Would you agree our life comes with challenges?  Some challenges we encounter are hardly noticed and we are quick to take care of it without much thought.  Other challenges cause us to stop and address the situation and maybe even carefully assess before moving to a solution.

Part of the Ridder Church Renewal (RCR) team’s homework the last several months has been to identify our Current Reality. Our Current Reality is a “You Are Here” dot on the map of ARC’s ministry, so to speak. The team discovered many wonderful truths about our church and community and celebrated where we are. Yet, we also discovered there are a few areas we could be even more effective at reaching others and caring for one another if they were to be intentionally addressed. This led the team to identifying what our Technical and Adaptive Challenges are.

For example, I was recently made aware of a Technical Challenge during a conversation with a couple ladies from our church. One of the moms has only been attending ARC about a year and commented that she didn’t know who her child’s Sunday School teacher was for months. I was shocked when she said that, but quickly recalled what it was like 13 years ago when my family started attending here – we knew almost no one! This challenge is technical in nature due to the fact that it can be remedied by simply tweaking something within what we are already doing. The solution can be taught from the experience of other similar challenges encountered in the past.

I knew my opportunity to begin remedying this challenge could be a simple fix that would work best at the beginning of the Sunday School year. So, next Sunday as part of our kickoff, there will be a Meet & Greet opportunity for parents, students, and teachers. It should be a great way to meet new people in our church family and be able to put faces and names together. More details will be given next week.

I find the Adaptive Challenges to be a bit more…well, challenging. Adaptive Challenges are situations we have never encountered before. The church has never been the church in the 21^st Century and as we reflect on how the things of this world have changed around us in the last fifty years, will the church continue to operate as we always have, or will we need to think outside of the box as we live into God’s Preferred Future? While our mission will always remain the same, our methods may need to change and adapt to those they are intended to teach. Adaptive Challenges will require a change of heart in some areas and a little experimenting along the way, because we simply have never done it before. There will be tension as we journey together, but in the tension I pray we all feel compelled to march forward to an even greater fruitful and effective way of missional living, both personally and corporately.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Becky Ossefoort

“This is one of the most important invitations you have ever received. We need you (and your friends, family, employees and associates) to make Luverne “better than before.” Mike, we hope you consider coming. This will be a game changer for Luverne!”

Those were the opening sentences of an invitation I received prior to June 9, 2017 when the “internationally acclaimed planning consultant,” Roger Brooks, would be in town to present his analysis and suggestions to help Luverne become “an even greater place to live.” (Although I think the bottom line was to offer suggestions on how to improve on marketing Luverne in order to attract more tourists who would spend more money which would boost our local economy).

Well, after receiving such an urgent and passionate invitation, I certainly did not want to miss this game-changing event, and so I joined with the other 200 members of our community who couldn’t wait to hear the analysis of this highly influential change agent. During his presentation Mr. Brooks offered his insights into the uniqueness of what makes Luverne a great place to live which included the “beauty of the land,” the hard working people, the schools, and the places to work and play. He gave special kudos to the leaders of the community for the landscaping and the “Welcome to Luverne” sign on the corner of Highway 75 and Main which resulted in a vigorous celebration of hand-clapping.

In addition to all the areas our community could celebrate, Mr. Brooks also kindly and jokingly highlighted, and in some cases, sternly addressed several reasons why Luverne would not attract tourists, new residents or businesses. He identified several places of attraction and eating establishments that our community must promote as places to visit.  Many of his tips had to do with attracting people to our community and then making sure there is sufficient signage and information to help guide them. In addition he gave tips on what he believed would attract people to hang out and do business downtown.

Although I had to leave before Mr. Brook’s two and half hour presentation was over, I sensed an overwhelming excitement among those who had gathered. Many people were taking notes. Many heads nodded in agreement with Mr. Brooks insights and suggestions, and when I look around town some of his simpler suggestions are already being adopted.

That being said, I also sensed some resistance and doubt when Mr. Brooks suggested what kinds of businesses we need to bring to downtown and that the businesses should stay open later at night. (I wondered if some of them were thinking, well if we have to make the sacrifice to keep our businesses open later, then when will we have the time to go to Sioux Falls to dine and do our shopping J).

