Summer (Growing/Training/Stretching)Growing is a process that takes time and patience. As we serve actively growth can be and should result in our character, word of God and skills to develop. So focusing on the events, the convention camps or conferences, we will feel empty when its over. But when we focus on serving, that will be the major growth point.
Example: When we begin to serve God in worship, our confidence, our voices and skills will increase and importantly our worshiping life style will change to please God. Putting theory and head knowledge into practice will determine if you really understood all the teachings in the first place!
The need to develop skills in worshiping, teaching etc in ministry is important, so let God shape our character, patience, loving kindness and not just the skills. e.g. How do we handle difficult people and difficult situations. Is the our heart attitude right?
What specifics do you need to work on in your character, in the word of God and in your ministry skills?
Effective training builds competency and confidence that pays off in better results. This requires a personal relationship with God and professional training and discipline. The K.A.S.H training goes like this:
K-Knowledge (bible): understanding and using the word of God in the correct way
A-Attitude (teachable, open heart): Have to have heart of humility and love for people. e.g. A student passes his studies to become a doctor but has the wrong attitudes, he can not maximize his help to others.
S-Skills(practical ministral): to be effective in minstry
H-Habits (needs to be cultivated): Discipline to plant good seeds to sow good crops
Stretching speaks of willingness and the discipline to go further and try harder than before. It is making the most of the time before summer ends in order to achieve certain results. It will pay dividends to go the extra mile!
So the question is are you willing to go that extra mile and what does the stretching really mean to your context?
From workshop "Maximizing personal growth seasons"
