All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Miracle Grow

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Simple steps to build daily spiritual nourishment into your life for healthy, vibrant growth as Jesus' disciple.

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"Miraculous" Growth in Three Easy Steps

How to Grow
Many Christians say they want to grow in their spiritual life or get closer to God, but they don't know how or lack a plan. Growth in Christ can be as simple as following through with what we call the 2-3-2 plan. You will be amazed at how your spiritual life develops; it will seem almost miraculous!

Developing a Daily Habit
One of the goals of the 2-3-2 plan is to develop some healthy habits or spiritual disciplines you’ll practice daily. Most of us don’t like the word discipline, but just as brushing one’s teeth, taking a bath, exercise, and eating healthy food on a daily basis promotes physical health and growth, good daily spiritual disciplines promote a healthy relationship with God. Over time, you’ll find yourself building spiritual vibrancy, health and “muscle” which will enable you to rely more on the Lord, help you cope with life challenges and relate better to others. Looking back, you’ll see how you've grown and how you are better able to cope with life challenges because you were following God’s “owners manual” for life (the Bible), regularly seeking God’s help, and making better, wiser choices.

Growth Takes Time
Keep in mind that even though you may have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and now have a relationship with God, changing your thought patterns and learning to live consistently in this new way often takes a long time. One doesn’t just wake up one morning after years of inactivity and decide to compete in an Olympic marathon race that afternoon. That is why good, consistent, daily training and habits are needed. It takes time to replace a long history of bad habits with good ones. So be patient with yourself and others on the same journey.

The Quiet Time
One of the most important spiritual habits is a daily “quiet time” or “devotional” time.

Have you ever noticed two people in love? They just can't get enough time alone with each other! In the same way, God wants a love relationship with you. A daily quiet time is time you will schedule to meet with Him. Notice that we said schedule, because it is not going to happen by accident. You need to be very deliberate about this. To start, plan on setting aside 30 minutes every day for your devotional time. The amount of time is only a suggestion; don’t get fixated. Remember it is not a formula, but a relationship.

Assignment:
Ask God when He would like you to meet with Him. Write down when you believe He would like you to have your appointment together. ___:___ to ____:____ AM/PM

2-3-2 What is That?
2: Means worship God by listening to TWO Christian worship music songs and/or singing praise to God. Check out some of the member's profiles here on TheNET. Many have uploaded lots of good worship music. Worship is important because God loves it! Worship sets our hearts and minds in tune with God. Remember it is all about a love relationship with Him! Don't skip this step!

3: Means read THREE chapters (or more) of the Bible. Tell God you love Him and ask Him to help you understand, learn from, and speak to you from His Word, the Bible.

If you wish, use this Daily Bible Reading Plan (this will be at least three chapters). The Daily Bible Reading Plan is a PDF file you read, save and print using Adobe Reader. If you don’t have Adobe Reader, you can download it free. You may print the reading plan for quick reference.

You can read the Bible online or use a printed copy. For English users, we recommend the New International Version or the New Living Translation because generally they are easier to read and understand.

Print out the Bible Reading Highlights Record (also a PDF file). Try to answer one or more of the eight questions listed at the top of the page. (You can print additional pages as necessary and keep all your devotional insights in a notebook or folder). You may also want to write what God is teaching you every day in your blog. That way other believers can benefit from what you are learning!

2: Means talk with God, thanking him; and asking him TWO questions about what you read, asking for help for others and yourself or about anything else as you would your closest friend.

OK, so have you scheduled your quiet time with God yet? God is waiting to meet with you!

Growing together with you!
Greg
TheNET Coordinator

NOTE: The 2-3-2 plan idea is from Pastor Steve Holt, Mountain Springs Church, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Discussion Forum

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Eternal life isn't just Heaven

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Comment by Darlene on February 24, 2009 at 9:59pm: Thanks Jeff. There's a lot here to take in. Darlene

Comment by Jeff on February 24, 2009 at 9:07pm: Wednesday, February 25, 2009

God has laid it very heavy deep within my what the most important verse in the entire bible is.

"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)

Now all that one has to do is think very clearly about what you just read. If the world today had the love of Christ, there would be no more lies. No more stealing, no killing, no wars, no destruction, no tortures, no sexual child molesters, no organized crime, no corrupt governments, no more child soldiers that become as obedient killing machines by the time their 12 or even younger. Nor more rapes or women beaters, no more pollution that has been destroying all that our creator created just for our enjoyment and needs through out our lives. And to be filled with the fulness of God just passes all understanding of the glorious life and eternity that awaits you while imagining having the fulness of our great and majestic God working within you to perfect you in His eyes.

