Growing UP! Monday

Growing UP! Monday. It's time to get back into the swing of things! How are you growing? What are you learning?

Ok, I'll go first...

How am I growing? Well, I can tell you this, my marriage is growing. We recently attended A Weekend to Remember marriage conference. It was our gift to one another for our anniversary this year.

I know. I know. Crazy romantic aren't we?

You should have seen the look on my husband's face when I told him that's what I wanted to do. Poor guy. You'd think that after ten marriage conferences (two of them being A Weekend to Remember retreats) he'd put his foot down. Except, I'm married to the sweetest man around, and we both know how beneficial they are for our relationship.

There have been years we've gone with specific issues to be worked on. Each year we drive away and take our marriage-temperature.

Do we spend time alone together? CHECK!

Do we settle conflicts quickly? CHECK!

Do we put our marriage first? CHECK!

Do we pray together? Needs Improvement.

On and on we go, checking off areas we are doing well, and making note of those things we need to work on. This year, we really didn't feel like we needed to go. Everything seemed fine between us. We were actually thinking about skipping it. Especially after discovering our two youngest were chosen to be on all-star soccer teams with their games on the very weekend we'd be gone.

Enter MOM-GUILT.

But, after talking with the kids, they encouraged us to go. They realize after all these years that we are better parents when our relationship is strong.

In the end, we were both grateful we went. I can't wait to share with you all we learned. What a blessing.

For now, I will leave you with this, "A family is only as strong as the marriage within it."

If you've never gone away on a marriage retreat, maybe it's time you did.

Growing UP! Monday

I'm a bit behind in putting up my post today. It's almost lunchtime for many of you on the east coast!

As you can see, timeliness is not one of my strong points. Nor is order or organization for that matter. As a time-manager - I would have been fired years ago. I'm pathetic.

Distraction is the first step to my disorder. Just like the mosquito in the Disney movie "A Bugs Life", distracted by the bug-zapper "...but it's soooo beautiful." I too suffer the consequences of a distracted life.

Last night I cleaned out my closet, attempting to put away my summer clothes to make room for my winter wardrobe. I began with gusto, blouses and Capri's flying through the air in a ballet of colors. Within seconds my productivity did an about face as I perused through pictures, old cards, mementos and anything else that happened to get in my way.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is it took me four excruciatingly painful hours to organize a teeny-tiny closet.

So, what am I learning? That I CANNOT do this organization thing in my own strength. While reading Colossians this morning I read this...

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:16

The part that hit me over the head was the last part back there, all things were created by him and for him. This gives me hope. Since He's the one who created me, He's the only one who can fix me. Just like an auto mechanic who knows how to fix his car, God put me together, so He knows how to best fix my disorderly-unorganized ways.

I'm definitely going to have to lean on Him for help here. I should have asked for some assistance BEFORE I embarked on a four-hour closet tour last night!


So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God?

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

Recently, I've enjoyed the company of older Christians. When I first met some of these people I immediately judged them.

I know. Not my job. Sadly, it's the part-time job I ask forgiveness for more often than I care to admit.

After scratching the surface in our conversations, what I first took for weak faith I discovered instead to be quiet faith. Like an old oak tree, unwavering and resolute - not loud or puffed up. I've judged wrongly by judging at all. Especially by thinking a person who peppered conversations with the name of Jesus is a stronger Christian than those who show Jesus in their day to day actions.

As a writer, we are told to "show don't tell". The same could be said about my faith. I believe more people need to see my love of Christ through my outward life. Not just hear me tell them.

I'm learning lately that I've still got ALOT to learn. Walking this road with Jesus, sometimes like a child who just learned to roller skate...I want to think I have things all figured out.

There could be nothing farther from the truth.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:2

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God?

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

We are going through 1Peter at our church. Our pastor spoke on holiness and what it means to be holy. A life set-apart for Christ is the first step towards our holy priesthood.

There are lots of ways we can set apart our lives for Him. Reading the Bible and going to church are only a few of them. How about what TV shows we watch, what friends we hang out with, what words come out of our mouths, or maybe what we put into our mouths? (That one really hit a nerve with me!)

I'm up ten pounds and have been just awful at paying close attention to what I eat. Today it hit me that I am not glorifying the Lord by treating my body, the temple of His Holy Spirit, in a way that is far from God honoring. It's time I make a few changes.

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing? What have you been learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend shared a scripture that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

So, what about you? How are you growing from His word this week? What is it you are learning about our great and marvelous God? Did your Bible study hit home recently? Or, maybe your pastor or a friend told you something that spoke right to your heart?

Share it on Growing UP! Monday.

Please share the love and add the above button to your site with a link back to Blessed..., and make sure to add your blog to McKlinky below so people can find you.

Lets all grow UP together!



"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

Growing UP! Monday

Welcome everybody! I thought it would be fun to start a weekly meme called "Growing UP! Monday". I have my new button, so make sure to copy it to your site.

I thought it would be fun to check in with other sisters around the world and see what we are learning in each of our churches on Sunday mornings or in our weekly Bible studies.

We are the body of Christ. We gather on Sundays in our church homes to learn and grow from His word. Each week there is something our pastor shares or teaches from the Bible that speaks (sometimes shouts) right to my heart.

What about you?

What is it you are studying? What lessons did God want you to learn this week, and what did you take away from your pastor's lesson or church family today that you can apply to your lives now?

Add your blog to McKlinky below and tell us all about it!





"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16