As I was observing the events of that morning, I was also thinking about the community of Jesus followers at American Reformed Church; especially in regards to the work the Ridder Church Renewal team has been doing over the past year of identifying our “current reality” in regards to our understanding of living on mission.

Our team is also excited to share our analysis with you and therefore we are inviting you to join us on Sunday morning, September 10, as we continue to pursue our exciting journey of how God is leading us to his emerging and preferred future. In addition to celebrating God’s good work in and through us, we will also consider the challenges that are holding us back from even more faithful and fruitful missional living.

In the mean time I also encourage you to accept God’s invitation to pray as found in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

I wonder, is God about to begin a “game changer” work in and through us?

Mike Altena

Have you ever discovered a place filled with so much beauty and tranquility it made you feel like you could never leave? Toward the end of the trip to Rocky Mountain High, our group went on an adventure to an area a few kids had discovered on a hike. For something a little different, we planned to spend our youth group time there instead of the assigned room the Rocky staff had given us. It was a bit of a jaunt and I began to wonder if the boys who were leading us had another plan for their gullible followers. Just as they had promised, after rounding a corner deep within a ravine, I spotted a brook with a lovely little bridge extending over it to the path on the other side. It was a beautiful and breathtaking spot for us to stop as a group, and a place I would venture back to, given the chance.

Our group spent some time there together, and concluded that time in silence listening to praise music. As I sat perched on a log by the brook within God’s tranquil creation, I took notice of the smooth boulders below the surface of the shallow, chilly water. I questioned if the large stones began as huge chunks of jagged mountain that had fallen to the stream below years before. Over time the water has carved those rough boulders into smooth, rounded formations, now making up the bottom of the brook. When I looked up from the water, I noticed the trees plunging their roots deep into the bank of the brook for the life giving water to keep their leaves lush and green. A little higher on the bank was a small, old, abandoned shack falling in on itself and, I’ll admit, it seemed a bit out of place. I quickly forgot about the shack as I looked up the trail a bit further to see a stairway of rock and tree roots only to lose sight of the path as it disappeared up the mountain.

As my mind was taking it all in, I realized how much of a metaphor the scene was of my life and made me think of how God has been at work in me throughout the years. The cold, jagged edges of my sinful heart have become more smooth and gentle as I have experienced my Father in Heaven. I know I can now travel through the rushing waters of this life, and trust God is with me; and when I pass through the rivers they will not sweep over me. (Isaiah 43:2) My Savior has let me drink of His living water and as the life giving water flows through me, it has washed my sins down the stream where they are remembered no more. (Hebrews 8:12) And the old shack on the edge of the bank? Well, that’s the ugly place I abandoned when my Savior’s hand clasped mine and called me to walk with Him as we co-labor together in His beautiful creation.

May this be so of you also, that you cannot escape the beauty and tranquility of our Father in Heaven, the gift of His Son and may the river of living water flow freely through you and into the lives of others.

Becky Ossefoort

It is a wonderful feeling to go to bed at night and not have to set an alarm for tomorrow morning.  It doesn’t happen often at our house, but occasionally we release ourselves from the dreaded morning beep.  Alarm clocks are unusual things.  We program them to ring at a specific time, but often hit the snooze button to delay the inevitable again and again.

The alarm clock is not the only signal that we pay attention to.  We are surrounded by many different alarms.  There are alarms in our vehicles reminding us to buckle up.  We set alarms on our cell phones so we don’t forget important meetings.  Alarms at the checkout counter remind us to remove our credit card.  Alarms can be annoying, but they are also important.  They alert us to what is going on; they grab our attention.  In some instances it is sad that we have become so forgetful or oblivious to our surroundings that we need to have an alarm, but think of how many people would be late for work every day without one.

A fire alarm is another important signal.  Our facility is wired with a device that will sound a loud alarm and notify the local fire department if it detects smoke or extreme heat.  A technician from Midwest Alarm came to the church this week to service our alarm system and make sure it was working properly.  He performs numerous tests, checks the sensors, and replaces any failing parts, but before he signs off on the inspection, he must complete one final assessment.  He must sound the alarm.  Thankfully he does not do this without warning.  The technician came to the office and asked if there were other people in the building and how many sets of ear plugs we would need.  I declined the ear plugs, but his question got me thinking.

