more and more

Ahhhh...a fresh new year.  So full of possibilities.  So much desire for growth and change.  

The main thought on my mind lately is "I don't __________ enough."  I put a blank there because there are many things to fill in that blank.  

Things like love, pray, speak with graciousness, hug, smile at my kids, give, plan, exercise, or even have more fun!

There is much that I want to do more of in the coming year.  

In all my desire to do more, I am trying to resist the temptation to become discouraged.  These seem to be areas that I always seem to want to improve in, I never seem to be satisfied.  Should I be?  Probably not.  But  I am taking encouragement from the book of 1 Thessalonians this morning.  Notice how there is encouragement in what they are already doing, and there is also encouragement to do more, to increase and to abound.

...may the Lord make you increase and abound

in love for one another and for all, 

as we do for you,

so that he may establish your hearts blameless

in holiness before our God and Father, at the 

coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you

in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us

 how you ought to walk and to please God, 

just as you are doing, 

that you do so more and more.

For you know what instructions we gave

you through the Lord Jesus.  

For this is the will of God, your sanctification...

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3a

Now concerning brotherly love

you have no need for anyone to write to you,

for you yourselves have been taught by God

to love one another, for indeed that is what you

are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

But we urge you, brothers, 

to do this more and more...

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

   God certainly knows how frail I am.  He knows how prone I am to get off track.  He knows how often I will need to adjust my focus and my priorities.

   Yet I am also aware of his love, his encouragement, his strength in my weakness...his grace.

Every day, one step at a time, moment by moment,  I want to love him more and love others more.  

I'm so excited about 2012.  I want to abound.  I want to increase.  More and more, in every way, I want to live my life for the glory of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly

than all that we ask or think, 

according to the power at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21