Good morning!
Well, we’ve reached the end of January. The holidays are now over, families have settled back into the school routine and we have a long stretch of winter ahead of us until the first signs of spring begin to appear in early March. I haven’t made a secret of the fact that I’m not a fan of winter. I’ve mentioned before (and my family will gladly testify to this) that I have a quirky little obsession in January and February each year – tracking how much daylight we are gaining each day. I even have a website that tracks it bookmarked in my browser!
I don’t know why, but it helps to know that little by little we are gaining daylight, even if it’s only about 25 seconds a day during late December. By January 7th we started gaining at least 1 minute a day, and it will be over 2 minutes a day by this coming Monday (I told you…I’m obsessed!). Slowly but surely, the days keep growing longer and the sun keeps rising higher in the sky.
Our spiritual walk is similar. True growth spiritually is often accomplished by growing just a little bit more each day as you walk with Jesus. We often get discouraged by that small progress, because big progress is usually only achieved over time. Just as I would like to move right from having 9 hours 55 minutes and 22 seconds of daylight today to the 15 hours 1 minute and 10 seconds of daylight that we’ll have on June 20, I would love it if I would be able to make huge jumps in my faith journey quickly.
It often just doesn’t work that way. The Bible often affirms that our faith increases over time by using some form of the word “grow.”
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
1 Peter 3:18
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.
1 Peter 2:2
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Ephesians 4:15
So I would encourage each of us to keep going and to keep growing…little by little, day by day…and I know that in six months’ time we will all be amazed at the progress we’ve made. Keep reading your Bible, keep praying, keep worshiping, keep serving, and the Son will shine just a little longer, a little brighter, and a little higher in your life each day.
Here’s what’s happening:
- Our 25th Anniversary Banquet is this Friday night at 6pm. Please plan to arrive a few minutes before 6 pm. There is no seating chart…just find some friendly faces (there will be plenty) and enjoy the evening.
- Men’s Breakfast is this Saturday, January 27 at Hometown Kitchen at 8 am.
- The youth are heading to the Great American Outdoor Show on 2/3. We will be meeting at the church at 8 am that morning. See Gary Barrett by this Sunday if you would like to go and myself for a parent permission form. Parents are welcome to come along. The church is covering a portion of the ticket, so $15 will get you into the show and give you money for some food if you would like to purchase some.
- Junior Youth meet on Sunday 2/4. Senior High meet the following Sunday, 2/11
- Vison docs and arrows are in the church lobby if you didn’t get them and would like them
- Don’t forget that we are hoping to hire a youth leader/pastor this year. This will essentially be a quarter-time position, with most of the hours on Sunday. If you know of someone who might be interested you can send them to the church website or here.
What would you ask Jesus if you had the opportunity to speak to Him face to face? If you could ask Him one thing, what would it be? On Sunday we’ll meet a man who had just such an opportunity! Jesus doesn’t give him the answer he was looking for and uses the moment to tell his disciples the Parable of the Rich Fool. It’s going to be a great morning at the Bridge!
Scott