Are there other alarms in my life that have been going off, but rather than get too rattled by them or pay attention, have I used a set of ear plugs to make the signal less offensive?  Are there alarms in my life that I perpetually hit the snooze button on?  YES!  When I hear the tornado sirens at 1:00 on the first Wednesday of the month, I “put my ear plugs in” and keep right on working.  When I see the number rising on the scale, I “hit the snooze button” and scoop myself another bowl of ice cream.  When I realize my blood pressure is on the rise, I commit to start exercising… next month.  When I plan to get up early the next morning to spend time with Jesus, the spirit is willing but the flesh is week.

How about you?  Are there alarms that are sounding in your life?  Are you acting on them?  When the diagnosis comes, do you commit to drawing closer to God only to set the Bible aside when the treatments are done?  When a loved one dies, do you think about your own mortality during the funeral service but then whoop it up at the bar that night because you only live once?  When you hear a message about the 10 Commandments, do you think about what a good sermon that was rather than committing to make a change?  When the Holy Spirit convicts you, do you brush it off and seek approval somewhere else?

What about American Reformed Church, or the Church in general?  Are there alarms sounding that we would prefer to ignore or hit the snooze?  When good leaders are needed, do we ignore God’s call and prefer to let someone else do it?  When expectations aren’t met, do we lower the bar a bit more rather than confronting a problem?  When someone draws our attention to problems in our midst, do we chastise them for being too negative.

God gives us some good advice in the book of Revelations about heeding warnings.  To the seven churches, He says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  For more specifics, read Revelations 2 and 3.

May it not be said of God’s Church or God’s People that we ignored the alarms in our own souls, our families, and our Church.  Take out the ear plugs and stop hitting the snooze!  Do you hear the alarm?

Erin Jacobsma

If you’re old enough to read this, then it’s quite likely you know what it feels like when someone takes advantage of you. And of course the ways of being taken advantage of are endless. An employer may take advantage of his employees and employees may take advantage of their employer. A husband may take advantage of his wife, a wife may take advantage of her kids, and the kids may take advantage of their father and the list goes on and on.

Before I share how I feel like I was taken advantage recently, I was thinking, how does a person really know when someone takes advantage of them? Is it only a matter of having a boundary violated? Or is it when you do something nice for someone and they don’t appreciate it? Or is it doing something nice for someone and they expect you to keep doing the nice thing over and over and over?

Several years ago I met a couple from a neighboring community that stopped by church for some financial assistance and so we helped them. It wasn’t long and they stopped again…and again…and so I didn’t feel right about having the church help them so frequently. However, my heart was tender towards their struggle so I started helping them from time to time. And yes it developed into the kind of relationship that the only time they wanted to visit with me was when they need more money.

Well, last week when we were on vacation they texted me and asked if I could help them—they even went as far as asking me to wire some money to them. I explained to them that I was cruising along the shoreline of Lake Superior and that I was nowhere near a bank and that they would have to wait until I returned.

Much to my surprise, I soon received a text with several naughty words and some other not so nice names in it, concluded by, “I hope you rot in hell.” After reflecting on the text and getting present to my level of anxiety, I tried hard not to give it the wrong meaning which would’ve led to having wrong emotions which may have led to wrong actions on my part. And so I simply responded, “You are welcome to meet me at church on Tuesday, and after you apologize for being so rude to me, I will give you the money you are asking for.”

So they stopped by Tuesday and promptly asked for the money. I responded by saying. “You said some pretty hurtful things to me; I will give you the money after you apologize.” Well the wife finally offered the kind of apology a brother makes to his sister after dunking her doll in the toilet only because his mom made him apologize. And so I gave them what they asked for, and away they went. I’ll admit it, I felt taken advantage of. And if that wasn’t enough, I got a text two days later from the husband asking if I would make his car payment for this month.

Although I didn’t respond to the text, I thought, “Sorry buddy, I’m done being taken advantage of by you, I’m pretty sure the bridge has been burned for good!!!”

That’s when the Spirit spoke to me; “Mike, you have probably never told me to burn in hell, but can you think of a time when I blessed you and you wasted it and then asked for more blessing. Or does it ever seem like the only time you want to talk is when you want something from me? Do you ever take advantage of me?” BUSTED!

