For the Lord your God is living among you….Zephaniah 3:17a

It seems that since the population of southwest Missouri started growing, it just can’t stop. Our little town of Clever has increased its population by fifty percent since we’ve lived here, and Republic is sprawling all over the countryside. We all know Nixa has experienced exponential growth, and Ozark is adding on to both the north and south sides of town. Huge corporate assets have settled in Brookline, causing a housing explosion in all the towns near it. Everywhere we turn new developments are being born, infrastructure laid, and houses upon houses are being built.

Acreages all around us are being snapped up and changing from family farms to single family homes, apartments, and townhomes. Yes, we have townhomes in Clever now, and let’s not forget all the house flippers who are taking tired homestyles and modernizing them to appeal to a variety of consumers.

Schools are bursting at the seams, businesses are expanding and hiring, and families are relocating to new homes. Every piece of ground that is available for development is being turned over to create new communities. Developers can’t seem to gobble up the land fast enough. Will it ever slow down?

I recently read that we, as Christians, have a personal acreage to develop, a lot in life.

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and sink yourself into that. Galatians 6:4 MSG

We’re asked to take a good, close look at ourselves and really see how we are influencing our own personal acreage in our daily lives here on this earth. How do we contribute to our families? How do we address our coworkers? How do we respond to total strangers? What are our priorities? What is our primary focus?

Let me tell you, if your life’s focus is on anything other than the sweet spirit of Jesus, it’s high time to rethink your priorities. You are here in this place and this time for a reason. I’d venture a guess that most of us will never know the real purpose of our existence during this earthly lifetime; our role is that of a searcher. Our lives, our hopes, our dreams are all intended to be worthy of the acreage that has been loaned to us by our heavenly Father. He placed you where you are in the vast continuum of time and space for a specific purpose. You may never know that purpose, but it exists. So, in your search, remember to carefully develop the acreage you occupy so that it may be a shining light for others to follow.

I am a child of God. He put me in this time and place for a purpose. He has filled this time and place with His presence and His provision. With His help, I can see the blessings He has given me. Max Lucado, Calm Moments for Anxious Days.