"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27
Byron Community Youth Group. For the sake of those who may be new to The Village Church, a little bit of background is necessary for these four words to be understood and as awesome for you as they are for me.
A year ago, before The Village Church had officially begun ministry in the community of Byron, I was approached to be a part of a program called The Break. The Break is a voluntary release time available for Byron High School and Middle School students, who leave during a small portion of their school day each Tuesday and are taught lessons from the Bible. I was invited into this program as the weekly speaker and the Byron Baptist Church was invited in as the host and transportation. What began as a bit of a wild card quickly turned into real ministry and a wonderful friendship.
This past summer, The Village Church and the Byron Baptist Church partnered to bring a community wide Vacation Bible School to Byron. The unity and enthusiasm the two church bodies showed over the hot week of "striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" only helped to further the bond of friendship. And, though two churches we came together as one body and we were able to reach into the homes and lives of around 60 children!
This brings us to today and the Byron Community Youth Group (BCYG). Just about two months ago, I was contacted by the youth leaders from the Byron Baptist Church about the idea of joining as one to further our reach and influence for the Kingdom in the lives of teenagers in our community. We sat and talked about what this would look like, how we would do this together, and how we would reach the youth of our community. It came up that since both churches were already involved in The Break, working together with youth, that perhaps we should reach out to The Break leaders and work to incorporate the youth from that program. Understand, the two churches have around 30 youth in 7th through 12th grades combined. The Break saw around 50 students throughout the year and many of them weren't from either church. There is work to do!
Myself and the other elders here at The Village Church prayed and we talked and we felt peace in the decision to see what God would do if these two parts came together as one body to serve Him in reaching the youth of Byron. A calendar was made with some events on it along with a first and third Sunday of the month youth gathering.
The first BCYG gathering happened this past Sunday. I was asked to speak and I shared pieces of the message from a few weeks ago, What is a Disciple? The youth were challenged with, "Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Jesus." There were about 30 youth there. The opportunity to make a difference in the life of a teenager was there too. And, it will be there again the next time we meet or at their next football game, their next great achievement, their next heartbreak.
This is where you come in! You're going to start seeing information about BCYG events and gatherings. And, maybe as you read these words God is stirring something in you to be a part of this. BCYG isn't just events and gatherings, it's loving and speaking the Truth of God into a young person’s life. It's building relationships so that if the time comes when their world falls down, they know who they can trust and turn to. If you would like more information about how you can get involved with BCYG, please contact me. I'd love to help you get involved on the ground floor of this new ministry opportunity!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
An Invitation to Baptism
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16
As we continue to work through our current series, Making Disciples, it was inevitable that we would come to the topic of baptism. To talk about making disciples and not talk about baptism, would be like talking about salvation without talking about repentance from sin.
Baptism is an interesting thing and in some examples has become the wrong thing. For example, we don't baptize infants because Scripturally we only have reference to those being baptized as those who have understood the Good News of Jesus Christ and by faith believed in Him for salvation. Additionally, we don't believe that baptism is how we are saved. If this were true, we would find salvation in something that we did instead of something that God does.
However, baptism is not something that can be neglected. In the New Testament, from Jesus’ command to His disciples to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15) no account of someone believing in Jesus Christ by faith exists without that person or group of people subsequently being baptized.
In Acts 2, the Jews ask Peter what they should do to be saved and he says, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins," and in the verse above Jesus says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."
Baptism does not save you. The act of being baptized is not how we come to salvation. But, for the one who has by faith believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, the next step for that person is the public confession of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. And, in the Bible, the way we see this confession happening is in the waters of baptism. This plays out all through the book of Acts, as the Apostles are making disciples. And, in Matthew 28:19 Jesus says in regards to making disciples, "Go...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Have you by faith believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you confessed Jesus publicly before man and obediently through baptism? If not, consider this a personal invitation for you to join us this Sunday and in obedience be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
If you have any questions about baptism at all and would like to talk more about it, please feel free to contact me!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Do You Understand?
"So Phillip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?'" Acts 8:30
Pastors have a wide range of responsibilities within the church, but chief among them, according to the Word of God, is "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ," (Ephesians 4:12). In order for me to do this for you, it is extremely important for me to be in the Word of God. Because of this, it is likely that I spend more time in the Bible than most people and not nearly as much as others. Actually, I feel like I never spend enough time in God's Word. But, I do feel like I know why the prophet said the Lord's Word was as honey to him.