I was trying to think of a Bible verse to end with that would help guide me in the future when I feel taken advantage of, but I couldn’t think of one. So if you have one in mind, please e-mail me at mike@arcluverne.org.

Showered with grace, Mike Altena

REFLECTIONS ON 15 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

The other day I asked my wife, Lynn, if there was a certain moment when she knew she was in love with me.  She said, “No, not really.”  I was afraid to ask the next logical question, “Well…are you in love with me now?”  So I let the conversation fizzle out.  But we have been thinking a lot lately about such things as we are preparing to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary on August 3rd.  Actually, it probably won’t be much of a celebration on that day as we will be on vacation with our kids and all of Lynn’s extended family, and the only fine dining within the immediate vicinity will be Dairy Queen, but we will do our best!

We didn’t have a perfect courtship, and actually broke up for several months, but in the end I believe the struggles early on allowed us to be stronger later.  After dating for a few months I wasn’t sure my heart was in a serious relationship, and the urge was still there to be in a full-time touring band.  After we broke up around Easter, I got a call from Artesian, a Christian funk band in Florida, to join them on guitar and produce their debut album.

During that year Lynn’s family had a young African boy, named Larry, staying with them as he received medical treatment.  Late in the summer he got sick and passed away, around the time of the 9/11 attacks, and I remember thinking about Lynn and wondering how she was doing.  We began to converse again, and by the Fall I asked if she would take me back.  After her visit to Florida the following January, we knew we were meant to be together.  I returned to the Sioux Falls area on Valentine’s Day, we soon got engaged, and that summer 15 years ago we were married.

Though it is far from perfect, and there is plenty of room to improve, I have always believed we have a good marriage.  This week I’ve been trying to put my finger on why that might be true.  I think the first reason is because we strive to get our deepest fulfillment from God rather than each other.  Both of us experienced rapid spiritual growth as young adults, and as a result neither of us felt we HAD to get married to be a whole person.  On the other hand, another reason our marriage has been blessed is that we were raised to believe that divorce is almost never an option.  We can’t remember our parents saying that, exactly, but the fact remains that they lived it out day after day, and Lynn and I are fortunate not to have a single divorce among our grandparents, parents, or siblings.  The message we learned growing up was that if you choose to get married, you do everything you can to make it work.

I always go back to one of my favorite Sara Groves lyrics… “Let’s find out…the beauty of seeing things through.”  I can’t wait to see what the next 15 years will look like, and hopefully 15 more after that, Lord willing.  May the marriages at ARC all be a shining light to the world of how God’s love and grace can be manifested in our relationships day after day, year after year!

Cory Grimm

During the month of June Vicki and I did a little remodeling project in our basement. In one of the rooms was the furnace, the water heater, the washer and dryer, a toilet and a long piece of counter top with a kitchen sink in it. We thought it would be nice to take out the long piece of counter top with the kitchen sink and replace it with a small vanity and a shower so that I could have my own space to get ready in the mornings, as well as having a nicer bathroom for guests and family.

The project all went very smoothly and soon I had my own bathroom to get ready in. However, when it came to picking out a mirror to put above the vanity, Vicki had a hard time finding one that fit the space between the outlet and the light above. I suggested that we get the kind of mirror with the medicine cabinet behind it and with the row of lights at the top. I found a nice one in a pawn shop in Sioux Falls, but she assured me that no one on HGTV ever uses them in a remodeling project.

I had been using the bathroom for a few days without having a mirror, but I soon discovered that shaving and making my hairdo look nice wasn’t going that well, I kindly asked her if she was having any luck finding a mirror. She responded by informing me she was going to Sioux Falls that day and she would look for one. I jokingly responded to her, “Well whatever you get, don’t buy the kind of mirror that shows that my hair is thinning, or that reflects that I’m looking older. And don’t get the mirror that shows that I’ve been gaining weight. If you can, find a mirror that makes me look good.”

