2A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MARCH 21, 2018
I
often teach on a variety of subjects, but
I believe my primary calling is to help
Christians grow up and mature in Christ and
really begin to enjoy the great life He has in
store for them.
As a young woman, I went to church for
years, but I really didn’t know much about
spiritual maturity. I loved God with all of my
heart, but I wasn’t changing—I was still as
critical, judgmental and rebellious as ever.
And even though I knew my life should be
getting better, I was still miserable from
dealing with all of the same problems.
I believe this is one of Satan’s greatest
strategies. If he can’t keep people from
hearing the Gospel and accepting Christ,
he will do everything he can to make sure
they never grow spiritually and experience
the peace and joy that’s promised to them
in the Bible.
You see, when we’re born again, the
Holy Spirit comes to live in our heart—God
plants a seed of everything He is in our spir-
it. He instantaneously deposits inside of us
everything we need to live a great life.
For instance, Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC)
says, “The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the
work which His presence within accom-
plishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, pa-
tience (an even temper, forbearance), kind-
ness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
gentleness (meekness, humility), self-con-
trol....”
Did you know all of these things already
exist on the inside of you? You may wonder,
Well, if that’s the case, then why aren’t I ex-
periencing any of it in my life?
Well, when it comes to the maturity pro-
cess, we have a part to play. Our part is to
cooperate with God to cultivate and develop
His character in our lives so we can grow
and become more like Him. How do we do
that?
It all begins by spending regular time
in God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The
Word that God speaks is alive and full of
power [making it active, operative, energiz-
ing, and effective]....”
When we spend time in God’s Word,
we are spending time with God. His Word
changes us—it changes how we think and
how we act. It changes how we see God,
ourselves and the world around us.
Romans 12:2 is a great scripture that
shows us how we grow spiritually: “Do
not be conformed to this world (this age),
[fashioned after and adapted to its external,
superfi cial customs], but be transformed
(changed) by the [entire] renewal of your
mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude],
so that you may prove [for yourselves] what
is the good and acceptable and perfect will
of God....”
God has a “good and acceptable and per-
fect” plan for our lives, but we must renew
our minds with His Word before we can ex-
perience it.
It’s important to remember that growing
spiritually is a process. When I fi rst began to
read and study God’s Word, I immediately
saw things I needed to change. For a while,
I felt guilty and condemned that I wasn’t
“measuring up.”
However, God helped me to understand
that He never shows us these things to con-
demn us and make us feel guilty. He con-
victs us of our behavior in order to help us
grow and come up higher in that area.
For example, I was extremely rebellious
in the early years of my marriage. Because
my father sexually abused me when I was
growing up, I had developed a distrust of
men. I vowed that no man would
ever again push me around.
But as I learned God’s Word, I
saw that my behavior toward my
husband, Dave, was wrong. The
Lord was asking me to walk in
love with Dave in my speech, atti-
tudes and actions. This was easier
said than done! But God always
gives us the grace to do what He
is asking us to do. He doesn’t ex-
pect us to do it all on our own.
So, little by little, by God’s
grace, I began to change. The
Lord transformed me from being
rude, critical, harsh and rebellious
into someone who has real peace, love and
joy. But it was a process—it didn’t happen
overnight.
Look at 2 Corinthians 3:18. It says we
“are constantly being transfi gured into His
very own image in ever increasing splendor
and from one degree of glory to another.”
The Lord changes us a little at a time.
None of us will ever be perfect until we get
to Heaven, and that’s okay. But as long as
we’re here on this earth, God desires for us
to continually cooperate with Him to learn
and grow.
As we do—as we continue to grow spir-
itually and change “from glory to glory”—
we will experience the incredible peace, joy
and fulfi llment that only God can give us.
And we will show the world around us what
God is really like.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s
three-teaching CD series The Beauty of
Spiritual Maturity. You can also contact us
to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Ev-
eryday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or
visiting www.joycemeyer.org.
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-
selling author and founder of Joyce Mey-
er Ministries, Inc. She has authored more
than 100 books, including Battlefi eld of the
Mind and Unshakeable Trust: Find the Joy
of Trusting God at All Times (Hachette).
She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio
and TV programs, which air on hundreds of
stations worldwide. For more information,
visit www.joycemeyer.org.
Please note: The views and opinions ex-
pressed throughout this publication and/or
website are those of the respective authors
and do not necessarily refl ect those of Joyce
Meyer Ministries.