I also know that opening the Word of God and reading it produces questions. So here are 3 simple steps to help you when getting into the Scriptures.
1) Pray before you open the Bible. Pray while the Bible is open. And, pray when you're done reading the Bible. The whole time asking God for understanding. He knows the content better than anyone, He wrote it, and He gives understanding.
2) Get a notebook or a journal or something to write in! Write down your questions. Write down what spoke to you. Write down what challenged you. Write down what was confusing. Write, write, write!
3) Take your notebook and find someone you can sit down with and work through the questions that you have. A spouse, a friend, a parent, whatever, but don't just sit and be confused or have unanswered questions about God's Word.
Like the Ethiopian in the verses above, there are times when we are all in need of someone to guide us in what we are reading. In my call from God to equip you for the work of ministry, He has given me to serve as a guide for you. If you have questions and don't know where to turn, please contact me and we'll turn to the Holy Spirit to guide us both!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Making Disciples
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." Proverbs 29:18
I have always had a strong belief that people who are members or regular attenders of a church should know, understand, and be able to talk about what their church is about. Like if someone asked you, "Hey where do you go to church?" and you responded, "Oh, I go to The Village Church" and they began to ask you questions about The Village Church, you would have the answers. Now, I'm not saying you should have all the answers, and some questions are so complex that you may not know. Please, always feel free to contact me whenever that may happen!
Part of the prophetic vision that keeps us from casting of restraint at The Village Church is making disciples! This is like prime directive number one for the follower of Jesus Christ and it carries over into the body of Jesus Christ, the Church!
I hope you will join us over the next few Sundays, as we look a little more closely at this topic, the work of making disciples, it's for all of us! I am praying that God will save someone, as we look at what disciples are. I am praying that you will be encouraged in your life as a disciple maker. I am praying that we, as Christ's body here in Byron and the surrounding area, will become more effective and passionate about disciple making. That God will continue to bless us as we keep the law.
If you are new to our church family and interested in learning more about us or if you are with us each week and just want a refresher, you can click here and listen to a message from this past February about the biblical vision and direction of The Village Church.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
It's a girl!
"For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:5
What a week! Due on August 7th, our newest addition, Margaret Austen White, was born this past Sunday at 9:19am, 12 days "late" and just in time for church! Jacqueline is continuing her recovery and Margaret is beginning to grow, having gained 2 ounces from Sunday's birth to Wednesday's check up.
We wish to express our thanks for the many weeks and months of prayer and support from you, our church family! You have all been wonderful. We also thank you for respecting our privacy as we transition to having a newborn in our home once more.
At the peak of what I can only imagine to be the most excruciating pain, Jacqueline prayed the most heartfelt and sincere prayer someone could possibly utter, "Please Lord, help me." I was moved to tears, unable to relieve her pain, as I watched my wife and then as I watched the Lord answer her, for he is good; his love and his faithfulness truly endures to all generations!
We are excited to finally introduce you to our new little girl!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Keep Calm & Trust God
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." Proverbs 19:21
This weeks article is written from a very personal place in the White's house currently. The expectation of any child's birth is marked by a very special date, the due date. We spend a lot of time planning things around that date. When the date approaches, everyone has grand anticipation of that being the day on which the special new baby will be born.
But, sometimes, as in our current case, that date comes and goes without the birth of said bundle of joy. As I write this, we are 9 days passed our due date and at first that isn't that big of a deal. But, when a couple days turns into a week plus, what was anticipation, simply put, turns into frustration.
And boy, isn't our life with Christ just like that sometimes. I know mine is. We make plans, and we build everything around those plans and as long as everything is going to plan everyone is just having a great time. But sometimes, when frustration starts to fill the void, we should just stop and remember, it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
This little girl will be born in His perfect time, not a minute sooner, not a minute later. And no matter what my plans are, it is the Lord's purpose that will stand. We must hang our faith and confidence on God's perfect time. In your life, whatever breakthrough you are praying for, whatever need you are looking to have met, whatever circumstance you face, plan and be as prepared as you can, but remember that it is the Lord's purpose that will stand.
Thank you so much for your prayers and your genuine concern for our family! You cannot know how much we appreciate it!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Don't Be Surprised!
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12
This past week, a very prominent American pastor known for holding large crusades that reach many thousands of people each year with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was forced to remove a billboard advertisement for one of said crusades.
The offense demanding removal? The pastor was pictured on the billboard holding a Bible. It was not the pastor, not the crusade, not the billboard, but the Bible caused this offense.
