Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

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Want to Grow Spiritually? Imitate!

April 17, 2025 by Ellen Leave a Comment

Those seconds you’re stopped at a traffic light seem interminable unless you see something remarkable. 

That’s where I spotted them. Their car turned, crossing in front of me. It was obvious they were mother and daughter. Their conversation was animated. There was a reflection in their mannerisms and facial expressions. 

It was in the tilt of the daughter’s head and her hand movements—even her expressions. The daughter was a mirror of her mother. She was imitating her mom, whether or not she realized it. 

Did she reflect her mom spiritually? Did her mom provide a pattern for spiritual growth?

Their obvious bond stabbed my heart. I wish I had had a mom I could imitate and emulate. Not long after I gave my life to Jesus, my parents decided to start camping on weekends. I understood they needed a restful break from work, but it left a gaping hole in my spiritual walk. During those formative teen years, when I needed a solid, meaty Biblical foundation, I received only baby food. There was no regular church attendance or encouragement to join the youth group. Nothing but Sunday morning non-denominational services in the campground. No depth, no solid foundation, no godly women to imitate.

Oh, make no mistake—Mama and I loved each other. But could I imitate her? Not in every way, not until I was an adult, and she had become firm and rock solid in her faith. For decades, my spiritual growth was stagnant. I had a wonderful, loving mother, but I needed a strong spiritual role model: someone who would guide and teach me in my young Christian life and who would help me grow deep roots in Christ Jesus. I didn’t know how to grow in my Christian walk. But I did learn how to imitate.

Unfortunately, I watched the world and reflected what I saw there. I modeled my life after worldly things. I walked in a spiritual desert for decades.

We must be careful who we imitate. 

We grow spiritually when we imitate suitably. 

Who can we imitate? The writer of Hebrews tells us to imitate those who will inherit God’s promises through faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12). Look around you at church. Find a Godly woman that you admire. Notice the qualities in her that you aspire to have.

Our women’s ministry recently had a night of testimonies. One woman grabbed my attention. She had been through so much pain and hardship physically with her body and emotionally with the death of her husband. This suffering had been happening for years. But do you know what I saw in her? Joy! 

I want to imitate her because joy oozes out every pore in her body, despite her sufferings.

And what if you can’t find someone to imitate? What then?

Look to God’s Word. Paul says, “Imitate me (1 Cor. 4:16).” Why? Because he imitates Christ. And we grow when we become more and more like Jesus.

And what was Jesus like? He loved, mentored, and taught. He did nothing without His Father’s approval. He was completely surrendered to the will of God. Oh, that I could more closely imitate Jesus in my walk! Oh, how I wish surrendering in obedience would be as easy for me as it was for Jesus!

Be a reflection of Christ. Find a strong Christian to imitate. 

Because who you imitate matters.

In His Image,

 

 

Do you have a longing in your heart that needs to be filled? Are you hurting or grieving? Click here to get your copy of Longing to Belong. It will bring hope to your longing heart!

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A Rock & A Hard Place

March 20, 2025 by Ellen Leave a Comment

Have you ever heard the phrase “caught between a rock and a hard place?” It was a common saying growing up, and my parents used it many times. 

It means a person is cornered between two extreme situations, neither is better, and any choice will be terrible. It’s a difficult, uncomfortable situation. 

How about “hard as a rock”? I think of this phrase when I sleep on an uncomfortable mattress. Lumpy and rocky. 

Rocks are usually associated with negative things or hard times in our lives.

“Thinks are rocky right now. I’m sure they’ll be better soon.”

Imagine my surprise when I read Psalm 71, and the psalmist asked God to be his rock of habitation! That doesn’t sound like a place I’d want to be!

“Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come” Psalm 71:3

Rock of Habitation

A habitation is a dwelling place. Wouldn’t a rock be a rough and uncomfortable place to stay? Not when we dig a little deeper into scripture. A habitation is also a hidden den, a place of refuge. A  rock or stone provides impenetrable shelter, a safe place, and a refuge from danger. A bunker, if you will. 

We have that shelter and safety today. His name is Jesus. He is our cornerstone (Eph. 2:20), the rock-solid foundation on which we build our lives. 

The Old Testament points us to Jesus when it tells us God is our rock of strength (Ps. 31:2). Deuteronomy tells us God is a dwelling place, and we can find shelter under His everlasting arms. Jesus wants to shelter us under His arms as well! 

“How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” Matthew 23:27 

When we make Jesus our rock of habitation, those old sayings take on new meaning, don’t they? Jesus is my rock and my hard place (shelter, protection). The covering of His arms is hard as a rock (strong, strong, strong!).

Let Jesus be your Rock!

 

 

Do you have a longing in your heart that needs to be filled? Are you hurting or grieving? Click here to get your copy of Longing to Belong. It will bring hope to your longing heart!

 

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