M a t u r i n g   in   C h r i s t   I

                                                        w i t h i n   t h e   B o d y   o f   C h r i s t



             And this is eternal life,

            that they may know You,

            the only true God,
            and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

            John 17:3   NKJV


        G O A L

        • on becoming His shining light, reflecting His likeness?!   Matthew 5:14
          "The light, and love, and power of the indwelling Christ shone out
          through [you], so that men, beholding, 'marveled: and they took
          knowledge of [you], that [you] have been with Jesus.'" Acts 4:13 SC 75

              = O R =

        • on becoming the salt of the earth, where people, after having been with
          you are thirsting after Christ, wanting what you have?!   Matthew 5:13

              = O R =

        • on becoming like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, which brings
          forth its fruit in its season?!   Psalm 1:3

        • "When the earth lies bare, a line of verdue [= verdure - 'the lush
          greeness of flourishing conditions' *]" marks the river's course; ... "
          TMB   81
              = A N D =

        • "Behold, I will do a new thing,...
          I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert ...."
          Isaiah 43:19-21

            • "And the Lord shall guide you continually,
              and satisfy your soul in drought,
              and strengthen your bones;
              you shall be like a watered garden,
              and like a spring of water
              whose waters do not fail              ." Isaiah 58:11


        T o   G e t   S t a r t e d

          • "Do you know God well enough to enjoy His company,
            the same way you enjoy being with a family member
            or close friend?

          • Do you want to know God better and enjoy Him more
            than you know than enjoy anyone else?

          • Do you connect with God in such a way that enables you
            to hear His voice and to know He's right there with you?"
                  Houston xviii


        Y o u   a r e   P r o b a b l y   "H e r e" !

          • "Enjoy Him? Get to know Him better? Hear His voice?
            Yeah, right.

          • You barely find a couple of minutes to read the Bible
            every morning.

          • Truth is, even when you do, your 'time with God' doesn't
            mean much. It's dry. And you're board.'"
                  Houston xviii


        T i m e   A l o n e   w i t h   J e s u s

            • Making Him a Home - a Sanctuary in your heart
              = to "sup" with Him
            • Inviting the Holy Spirit
            • With Him in Scriptures
            • With Him in Nature


        I   E n j o y   t o   P r a y

                • Becoming Friends with Him
                • To hunger and thirst for Him


        G r o w i n g   i n   J e s u s   =   " O r g a n i c a l l y "

          • Growing by looking at the faith of "so great a cloud of
            witnesses"   Hebrews 11

          • Growing within the Body of Christ !!!

        "We meet together to edify one another by the interchange of thoughts
        and feelings, to gather strength, and light, and courage by becoming
        acquainted with one another's hopes and aspirations; and by our earnest,
        heartfelt prayers, offered up in faith, we receive refreshment and vigor
        from the Source of Strength."     Christian Service   194.


        M y   R e s p o n s e

          • "Acting with simplicity helps us gain peace of heart.
          • It is simply dwelling in the presence of God all the time.
          • In turn, a kind spirit will be generous in acknowledging,
          • sharing and cooperating with others
          • as beneficiaries of the grace of God." Joyful   177

          • "When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart,
            like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden.
          • Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we
            come in contact.
          • The spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the
            dessert, flowing to refresh all and making those who are
            ready to perish, eager to drink of the Water of Life."   SC 77
          • My prayer:


        G o i n g   D e e p e r   /   S o u r c e s   =   R e a d i n g s

                                                    B O O K S

        • * The American Heritage College Dictionary. 3rd ed. Houghton, 1993.
               PE 1628 .A6227 1993     423     ISBN 0-395-44638-4
        • Houston, James. Joyful Exiles, Life in Christ on the Dangerous
               Edges of Things.           IVP, 2006.     BV 4501.3 .H683 2006       248.4
               ISBN 978-0-8308-3324-5
        • White, Ellen G. Instruction for Effective Christian Service. General
               Conference of SDA. 1947.     [ = ChS ]
        • --------------------- Steps to Christ. Pacific, n.d.     [ = SC ]
        • --------------------- Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing. Pacific, n.d.
               [ = TMB ]

                                                      M A G A Z I N E S

                  • Adventist Review
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        Wolfhard Touchard, M.L.S.   Retired Reference & Database Librarian
        Andrews University - February 2014