It seems like only yesterday we were discussing summer plans as a church, and here we are. Schools have resumed, the leaves are falling like crazy and hopefully the weather will soon start to cool. In fact, I look forward to a real winter and I’m sure many would agree.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, yours truly worked as a cement finisher, and I remember well how my complaining spirit often took over when it rained. After all I couldn’t make any money on those days. Then, in 1971 I enrolled as a college freshman at the Briercrest Bible Institute in Caronport, Saskatchewan, in that great country to our north, Canada. While serving as a temporary pastor to a little flock in Mossbank, I became acquainted with a number of local wheat farmers, and God allowed me to learn a precious lesson from these farmers. You see, they were called “dry farmers” meaning they had no way to irrigate their crops. Their only hope was rain and the window of opportunity was quite narrow because if it came too late their seeds would not germinate and their crops would fail. On the other hand, if fall rains came too soon that could ruin their standing wheat crops. In either case, their income for the whole year could be wiped out by a minute change in weather patterns. Their entire livelihood depended on God bringing just the right amount of rain at just the right time.
Now back to my complaining. I learned it was not of faith, and besides that it was selfish. I was thinking only of myself and the one or two days of pay I would miss, but what about the farmers? The rain I disliked meant possible ruin for them, and the loss of crops for market, and an increase in the cost of foods for everyone.
What about a church? Sometimes it can appear to suffer from a spiritual drought, but do you realize it is never because the Lord has failed us? No, the fact is that spiritual drought is a result of our failures, our sin. Perhaps we can look at our trials and refocus on the blessings. Perhaps we can focus on our sin and repent. Perhaps we can look at our selfishness and realize it does not glorify God, and perhaps we can learn the important lesson of being thankful at all times.
In many ways September is a month of new beginnings. We hope to have some new Journey-Groups starting soon, and we are planning a fall fund raiser in October, but perhaps it is a time of new beginnings for you too. As you watch to see how life unfolds, don’t forget to observe how fabulously God is taking care of you, AND REMEMBER... Be sure your prayers are not selfish.
It’s awesome being Pastor of the Journey! I invite you to come join us on Sunday in the fellowship of loving and caring people! God bless.
Pastor Jim
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, yours truly worked as a cement finisher, and I remember well how my complaining spirit often took over when it rained. After all I couldn’t make any money on those days. Then, in 1971 I enrolled as a college freshman at the Briercrest Bible Institute in Caronport, Saskatchewan, in that great country to our north, Canada. While serving as a temporary pastor to a little flock in Mossbank, I became acquainted with a number of local wheat farmers, and God allowed me to learn a precious lesson from these farmers. You see, they were called “dry farmers” meaning they had no way to irrigate their crops. Their only hope was rain and the window of opportunity was quite narrow because if it came too late their seeds would not germinate and their crops would fail. On the other hand, if fall rains came too soon that could ruin their standing wheat crops. In either case, their income for the whole year could be wiped out by a minute change in weather patterns. Their entire livelihood depended on God bringing just the right amount of rain at just the right time.
Now back to my complaining. I learned it was not of faith, and besides that it was selfish. I was thinking only of myself and the one or two days of pay I would miss, but what about the farmers? The rain I disliked meant possible ruin for them, and the loss of crops for market, and an increase in the cost of foods for everyone.
What about a church? Sometimes it can appear to suffer from a spiritual drought, but do you realize it is never because the Lord has failed us? No, the fact is that spiritual drought is a result of our failures, our sin. Perhaps we can look at our trials and refocus on the blessings. Perhaps we can focus on our sin and repent. Perhaps we can look at our selfishness and realize it does not glorify God, and perhaps we can learn the important lesson of being thankful at all times.
In many ways September is a month of new beginnings. We hope to have some new Journey-Groups starting soon, and we are planning a fall fund raiser in October, but perhaps it is a time of new beginnings for you too. As you watch to see how life unfolds, don’t forget to observe how fabulously God is taking care of you, AND REMEMBER... Be sure your prayers are not selfish.
It’s awesome being Pastor of the Journey! I invite you to come join us on Sunday in the fellowship of loving and caring people! God bless.
Pastor Jim