Christians seem to be pretty upset about all of this, and it is indeed disturbing. But, lets not be surprised! I don't want the souls of men that God has entrusted to my care to be naive or ignorant of what is coming. Paul said, "do not be alarmed."
The return of Jesus Christ is near! As it nears, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) and don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Equipping the Saints
"to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ," Ephesians 4:12
At The Village Church, we are blessed with so many children! The past two weeks, while adults have been in worship and the Word on Sunday morning, there have been fifty plus, children and workers in the Village Kids area. In July, Village Kids was expanded to include all children from birth through 6th grade and now, just one month later, the 4th to 6th grade class is almost in need of breaking into multiple classes!
This is where you come in. We want you! Most importantly, we want you growing in your walk with the Lord, worshipping and having fellowship with other believers. As your pastor though, I pray and desire to see your walk with the Lord blossom into serving.
At The Village Church, we believe in expressing our service in three ways: serving the Lord, serving the church, and serving the community. If you have been looking for a way to serve the church, consider this my personal invitation for you to be stretched beyond where you are right now and take a front row seat in teaching and training the young hearts of our church family.
This is one of the passions of my heart in ministry; to see the Lord use His Word through me and watch it inspire you to serve Him, the Church, and the world around.
Click here for more info about serving at The Village Church.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
His Divine Power!
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence..." 2 Peter 1:3
A lot of Christians walk around looking for a missing piece, trying to obtain what they think they are lacking. The trouble is, you're not lacking. You're simply not utilizing what God has already made available to you.
This Sunday, we will wrap up the Family Portrait series with a look at children. My oldest child is just 7 years old. I don't have parenting figured out. I'm 37 years old with aging parents and I don't always know how to effectively care for them. But, everything I need for life and godliness has been given to me by my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, including how to parent and how to be an honoring adult child to my parents.
When we by faith in Jesus Christ receive the grace of God and are saved, He bestows on us all that we need for life and godliness. No mysteries, no hidden gems, no smoke and mirrors, if you are in the Word and you are in prayer, you will find that God has already given you all things pertaining to life and godliness, whatever it is that you feel you are lacking.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
What prevents you from being baptized?
"And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?'" Acts 8:36
Last weekend was awesome! From a full day of interacting with people at Byron Family Fun Day, to Sunday morning's worship, the proclamation of the Word, and our first baptism in the Shiawassee River! What a day!
First off, thank you to every single person that served last weekend! From the setup of the booth in the vendor area, to talking with people throughout the day, to teardown that night and then set up, worship, and teardown Sunday. You all served with enthusiasm, loved the community, and honored the Lord! Thank you!
Second, how encouraging and inspirational to see a man courageously step forward, profess his faith in Jesus Christ and be baptized! I've prayed for that man's life and his family often this past week.
We have the baptismal set up every Sunday at the school and some may wonder why, since people aren't baptized every week. The reason is in the verse above; we don't ever want to prevent someone's obedience in this area. If you have ever had questions about baptism, or you want to talk to someone about being baptized, please let us know! Don't let anything prevent you from obeying Christ! Call me. I'll meet you down at the river any day!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Let it Shine!
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14
I don't have many words to write this week. I am praying for everyone who will be involved with Byron Family Fun Day, for every soul that joins us for Church in the Park, and for every family member within The Village Church.
We have a great opportunity this weekend to reach souls for the Kingdom, to begin conversation about the truth, to see the hand of God rescue sinners form the domain of darkness and transfer them to the Kingdom of His beloved son!
I'm looking forward to all of the fun and meeting people, but I am asking God that, this weekend, he sets a Village on a hill for the world to see and that our light and life is used by God that they might be saved!
I hope to see you around on Saturday and Sunday! Come out! Meet people! Let your light shine!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Celebrate Good Times!
"After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." John 5:1
Feasts and celebrations were a big deal in Jesus' time! Everyone participated! People would travel for miles and miles to make sure they were where they needed to be when a festival came up!
We don't fully understand this in our culture, but we understand parties and holidays! Certainly our countries most important holiday and one of the biggest celebrations of the summer is coming up this next week; the Fourth of July! A time when we celebrate the independence of our nation.
Just a little over a week after the Fourth of July is another important celebration. Byron Family Fun Day falls on the second Saturday of July every year, as this is close to the timeframe of the founding of the Village of Byron.
