Growth
As you drive through northern Illinois this time of year, you will notice that the landscape is changing quickly. The recently empty fields are now filling with newly emerged crops. The same is happening in the 13 acres around New Life Bible Church. Unlike most of the fields around, it’s not corn or beans that are beginning to grow. It’s SUNFLOWERS!
Last summer we planted sunflowers for the first time at NLBC. It was AWESOME! This summer, as we wait in anticipation for the flowers to grow and bloom, I was reminded of why we are doing it. Mia took a group of Kidzone kids to look at the baby sunflowers that just sprouted and snapped this picture. Other than being one of the cutest pictures ever, this picture is the reason we plant sunflowers and the reason we are having a “9:31” summer at NLBC.
GROWTH.
“31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
Just as the sunflowers grow more each and every day, our prayer for our church is that we would grow in our faith in Christ, in our community with others, in our unity, in our peace and strength, in our fear of the Lord, in our relationship with the Holy Spirit, and in numbers that will expand the Kingdom of God!
When you look at the picture above you may see four sweet smiling faces, but what I see is the future of the church who are in the same stages as the sunflowers behind them! In the same way that it is natural for sunflowers and children to grow, the church should grow as well.
So, every time you look at the sunflower field behind New Life remember the word “Growth.”
“18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
- Justin Spickler -