Now think again while being very clearly led by the Spirit of God. How much love do you see in your life? In chat rooms, what is truly more than lip service? How many personal and direst words do you get that are so deeply heartfelt, that you know without question that they are from a man of God that really cares? Today in all websites using the names of God, there is no truth, and there is no love, but rather just smooth words on the surface that are only uplifting because they are pleasing to the ear to hear.

I only write because I do genuinely care about you all, and God has finally blessed me after a half century of unhappiness with the eyes to see and understand what many are unknowingly lacking called truth.

Let us read some words of Christ that clearly define the meaning of the word love. And as you read these words, please be well aware that God will know your every thought because nothing is ever hidden from the knowledge of our precious Father that has no beginning, and has no end.

Now if these words of Christ to follow don't strike your heart to the point of self examination and guilt, you are indeed without question one lost unto the left hand of Jesus.

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer Him , saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we theee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was a hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked , and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt 25:31-46)

Now on the surface are the words, oh, that’s not me on the left because I am saved, so I don’t have to do what Christ says to do.

Let’s look at another verse in Hebrews 5:9 while examining ourselves.

“And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.”

Now please ask yourself just one honest question. Did God just lie when He inspired Paul by His Spirit to write those words?

By God’s lead, let us also take deep into our hearts the words in 2 Thess. 1:8

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

In my past I have always been one in heart to give, and it cost me dearly as in the three digits, yet I have come to understand that all things are for a purpose. For the past two years I have lived in the Philippines as an escape from the USA, only to become very close to our Father. And through many very hard times I have done just that. Difficulties as in no food, poor attire, nor even a meal of choice in 27 months now along with no income of my own even with a major employment search for anywhere in the world. But as time passed by without the ability to earn money as a welder or mechanic, my immigration fees went unpaid. At this time I owe very close to 50,000 peso to the Bureau of Immigration. That’s about $1000. For two years now I have been writing letters and emails to pastors, churches, ministers, family, help websites, blogs, prayers and everything in between only to be totally ignored until just a few days ago when God drew me and a brother with a like mind together, and he helped me as best as he could.

Now ask yourself 3 more questions.

1. Do you study to show yourself approved into God?
2. Do you trust God, or man?
3. Do you live by every word of God as He commands?

May God be with you all deep within your hearts that He knows better than you, so that you can be led into the truths of God that Satan hides through mass religious deception. Read Revelation 12:9, and simply believes what God tries to tell you.

All that I have done thus far is scratch the surface with hopes of some friendships, yet with all that God has taught me about love, I expect none at all in this world of lip service that is far from the heart. There is another 708 chapters of the Bible that I would just love to talk about with you, and that is because Satan has deceived you all. . . . .

And with the great tribulation growing nearer each day, that our Father must use as a lesson for a Christ professing people that have eyes to see, and see not, and ears to hear, yet hear not.

Your Brother in Christ that lives twenty four hours a day just for God

Comment by Mark on February 10, 2009 at 6:29am: I like this plan and think I'll do it. Although I'll stay with my KJV easy reading bible

Comment by Ps Rajendra Nhisutu on February 9, 2009 at 5:56pm: I feel its a quite encouragement to renew and update with the living words of God which is really awesome to me. The posted all most are likely the sitaution base which we are always need to be updates with these chapters. Let us pray for continue keep up

Comment by Christie a Dobson on February 9, 2009 at 8:16am: This plan has worked out so wonderfully so far it is awesome

Comment by Chasaty on February 9, 2009 at 7:53am: I am excited to start this plan.

Comment by Greg, TheNET Coordinator on February 2, 2009 at 9:58am: Its really encouraging to hear how the 2-3-2 plan is helping everyone to keep learning and growing in the Lord. If you miss some days, don't get discouraged and quit. Just pick up where you left off. Try finding a friend here in this group who will check in on you regularly to help you stay consistent.

Comment by samnta on February 2, 2009 at 12:52am: This Beautiful and am trusting God for more of a personal love with Him.

Comment by Nicki Bulicek on January 30, 2009 at 4:48pm: I am new to the Miracle Grow group and am looking forward to growing in the Lord.
I like to idea of the 2-3-2 plan and am going to try to fallow it consistently.

Comment by Debby Hadley Estrada on January 29, 2009 at 11:01pm: Yes, I hope to see all of the apostles one day when I am with Jesus! I can't wait to see what they all look like, especially Paul and John.