dreams were surely dashed with the clank of the jail cell doors. "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison" (39:21). Even in these dark days God was with Joseph. God is still guiding Joseph's path. God is still in control. God is with Joseph.

"Many times God's call on our life leads us away from our comfort zone into new territory where our dependence upon Him must significantly increase." ~ Unknown (taken from picture on Facebook)

We don't always understand why God puts roadblocks in our path. Why we can't just take a straight line and go from point A to point B. But do not doubt that God is in control. And if you are seeking Him. If you are trusting God with your life, He promises to direct your steps. So even in the prison cell know He is there.

I was almost in my second year of classes when I felt God speak to my heart. He said, "Jenn, you're holding so tightly onto what you think My will is for your life that I have no room to move you." I was flabbergasted, God what do you mean? I thought this was your plan for my life? I thought this is what you wanted me to be doing? You finally gave me the green light and now You're telling me this isn't where I'm supposed to go? What's going on? Then I felt God speak five little words to my heart, "Get ready for the detour."

God will bring detours into our life to refocus us on Him, to bring about His plan for our life not ours.

Joseph also faced a detour (Genesis 40:1-8, 20-23)

   It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

   Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

   And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

   Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

I'm sure Joseph was hoping that by the chief butler remembering him, he would be freed from prison. Joseph acknowledged that God gives dreams, by acknowledging only God can give the interpretation. I wonder if Joseph began to remember the dream that God gave him. And started making plans for how he might accomplish those dreams when he was released from prison. Unfortunately, he wasn't remembered. And so he continued to wait in prison.

Detours generally cause us to take longer to get to our destination. If I see a detour on the road I don't get excited about it because I know it's going to take me longer to get where I'm going. It's frustrating and discouraging. But what are we doing in the waiting?

The important thing isn't where we serve, but how. The question is not "what does (God) have for me in the future?" but "Am I obedient to Him right now?" And you can walk in obedience wherever you live and serve. ~ Janette Oke

Embracing God's dream for your life means serving God right where your at. God will direct your steps as long as you're open to be moved by God. We must be willing to fully surrender the dreams and plans we have for our lives. That doesn't mean we don't take steps, but it's knowing that ultimately God is in control. And so for some people it's not a straight shot from point A to point B. For some people it is. And that was really frustrating to me for a long time. I didn't understand how some people God would move quickly while it seemed it took me forever to move. But God showed me that His plans for my life weren't the same as His plans for others. I needed to be concerned with what He wanted me to do, not what He had others doing. I needed to embrace His dream, His plan, and His path for my life.

Finally, Joseph is remembered. He's put in the place of leadership. Second in command of all of Egypt. And his dream is fulfilled. His brothers come and bow down before him.

God's dream for you is less about the destination and more about the journey. Embrace God's journey for your life.

"I DECLARE that God has a great plan about my life. He is directing my steps. And even though I may not always understand how, I know my situation is not a surprise to God. He will work out every detail to my advantage. In His perfect timing everything will turn out right. This is my declaration." ~ Unknown (taken from picture on Facebook)