Over the past several weeks we’ve been looking at the 10 Commandments and while John Calvin considered them as a “thankful guide for daily living,” Martin Luther saw the 10 Commandments as a “mirror which reflects our need for grace.” Either way, the challenge of looking in the mirror and seeing how far short we fall of the glory of God, is to repent.  Again, as I’ve shared before, at times it feels like my                 “want-to-er” is broke. I deceive myself into thinking my life is working just fine, and so I don’t give my word to obeying God’s commands.

I’m often like the person James writes about in James 2:22-24, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

Well, Vicki finally found the mirror she was looking for, so now I can mow down all those pesky whiskers and do my hair real nice. And whether I like it or not, it reflects my receding hair line, the signs of aging, and that I’ve gained some weight. After it was finally hung, the mirror reminds me of how desperately I am in need of God’s grace in every area of my life.

May it not be so with those who are reading this article that we would resist being confronted with the ugly reality of our sinfulness and of our need for grace when hearing the Word of God. But rather, when convicted, may we be open to the Spirit’s transforming work in our lives, and eagerly give our word to obeying God’s commands.

Mike Altena

By the time you read this article, you might already be tired of celebrating the 150th anniversary of Luverne, especially considering the forecasts are calling for a really hot weekend.  As I sit here writing this on Tuesday, however, I am excited to learn more about our history in the days ahead.  Here are some of the questions I am curious to know…

• What was life like for the settlers in Rock County 150 years ago?
• What part did faith play in the lives of those who founded Luverne?
• What are some of the most memorable parts of our history such as natural disasters, funny stories, memorable characters, or the impact of national/int’l events?

The last few days did you find some of the answers to those questions or other questions you yourself were wondering?  Was there any way you saw God at work in the formation and development of this community?  No doubt many of the early settlers to Luverne sensed a divine calling to do something new for God, sort of like Israel long ago:

Numbers 14:8-9  “If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us–a land which flows with milk and honey. “Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people…the LORD is with us.”

Even before the people entered the Promised Land they were aware that temptation would come along with the blessings, and before too long this warning was forgotten.  A generation or two later, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25), which included a lot of regrettable stuff.  How do you think we would measure up in comparison?  I wonder if the early settlers to Luverne were both excited about the prospect of plentiful, fertile land and yet apprehensive of the effect the lure of wealth and prosperity might have on their descendants.  Even if that concept did cross their minds, no doubt they had no clue what life would be like 150 years later!

This afternoon we will gather for the Community Worship Service to celebrate God’s faithfulness to Luverne over the past 150 years, but we will also begin to look to the future and imagine how God may lead us as a church, as Christians, and as a community.  I believe we have benefitted so much from the vision and faith of our ancestors who established communities like Luverne.  As Jesus said to his disciples, “Others have done the hard work, and you have benefited from their labor.”  (John 4:38)

Now the time has come to look beyond simply providing for our families, enjoying freedom to worship, and living a comfortable life.  The time has come to repent of ways in which we have conformed to the worldliness around us, receive a fresh vision from the Holy Spirit, and leverage our abundant resources to boldly expand God’s kingdom in Luverne, SW Minnesota, and to the ends of the Earth.  For God’s glory, may they look back during the 300th anniversary celebration some day and celebrate our generation for being spiritual visionaries on par with the early settlers to Rock County!

Cory Grimm

A rhinoceros is an interesting creature.  It is well known for its impressive horn and massive size.  But did you also know the rhino can charge at 30 or 40 miles per hour, but is very nearsighted and can only see clearly about 15 feet in front of its face?  It is not ironic then that a group of rhinos is called a “crash”.

Crashes have been a topic of discussion around our table the last couple of weeks.  Our youngest daughter has been doing the classroom portion of Driver’s Education, and the parents were also encouraged to come to an evening of classroom training.  While watching a series of video clips, we were instructed to ask our child which parent they would prefer to have teach them how to drive.  Later, when we posed this question to our daughter, she thought it would be best if Dad taught her, reasoning that he was a better driver and had less crashes.

It’s always fuel for a good laugh in our family when someone brings up my driving record.  Let’s just say I had a rough start.  I have totaled more than one vehicle, and speaking from experience, a car crash is not a pleasant event.  One moment you are moving along nicely and the next moment you have violently come to a stop.  Regardless if there is an initial injury, you are going to feel it the next day, and possibly for a long time to come.  The memory of the before, during, and after plays on a continuous loop in your mind.  It will change your life in one way or another.  Personally, I have crashed into a ditch, into a cement pole, and into another vehicle, but nothing has been as life changing as when I crashed into Jesus Christ.

