Psalm 1 / Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness

Don’t you just love seeing kids at worship? A church filled with kids is a church that’s growing. But did you know that kids have gifts too? Quiet churches are dying churches. I used to teach Vacation Bible School and I loved it. So many memories of little faces all aglow with the love of Jesus. All sharing the gifts God gave them.

Then there are gardens. They don’t just happen. It starts with a seed. It takes care and the result is produce or flowers or trees. I’d love to say I have a green thumb but sadly I don’t. I do know what I like. The work involved in keeping a garden flourishing belongs to my husband. He’s always explaining to me how roots work.

Our life is like that. We want the final result to be heaven. But first, we must start by having a relationship with Christ. That’s the seed. What does it mean to receive Christ? Each person has his own story on how he came to that relationship. When did you become a follower of Christ? Do you remember the exact time and place?

I remember that time I knew Christ was my Lord and Savior. In 1966 at the age of 14, death hit me full face. My Uncle Buck, age 36, died in a horrific car accident. I adored him. His loss bore a hole in my heart that I refused to allow God to fill. How could He possibly make up for allowing Uncle Buck to die? It became a rage that lasted two years. What difference did it make—I didn’t believe in God anyway. Not anymore. God waited patiently.

Photo by Beniamin Şinca on Unsplash

At the age of sixteen, at my mother’s urging, I attended a Christian camp that the youth group at my church went to each year. Although I’d gone in the past, it was not my intention to go this particular year. Since the death of my uncle, the last two years at camp turned out badly. It only aided in alienating me more from God. I resented being there and I resented my parents even more for making me go. But when I voiced my opposition to going this particular year, my mother stood her ground and gave me no other choice. She knew all along my separation from God. She also knew, somehow, the importance of this particular year. I remember telling God, yeah, the one I didn’t believe in, that I’d never forgive Him for killing Uncle Buck and I’d never let Him into my heart. God waited patiently.

When camp week rolled around, I made sure my armor was secure. No matter what, God would never win. The first day and night I spent getting settled and visiting with the other prisoners (a/k/a my friends). Day two God laid the groundwork for my salvation. I never saw it coming. The night of day two we all filed into the main building to listen to our speaker for the week—a young man who came to us by way of that ever-famous hard-knocks life route. I never enjoyed listening to these people because they all said the same thing. But this guy was very easy on the eyes, so I tolerated him. But God didn’t fool me for a second. His attempt to try and edge His way into my heart would be met with resistance. God waited patiently.

By the end of the evening, the young man God sent my way, had left such an impression on me, that I found myself opening up in such a way that it scared me down to my toes. God used that young man’s story of drug abuse, rebellion, and his mother’s incessant nudging toward God’s love, to show me that He will never forsake us. He will never stop loving us no matter how snotty we become. He will walk with us through every valley. He will cry with us through every tragedy. He will rejoice with us in all our triumphs. I still miss my Uncle Buck. He was the best of the best.

Some folks have known Christ all along. Some have questioned these types of relationships and so they study things like science and discover there was something behind all of this. Some knew Christ but went on a different path for a season. Doubting. Questioning. Taking the wrong path. Some experience growth after kids. Some come out of a period of crisis. They need peace and find it in a relationship with Christ. Some feel unworthy and it takes another person to tell them they are worthy.

So the seed is the beginning. The seed then takes root. This is the important step. Getting rooted in the Word is a way of helping the seed root. We don’t worship the Bible we worship God who is revealed to us through the Bible. The rootedness of our life leads us to a peace we won’t find elsewhere. One path leads to prosperity in life’s experiences the well-being and wholeness of your life. Ignoring God will lead to despair.

Cultivating the seed takes us to a place where we are on the edge of the result.

Photo by Christopher Luther on Unsplash

The result is a bounty of produce. If you are rooted in faith, it oozes out of you. You exhibit it to others and they see it. When tragedy happens, you know you’ll make it. The beams of a church are a symbol of how we want to grow not only kids but adults in Christ. Turning them into trees that are rooted in faith and the Word.

Photo by AMAL BEN SAAD on Unsplash

Share your relationship with Christ. When did it become real to you?

Do you remember when your relationship with Christ took root?

And that’s what I learned in Church……see ya next time!