Covenant Keepers -"Growing in God" Spiritual Growth - Micah 6:6-8

Tonight we come to the conclusion of the Covenant Keepers Series as a way to look at our spiritual journey in order to keep God at the center of our lives. We have talked about the importance of being at worship each Sunday as a way to say that God matters in our lives. We worship because God deserves and desires our presence in community. In worship we fill our lives with God's presence to go forward into a new week. We have looked at our prayer life as the way to nurture our relationship with God and one another. There is indeed power in prayer to change our world. We talked about developing a spirit of generosity as we give ourselves as an offering to our world. By the way we use our time, financial resources, our very lives, we have the opportunity to make a difference in our world. Last week we focused on service as the sacred journey in which the presence of God is lived out through our lives. Each one of us has a unique gift and purpose to offer as we serve in our world.

Tonight we will concentrate on spiritual growth. We are all on a spiritual journey. Our spiritual life is part of everything that we do, who we are as a person. As we become all that God intends for us to be we reflect more fully God's life giving presence to our world. Rosemary Cunningham says that "Spirituality is like a switch. Everybody has one; it's just that not everyone has it turned on." The spiritual practices of presence at worship, prayer, generosity, and service are the key areas that help us to turn on the switch of our spirituality. As we each and every day bring these practices into our everyday lives we will grow.

We turn on the switch of our spirituality when we show up for life every day. When we take the time to be present in the moment and see God present in all of life. When we look at the splendor of nature, when we listen intently to a friend, as we go about the ordinary activites of housekeeping, enjoy a beautiful piece of music, sit in silence we can grow in these moments. As we invite God to join us in our daily activities we open ourselves to an encounter with the Holy One in the moments of our days. Some people make the mistake of seeing their spiritual life as a separate part of who they are. But rightly understood it is a vital awareness that pervades all parts of our being. Our spiritual life is more than a Sunday trip to worship. It involves all of who we are wherever we find ourselves, who ever we are with.

All of our life experiences can be teachers. When we celebrate the joy of birth or new life. When we mourn the loss of a loved one. When we are faced with illness or disease. start a relationship, or move to a new home. When we get a new job, All of the experiences of life give us the opportunity to grow in our spiritual life. How we deal with the people in our lives, how we use our time, what we do with the resources entrusted to us are all chances to grow and become all God wants us to be. We can learn from the bad experiences of life as well as from the good experiences. Inherent in all situations is the potential for transformation and growth. In life, even in death, resurrection can happen.

As we learn to see the world through God's eyes we grow. To wake up in the morning is the first gift God gives us for a new day. In gratitude we can look for opportunities to recognize the needs of our world and reach out to make a difference. We are all interconnected, we are all responsible for one another and our world. If there is a need we must work to help the one in need. If we see an injustice we must reach out to right the wrong. We must be the ones to offer forgiveness, to extend love and mercy, to be Christ-like in all that we do. As we see the world through God's eyes we recognize that truly everyone is a brother or sister. Our words, our actions can change our world. The companionship of others is vital to our growth. We have much wisdom to share with each other that we have learned through life experiences. We all share emotions, feelings and experiences that are part of our common journey. We need each other for encouragement, support, challenge, and our growth in the love of God.

Tonight we end the Covenant Keepers series, but I want to ask us to make the commitment to live as Covenant Keepers in our world. Make your presence at worship a priority in your life each Sunday. Nurture and cherish the relationship you have with God in prayer. As you live in gratitude for all that God has done for you live as a generous offering to our world. May you be the words and hands of Christ as you serve those around you. Each day as we center our lives in God we will grow and become God's life changing presence in our world.