Hey friends, welcome to the Graceology with Gwen Smith podcast.

I'm Gwen Smith and I'm really glad you're here.

Each week I host two different shows, one with incredible guests and meaningful conversations,

and one called A Moment of Grace, where

it's just me, talking to just you, in a reflective, devotional style to help connect those

busy, bruised, and broken places to the beautiful hope of Jesus. So now I invite you to sit

back and take a deep breath as I share with you a moment of grace.

When I was growing up, ours was on the doorframe between the kitchen and the hall with the red carpet.

A vertical trail of pencil dashes and dates that marked the growth of my siblings and I that

eventually got painted over. An archive of ages and heights that proved physical progress was

really happening in the Isman household. And boy, did I want my growth to show. Each time my dad lined

us up to draw lines just above our highest hairs,

I would stretch my spine to the sky. It's even possible that I might have lifted my heels

occasionally. Hmm, possible. Just throwing it out there. Don't judge me. Dad always bumped us back

down. I loved seeing the tangible distance between where I

used to be and where I was. I loved seeing the evidence of advancement, progress, growth. I still do.

In 1 Timothy 412, which was a letter to Timothy from Paul, Paul encouraged him to set an example

to other believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. He also challenged his young

protege to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, which is encouraging

others, and to teaching. He told Timothy to be

intentional, move forward in faith, grow in such a way that it impacts others. First Timothy 415 reads,

practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. I read this and I wonder,

...