A Day of Worship

This is being reprinted by permission from our Chaplain Vickie Oakley.

Lamar
Webmaster

Yes, here I am again, sitting at my computer. This morning I have been thinking about church service and mainly because it is Sunday. I will attend church today, the same church that I have attended since 1980. It is a small church and there have been times when I thought that it would not survive, but for whatever reason God has preserved a remnant. I teach Sunday school there and have for 14 years; I think that you probably understand that I love to teach especially God's Holy inspired Word. God's Word is the sustenance of my soul.It is like the air that I breathe, I can not face life each and every day without His Word dwelling in me.

In John 17:15, we find where Jesus said, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one." Do you ever wish that god would just remove you from the obstacles that you face in life? Why do we face obstacles in life? Why can't life just be simple? Why can't life run smoothly? Why, why, why? Obstacles are a part of life. Sometimes it's easy to overcome the obstacles, but at other times, they seem to overwhelm us.

For Christians, I choose to believe that obstacles in life are a way of growing and maturing us spiritually. For non Christians, I believe that it is god's way of extending the call of salvation to a person. How is your spiritual growth? Do you desire to grow spiritually? We need to understand that God didn't leave us here for our purposes. He left us here for His purposes. And one of his purposes is that we grow more and more like Christ. What is spiritually maturity? According to Scripture, spiritual maturity is for us to become more and more like Christ.It is just that simple,but yet just that complex. So what is the key to spiritual maturity? God wants you and me to become more like Christ right where we are. Yes, in everyday life. Jesus didn't isolate Himself from everyday life. He lived in the midst of ever day life. He knows firsthand the struggles that each and every one one of us face.

Do obstacles or pressures of life affect your desire to grow spiritually? Or do you even think about growing spiritually? Are we being spiritual influences on the world or are we being influenced spiritually by the world? Spiritual growth must be intentional.If you don't choose to grow you have made a choice not to grow; however, choosing to grow is only part of the decision; you also must choose to obey.This is where the battle of the will happens and it will intensify.Satan isn't too concerned about your decisions; he is more concerned about your commitments. However, I will tell you from firsthand experience, there is incredible freedom in living life with God.

So how do we go about spiritual growth? To begin with you make a determination to grown spiritually by seeking God daily through the reading of Scripture and through prayer. When we seek God with all of our heart, He will make himself known to us. (Jeremiah 29:13) When we go to Him in prayer earnestly He will reveal Himself to us and show us great and mighty things which we do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3) God keeps His promises. God's promises are not just promises they are covenants. If you are struggling with obstacles in life, let me encourage you to seek God. Seeking God is a daily process in which we renew our minds through His Word and through prayer (Romans 12:2).

If we desire for our CMA chapter to grow, then we must make a committed effort to grow spiritually as well. Remember our mission: Changing the world, one heart at a time. It is my prayer that we will not let another day go by without committing ourselves to God's great plan; to be more and more like Jesus. I love you, I am praying for each and and every one of you. If I can help any of you, please call me, text me. I ask that you pray for me as well; specifically for my strength because I am so week. Have a beautiful day of worship where ever you may be.

Always by His grace and His mercy,

Vickie Oakley
Acting Chaplain
Chrome Knights for Christ