Dear Reader,
This section is written with the thought towards Spiritual Growth in Christian Character. It is an outgrowth of weekly emails titled Morning Greetings that were distributed to a small group within the church beginning in March of 2009. At that time the focus was to share thoughts and considerations, to encourage and instruct with the aim to bringing every thought captive to Christ (2Cor. 10:5), to the end that in each and every one might be found advancing in the fulfillment of the primary Christian objective defined in Romans 8:29, …to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
In time, I began to blog these Morning Greetings to Lessons from the Garden, and thus in the next step it has landed here.
The theme and background colors for Captive Thoughts and Lessons from the Garden are green to represent and remind the reader of the necessity of growth. Like life – physical and spiritual – gardens just don’t happen!
The musings found here are from various authors and books, one in particular titled, The Complete Green Letters by Miles Stanford, a Clarion Classic book. This book is a compilation of several smaller books by Miles Stanford, two of which were the core of Miles’ teaching: Principle of Position and Principles of Spiritual Growth. Most of his early books are now out of print except for Principles of Spiritual Growth now under the title The Green Letters, Principles of Spiritual Growth. The Complete Green Letters however, contains both core teachings plus two more sections related to spiritual growth. The Green Letters, Principles of Spiritual Growth is retitled under the chapter heading Foundations of Spiritual Growth.
The Complete Green Letters remains in print and available. The comments I make here in Lessons from the Garden are based on the first two chapters of that book, with excerpts reprinted with permission. Although I find what Miles has to say in the other chapters of the book valuable, there are some things I’m not in complete accord with, though they are not without merit. But, the first two chapters are invaluable, fundamental in understanding our wondrous Union in Christ (Position) and the necessary elements for spiritual growth in Christ (Rom 8:29). As such this site reviews those two topics in detail beginning with Foundations of Spiritual Growth (Chapter Two) followed by Principles of Spiritual Growth (Chapter One). I believe this to be the proper sequence of study in understanding of this important teaching.
“It doesn’t have to be this way.”
I have a several “spiritual growth” books near at hand that would make for excellent and similar review. But The Complete Green Letters remains a favorite for a number of reasons. I have used The Complete Green Letters many times over the years to counsel and help others acquire a firm foundation for spiritual growth. On my “relaxed reading” book shelf, I enjoy one particular mystery novelist above the rest. There is one quote out of all his books and story telling that repeatedly comes to mind whenever I counsel or encourage others facing struggles and difficulties. It goes like this, “It doesn’t have to be this way.” The context of that remark has to do with making bad or foolish decisions willfully or ignorantly. Foolish decisions and choices cut both ways, troubling both our self and those around use. The comment “It doesn’t have to be this way” references the bad choices of an antagonist in the story and the subsequent unintended consequences of a negative sort. The author of that phrase is making a point that ignorant or foolish choices are in fact just that, foolish choices.
…every day you are becoming the person you will be forever!
As the principal for nine years of our little Christian school, during morning openings I would recite at least once a week in the hearing of the students the following:
Watch your thoughts, they come your words;
Your words become your actions;
Your actions become your habits;
Your habits become your character;
And your character becomes you – every day you are becoming the person you will be forever! Proverbs 23:7
Habits of the heart are hard to change, yet not impossible. Old ways can be replaced with new. But doing the right thing depends on knowing right things. It is a process.
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Eph. 4:21-24
This is the essence of this commentary dealing with “the hand” in living out our walk and Christian life – Lessons From The Garden for disciples of Christ.
It is my hope and prayer that this study be a blessing to the readers of this site in their quest for Christ, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). If you have any questions or comments along the way, I look forward to hearing you.
In the wondrous blessings in Christ,
Joe LoGiudice