You may be out and about for 4th of July festivities. If you are, I pray that you will be safe in your travels and seek opportunities to share the truth and love of Jesus with those you are blessed to spend time with.
Let's turn out as a church for Byron Family Fun Day and meet new people in the community! There is a full day of activities planned in the village. Watch the parade! Make a cardboard river boat! Stroll the vendor area. Watch the fireworks! As a church we will have a booth in the vendor area at the park. Sign up to serve or just come out and spend time with people! Make yourself available to talk to, pray with, and answer questions. Jesus made time to be with people during feasts and celebrations. As our country and our small community celebrate, let's get out there, following Jesus' example, and be with the people also.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Family Portrait
"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
I have been burdened to preach a lot of things in the past. But, I am not sure I have ever felt so burdened to preach any topic or series as I have the one that we will open up this weekend at The Village.
Family is under attack, today more than ever, and even more so within the body of Christ. The world is pushing and pulling in so many ways and has left families so confused and in distress. What makes a family? Who runs the family? What is the right priority structure within the family? The world will never have the right answer to these questions.
However, The Word of God is far from silent on this extremely important topic. From God's Design of what family is, to the individual roles of each family member, the Bible provides clear truth that will help to stabilize any turbulent household willing to submit to the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Join us this Sunday for the start of a new sermon series, Family Portrait, a Biblical look at family. It's time for you and your house to choose who you will serve!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
VBS Week
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
As I'm writing this, we are exactly half way through Time Lab Vacation Bible School. The Lord has blessed us with beautiful weather and attendance has been outstanding! The unity of all of the workers, from both churches, has been amazing! There is a great spirit of enthusiasm each night as we come together. We take time each night to focus on two things. First, that we can't do any of it without the Lord's help. Second, we are doing all of it that these children and their families might be saved!
This Sunday is Celebration Sunday and we are inviting every child and their family to join us! It is our prayer that many of them will!
Sunday, June 17th at 10am, we will gather with the Byron Baptist Church at their facility for a day of celebrating the Lord and what He has done!
There are some awesome and exciting changes coming up for children's ministry at The Village Church. If you have been thinking about joining the Village Children's Crew, now is the time to do it! Click here to join the Children's Crew or find info about other Village Work Crews!
On behalf of the team of people working to put on Time Lab VBS, thank you for praying! We're fighting exhaustion. We're running to the end. And, we know that our God will be faithful to do awesome things in the lives we have met this week! We are looking forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
A Mind to Work
"So we built the wall. And the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6
We're not building a wall, but the work before us is great! 375 students from the Byron Elementary School received an invite to next week's Vacation Bible School. You can rest assured, many have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Those children come from homes, many of which the Gospel of Jesus Christ may have never crossed the threshold of the front door.
These last days of preparation before VBS officially starts, I hope that you will join me in praying for the work to be done this week, for the workers, for the children, and for the Good News to reach them. Pray that there will be a mind to work. That, as with the Israelites in the days of Nehemiah, the work will be accomplished, God will receive the glory, and the Kingdom will have grown in number!
If you are able to come out and join us next week, please do! Maybe you didn't want to commit to the whole week or weren't sure if you could. Maybe you just have an evening or two, come on out! We can put you to work! Sign your children up, bring them for a night or two if that's all you can do! Don't just hear about what goes on, be a a part of it!
Sunday, June 17th at 10am, we will gather with the Byron Baptist Church at their facility for a day of celebrating the Lord and what He has done!
The Village Church and the Byron Baptist Church congregations will be joining as one for the day! We will be inviting the families of the children who attended during the week and pray that they will join us for this special day!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
A Giving Church
"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.'" Mark 16:15
As a church, full of people who give, we seek to be a church that gives. Each month, the elders look at the total dollar amount of the contributions that were given, and from that amount we give and we save. We save for future ministry work and purposes (potential building, outreach, equipment, etc.) and we give to current ministry (benevolent help, local and global missions, etc.). Our current model sets aside 10% for both giving and saving. As the Lord provides that may increase, right now that's what we do.
This past week, we were able to make a contribution to Jacob Rositano. Not all of you will know Jacob, but many will. He and his family were very dear to many of us that came from The Rock Church in Fenton to plant The Village Church. Jacob is heading to SE Asia with a group from his church to work with missionary children and children from third world cultures, sharing the truth and love of Jesus Christ. We are not able to give many details about this trip for security purposes of the region they are going to. But, you should know that your contributions are helping to make this work possible!
