Growing…Together

Sunday morning retuning: We heard some great challenges a few Sundays ago as four of our Elders answered the question, “What is God up to at NMC?”  We stopped after each and asked the Holy Spirit to help us receive and apply those challenges.  Have you acted yet on anything He said?  If not, do it today!

A few Sunday evenings ago I stopped by a friends house for few minutes. As we chatted outside we meandered through their yard where they have several different beds filled with different flowers.  I snapped a few pictures of several different examples as I was in awe of God’s handiwork on display.

As we talked my boys discovered their mulberry and raspberry bushes and feasted their tummies as I had feasted my eyes.  You can almost taste them now can’t you?  Oh they were delicious.

  

That got me thinking about the passage we had heard from one of the Elders Sunday, John 15:5.   Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches.  If we remain in Him we will bear much fruit.  Apart from Him we can do nothing.  So I want to echo that question again to you today.  Are you abiding in the vine?  Are you vitally connected to Jesus?  Then you will be bearing fruit. 

Do not misunderstand me.  This does not mean that weeds will not grow as well and have to be dealt with in time.  This does not mean that other pests will not come in and try to devour your fruit.  It simply means you will bear fruit.  Do not make it any more complicated than that.

A few weeks ago began preparing for our fall recording.  This year it will include three of our own songs, one for each of our loving Jesus, growing together, and serving our world emphases.  I collaborated with Thomas Solich on the piano ballad “loving” song and can hardly wait to sing it to Jesus with you.  We worked on the “serving” song, and I think God is going to produce fruit through it. Julia Ciferno is writing our the “growing” song and I think it is going to be a great one that will allow us to express this collective desire.  Please be praying as we finalize and record these songs soon.

God is at work in our midst, teaching and growing us.  Let’s embrace His work in our lives individually and corporately.  See you Sunday!

Jesus, we want to grow to be more like You everyday.  Keep us in Your word so that we can be transformed daily by Your work through it in us.  In Jesus name. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

NOTES

·      A Taste of Sunday – As you are getting ready to worship on Sunday, consider Who it is all about Jesus at the Center of It All!