the me I WANT to be.

On Saturday night I had the privilege to hear John Ortberg speak at Buckhead Church... I just thought I'd share some of the notes I took. He shared some great insights from his new book!!

- What does maturity in Christ look like? (everyone shouted out words: humble, disciplined, Christlike, loving, generous, secure, etc.)

- Churches tend to develop churchy people... not people who are mature in Christ; increased activity does not equal increased growth.

- We know that there is separation between God and man, a gap bridged only by grace through Jesus' sacrifice, not by our own ability. There is also a gap between the "mature me" and the "current me." Why do we think that gap is bridgeable by our own efforts? It's not, that requires grace, too. Grace is BIGGER than the forgiveness of sin.

- We get ourselves into a nasty cycle while trying to "grow" ... we see what works for someone else (like journaling) and we feel guilty that we don't do it, so we try to do what they do. When that doesn't work, we try harder... get fatigued... give up... and then feel guilty. And the cycle repeats... Guilty... Try Harder... Get Fatigued... Give Up... Feel Guilty... etc.

- How do we live by grace? John 7:38.

- To be thirsty is to be driven by an unsatisfied desire.... Where there is water, life around it flourishes.

(Next was my favorite!!)

- God had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap... He gave Moses a 40 year time out. He gave David a harp and a dance, and He gave Paul a pen and a scroll, He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar. He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle. Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross. God never grows people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer. God has existed from eternity--but he has never had a relationship with me. He wants to do a new thing with me. The problem we often face when it comes to spiritual growth is that we listen to someone we think of as the expert, talk about what he does, and think that is what we are supposed to do. When it doesn't work for us -because we are all different- we feel guilty and inadequate, and often give up.

- The main measure of your devotion to God is not your devotional life-- it is simply your life.

- My life is God's project; NOT MINE.

- A tool is not the same thing as a measure. Tools, if used improperly, can actually be quite dangerous. Good questions to ask about your "God time" (1) Am I growing more or less irritable? (2) Am I growing more or less discouraged?

- "Should" often is greater than "Want to." Don't you think Jesus prayed because He WANTED to? Not because He SHOULD?

- If you get discouraged because you're doing something you think you should... Quit doing it for a while and see what you're missing... see if it is something you want to do.