As we give, we make giving like this possible, which makes the work of the Kingdom possible. No, God does not need what we give in order for His will to be done. However, He has instructed us to be a giving people. When we give, He uses our gifts for His purpose as we take His Gospel to the whole creation!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Do Good to Everyone!
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10
So, as we have labored through First John over the past couple of months, not only have I been strengthened by the Word of God regarding my own salvation and I have been unquestionably challenged about how I love those around me and so display my love for God. The verse above really kind of summarizes all that we have been talking about.
"Do good to everyone." This removes our human pre-qualification of who we should be loving and doing good for; everyone. We are to do good to everyone and be genuine in it, and by so doing, love them.
"Especially those in the household of faith." This calls our love and good-doing to a higher standard. It's like our families. I have genuine love for people around me, and am asking God to teach me more about that, and I love doing good things for people because God has blessed me to be able too. But, I am not able to love them and I don't do for them in the same way that I love and do good for my family, my wife and children.
As we have opportunity, we do good for anyone we can, but we go out of our way for our family. And, I don't just mean the Village Church family, our faith family - the body of Christ. Be involved in the lives of Christians and do good for them. Take a meal to someone. Invite people in for fellowship. Extend a helping hand in some way. Do good, especially for those in our household of faith.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
We're not the same!
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Ephesians 5:1
We are wildly different. All of us. Oh, we have many similarities and commonalities, but we are vastly different. We were created different. We were given different strengths and different fears. We were given different desires and different ideas. We were given different bodies, literally, no two the same. Even my twins, with 100% biologically matched DNA, don't share finger prints.
But, an interesting thing seems to be happening among the people of God. We've started to expect that when someone comes to know Christ, that our lives will be the same too, as if salvation were cloning. But, it's not. There is only one to imitate. Throughout the Word of God, the Lord exhorts His people to throw off the pattern of the world and to imitate Him.
We are different. Life after Christ isn't supposed to be life like others. We don't all eat, dress, give, save, spend, talk, work, or play the same. We're different. We are not saved to be like each other. We are saved to be like Christ. Unstained by the world. It's ok that we are not the same. As God's beloved children, it is time we begin imitating Him, no one else.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
A Unique Opportunity
"And Jesus said to them, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'" Luke 9:58
So it's not easy to find Scripture to go along with the following information, but because there is so much detail involved, I decided to write about it here rather than above.
Sunday, June 3rd, is the day of Byron High School's graduation ceremony. For this reason, we are unable to gather in the school on that day.
Being a mobile church, we have the extremely awesome ability to just pick up and meet wherever and whenever the Lord calls or allows. And, since the schools have been so kind to us these past many months, it is really no inconvenience.
On Sunday, June 3rd, at 10am, we will be gathering on the corner lot at the four-way stop, in downtown Byron.
This is a unique opportunity for us. We will be able to gather, basically out in open air, right in the middle of our Jerusalem and worship and preach the Word of God. Do you know how many churches around the world wish they had that kind of freedom?
Please join me in praying that on this day the Lord would draw people into our humble gathering to worship with us, to be refreshed, and maybe to hear the Good News of Jesus for the first time - perhaps unto salvation!
If you are interested in helping with any of the extra setup or teardown that will go into making this day happen, click here to contact Todd Deering and volunteer to serve!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)
Put Down Roots!
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7
A couple of weeks ago we started our garden. We bought some of those little greenhouse boxes with dirt and some additional compost and picked out all of the things we wanted to start inside early in the season before they could be outside. We carefully mixed all the dirt and compost and water and filled each cell in the little greenhouse tray. Then we added the seeds and prayed that God would allow our garden to grow and be a blessing to our family and others.
Two days later, four small shoots started to poke through the soil. Six days later a majority of all the plants had sprouted through the dirt. They continue to grow and we are anxious to get them outside. The amazing thing though, to me, was not the sprouting of the plants. When you remove the tray that holds the plants and add water to the tray that the plant tray sits in, there are healthy roots coming out of the bottom of the plant tray, searching for water and growing stronger. Those roots were growing downward before the plants were ever growing upward.
In our walk with the Lord, we must be rooted and built up in Him. Before our lives grow and sprout into what God would have them be, our roots must dig down deep into the soil of the Lord Jesus Christ. As our roots grow, we become stronger and then evidence of our growth starts to be displayed we sprout from the soil. Then in the right season, like these plants that we are caring for, we too will bear fruit that will honor the Lord and bring glory to the Father.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)