WE have been in the fifth chapter of our book Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of The Complete Green Letters), the chapter titled Preparation. Again, this principle has to do with preparing heart and mind for each phase, each “next step” in our walk towards growth in Christ, remembering

WE have now completed five chapters of in Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of The Complete Green Letters), looking at the principles of Faith, Time, Acceptance, Purpose, and Preparation. At the center of last weeks comments our author commented, Simply remember that Romans 8:28 and 29 go together, and

LAST week we started the sixth chapter in the study of Principles of Spiritual Growth, looking at the principle fact that we are Complete in Him.  All of these considerations stem from our lengthy study and central principle of our Position in Christ.  One of the precious gems of our

WE come – I need to admit – to what may seem to some as a rather strange reading in the chapter we are in titled “Complete in Him” continuing in our consideration in Principles of Spiritual Growth.  We are such doers! From our youth we are told and encouraged

WE are in the 6th chapter of Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of the Complete Green Letters), – “Complete in Him.” The point being here is that all that we need for “life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:2) we already possess “In Christ,” every spiritual blessing is fully available and

Appropriation – Here is an important subject that has to do with faith and the practical reception of that which we are able to trust Him for.  Appropriation does not necessarily mean to gain something new but to set aside for our practical possession something that already belongs to us.

Has Blessed Us AS I sit here this morning reading this next section of our consideration, I can recall many years ago sitting in a small church on a bright Sunday morning listening to a sermon being expounded around Eph. 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

APPROPRIATION is our topic at hand, the gathering in or making use of what is already ours in Christ Jesus – Eph. 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  THE infinite

FROM the end of last week’s consideration, we read: Now we have seen a third element involved in our appropriation. After we have seen our possessions in Christ and become aware of our need, then we must give Him the necessary time to work the appropriation into our everyday walk.

WE return to our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of the Complete Green Letters) – looking now at chapter 8 titled Identification.  I have found that this is a topic that is not discussed much, but is a doctrine that provides much in laying a solid foundation

AS I said in the last posting, our Identification to Christ described in Romans 6 is not discussed much.   But in our study of Principles of Spiritual Growth in chapter 8 titled Identification, our author draws statements and quotations from various writers, presenting them without comment to provide for us

BY now most of you know my moderate fascination with words, how words are used, their origins and how they change over time (or not).  In preparation for our study of this chapter of Principles of Spiritual Growth that is dealing with Identification (Cptr 8), I took a moment to

WE return now to our studies in Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of The Complete Green Letters) – looking now at the topic of Consecration in Chapter 9.  Don’t let the title put you off; the author has some interesting things to say here.  If fact, we’re going to

WE are back now to where we left off in Principles of Spiritual Growth at Chapter 9, Consecration.  Rather than make my usual opening musing, I want to go right to our author’s next paragraph following the last posting, along with the next paragraph that follows, then close with my

THERE are no silver bullets, magic wand solutions when it comes to personal or spiritual growth.  I voice an oft repeated phrase/axiom when people approach me for counseling, seeking some quick-fix answer, saying – “Gardens Just Don’t Happen!”  They are a deliberate and on-going endeavor in planning, planting, propagation, and

Preface: This is longer than normal and formatted a little differently.  I really thought about dividing it into two parts, but that really won’t work.  So I hope you won’t be put off by the length and take the time necessary for due consideration.   AS I look at this

WE continue where we left off in Principles of Spiritual Growth at Chapter 9, Consecration – “The Way Up, Is Down.”  Reading on, we are in an area of discussion where caution is needed, because there are assumptions that can lead one adrift.  However, as my Pastor has pointed out

WE now take up our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth into Chapter 10, titled Self.  “No man can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.” James Russell Lowell This entire study has been in this favorite little book of mine titled “The Green Letters,” by

THE previous posting found us returning to our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth, entering into the next chapter titled “Self.”  I opened with the illustration of the need for garden pruning to remove old growth to allow for new, an illustration similar to that which our Lord uses in

DURING an episode in our character training at school, I posed a simple question to the children saying that in the course of the day the first one to give me the right answer, or come the closet to the correct answer, would get a prize.  There are a few