![\"Rosebush](\"http:\/\/heidiannie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/Rosebush-in-October-001.jpg\")
<\/a> Pretty, isn’t it?<\/p>\nIt’s not stretching out there. It’s growing.<\/p>\n
It’s mid October and still growing.<\/p>\n
It is beautiful. And when it does finally stop blooming and the leaves curl in the frost and cold.<\/p>\n It will still be growing.<\/strong><\/p>\n Underground the roots will continue to grow- <\/p>\n going deeper-<\/p>\n becoming stronger-<\/p>\n preparing for additional growth in the Spring.<\/p>\n And isn’t growing what the Lord wants us to do anyway?<\/p>\n I’ve never seen a scripture that says, Stretch into grace.<\/p>\n Or to stretch out your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n I understand the concept behind the statement.<\/p>\n I just don’t like it.<\/p>\n God is doing a work in me.<\/p>\n Ephesians 2:10 says we are his workmanship, <\/p>\n and that we are fitted to grow into a holy temple<\/p>\n so that the Holy Spirit can live within us.<\/p>\n I am committed to growing.<\/p>\n BEING STRETCHED?<\/p>\n Not so much.<\/p>\n Because I want to end up looking like this in God’s hand-<\/p>\n (being stretched makes me think of plastic surgery- the skin stretched so tight that you can’t even smile. I don’t want to look like Joan Rivers!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We’ve all heard it, I think. That encouraging statement from our spiritual family. “Honey, God is just trying to stretch you with this ____________(fill in the blank).” I have been guilty of saying it. I’m sorry. Because although stretching is … Continue reading <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/p>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n