IN MEMORIAM
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Please Celebrate the 4th of July Safely!
William Babuck 1935-2018
William Anthony Billman Babuck, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away
March 8, 2018, at Eastern Idaho Medical Center.
William was born April 12, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to William A.
Babuck and Margaret Fiore Billman. The family of 10 siblings, of which
he took on the role of father fi gure, moved to Cottage Grove, Oregon. He
bought a three-bedroom home, putting a roof over their heads and even
gave them all allowances. He was the best brother ever. Bill served in the
Army Reserves and worked at Riniki Lumber in Saginaw.
William is survived by sister, Margaret Billman (Bruce) Phillips of
Springfi eld, OR, brother, Edward (Patty) Billman of Coos Bay OR,
brother, David Billman of Cottage Grove, OR, brother, Richard (Caro-
lyn) Billman of Coos Bay, OR, sister, Kathy Billman of Boise, ID, sister,
Alice Cramer of Boise, ID.
He was preceded in death by
his father, William A. Babuck;
mother, Margaret Billman; step-
father, Glen Billman; two sisters,
Betty Anne Barnes and Frances
Billman; and one brother, Larry
Billman.
Funeral services were held
Thursday, March 15, 2018, in
Idaho Falls.
Condolences/fl owers may be
sent to the family at 1410 T St.,
Springfi eld, OR, 97477
Solesbee — Harold Eugene
Solesbee, 75, of Creswell, died
March 16. A celebration of life
is planned for a later date. Ar-
rangements by Smith-Lund-
Mills Funeral Chapel in Cottage
Grove.
Tom and Stella Richardson
Stella Anne Conway-Richardson, 84, of Cottage Grove, OR,
passed away on January 21, 2018 and Stella’s husband, Th omas Dar-
rell Richardson, 81, of Cottage Grove, OR passed away on August
21, 2017.
Stella was born March 8, 1933 in Portsmouth, England. A grad-
uate of Oxford University, Stella was also a founding member of the
New Archangel Dancers in Sitka, a business owner, a painter, and a
published poet.
Stella is survived by her fi ve children; Kerri Silver of Olympia,
WA; John Conway and wife Cindy of Anchorage, AK; Chris Conway
and wife Lisa of Wasilla, AK; Mark Conway and wife Kelly of Bel-
levue, WA and Shelagh Conway of Austin, TX; Ten grandchildren;
Cole, Chase, Sean, Patrick, Raichael, Dawson, Denali, Brieann, Mad-
ison, and Kennedy; and one great grandchild, Quinn.
Tom was born January 21, 1936 in San Diego, CA. Tom was an Air Force veteran, honorably
providing service to our country and an accomplished private pilot and outdoorsman. Tom retired
aft er a long career with AMSCO/Steris and he and Stella moved to his 80 acre tree farm in Cottage
Grove, OR.
Tom is survived by his two children Th omas Jr. Richardson of Palm City, FL, and Deanne
Richardson of Portland, OR.
Tom and Stella worked the tree farm, traveled, loved to fl y and volunteer their time in their
community. Th ey were both very active until their fi nal years.
Services for both and Military honors for Tom will be conducted at 2:30 PM on April 27, 2018
at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Th ey will be laid to rest together.
At 4pm, a celebration of life will follow at the Marriott Courtyard South Clackamas located at
9300 SE Sunnybrook Blvd, Clackamas Oregon 97015.
Please RSVP to stoafamily@gmail.com if you are planning on attending.
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123 South 7th,
Cottage Grove, Oregon
th
123
South
7
,
Cottage
Grove, Oregon
541-942-0185 •www.smithlundmills.com
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www.smithlundmills.com
Please join us for our annual
EASTER SUNDAY
CELEBRATION
April 1, 2018
Delight Valley Church of Christ
33087 Saginaw Road East, Cottage Grove
541-942-7711
9am - Building 1
f & Vic’s Photo Booth”
“Breakfast
10am - Building 2
“Donuts and Coff ee and Cupcakes, Oh My!”
10:30am - Building 2
Worship & Message
“Forgiveness: Hard to Get, Hard to Give!”
A Th ree Week Series Starting April 1
“Youth Program & Party”
NOON OR SO - IN THE BACK FIELD
“10,000 Candy or Small Toy Filled Easter Egg Hunt”
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