There are many examples in the Bible of God-sized collisions.  I’m sure Abraham felt like he had collided with a brick wall when God asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  Moses had a head on crash in the desert with a burning bush.  David came to a violent stop when his sin with Bathsheba was exposed.  Jonah was wrecked in the belly of a whale.  Mary’s life took a dramatic turn when she encountered an angel with Good News.  Peter was blindsided by a rooster.  The woman at the well had a pile-up with the truth of her past.  And Paul was ruined on the way to Damascus.  The list could go on and on.

It seems odd to think of Jesus in the wrecking business.  After all, “Jesus Saves”, right?  But if you think about it, when we save or salvage something, it’s usually first been wrecked to some degree or another.  The cool thing about Jesus is that we are wrecked by his overwhelming love for us.  He crashes into our  self-centered mess and realigns our life with his.  He takes our brokenness and makes us beautiful.  One of my favorite songs by Toby Mac is “Feel It”.  The chorus repeats these words: “Love came crashin’ in, never gonna be the same again.  Yeah, You came crashing in, You wrecked me, You wrecked me.”

It is my prayer that each one of you would be ruined by Jesus and for Jesus.  I pray that whether it be through a fiery bush, a barnyard animal, an unlikely event, a crash on the highway, or any other means that God uses to get your attention, that you would let your heart be broken open and experience Love like you have never felt before.

Break us, Lord!

Erin Jacobsma

Have you noticed how tall the corn is getting in the countryside fields? It seems like only yesterday the little plants were just a few inches high as they emerged through the dark top soil. The old phrase “Knee High by the 4^th of July” to this generation seems odd because the plants are usually chest high by the fourth of July! Genetics of corn and soybeans has changed a lot in my lifetime; I can only imagine how much it has changed since both my grandfathers planted their first crop on their family farms.

Always imagining I’d marry a man who lived in the city, I never paid much attention to the crops as a kid. Now that I live surrounded by fields of corn and soybeans, I take a little more notice to their growth. This spring I was especially struck by the process in which a farmer cares for their crop. They prepare the soil by stirring it around, spreading fertilizers, planting the seed, and then trust the Creator of all things for rain and warm sunshine. There was no lack of wet weather early this spring and along with the cool temps, farmers were no doubt getting a little worried about a harvest this fall. Eventually the weather was more favorable and the seedlings sprouted through the top layer of soil, and then the work of spraying for weeds began. Some of the chemicals used for this process will burn your skin right off if you are not properly trained and take appropriate safety precautions. Yet, when diluted down with some water and applied to the field accurately, only the weeds shrivel up, not the tiny, fragile plants. Pretty incredible.

Similarly, our spiritual lives need the proper tender, loving care. As I grew up, my parents read God’s Word to me, we went to church on Sundays, and attended Sunday School and Midweek each week. They taught my siblings and I how to care for the needy and spread God’s love and kindness through the way they lived their life each day. They meticulously cared for not only my physical needs, but also my spiritual needs. Yet, the noxious weed of sin was part of me and threatened to choke out any fruit in my life. As I continued to grow into adulthood, I had to make choices to continue to care for my spiritual life. Sadly, there were times I allowed the weeds of sin to run rampant in my life. I was more concerned about what the world had to offer than seeking the gifts of my Father in heaven. Often times the world’s thrills seemed exhilarating, but usually were empty promises and short lived.

It’s true, there are times I do not care for my spiritual life as I should. Sleeping an extra half hour is more tempting than spending time in silence with my Father. I let a spiritual discipline or two slip and then complain about how hard it is to get back in the groove of practicing them. It’s amazing though, even in my mess, when I eventually recognize something is missing, I see God at work creating a way for me to come back to Him.

⁶So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness…¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,¹⁴having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2

Are we as meticulous about our spiritual lives as the farmer is with his crop? Do we go to great measure to fix what is not right deep within us? May it not be so of us that we are so tangled up in the things of this world we neglect to care for our spiritual life rooted deep in Christ Jesus.

Becky Ossefoort