Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths….Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10
This fall, we are approaching our annual generosity campaign in a new way. We believe the Lord is calling our church to a new level of faith and commitment. We are challenging our active families to take the next step of generosity in their journey of missional discipleship. We are seeking 100% participation in our generosity campaign for giving in 2020, and we are calling it, WILL YOU GROW? The upcoming challenge is simple:
- Will you seek to yield your will to God’s will?
- Will you have family conversations and pray about your 2020 commitment?
- Will you be present in worship on Sunday, November 10, 2019 and offer your heart and your 2020 commitment to the Lord?
Let us all seek to prayerfully answer the question “WILL YOU GROW?” over the next four weeks. Contemplate the powerful Bible verses above, exhorting us to trust in the Lord and to honor the Lord with our substance. If everyone says “YES” to the challenge of the “WILL YOU GROW?” campaign, then 2020 will overflow with God’s blessings for you and for the Lord’s ministry here at FPCA. Thank you, in advance, for being part of this united movement for Him.
WILL
“Will” is a much different word than “Can.” “Can” suggests something I am able to do and might do. But “Will” suggests something I choose to do when I exercise my “will.” If we are to be faithful Christians maturing in our discipleship, then we must choose to grow as we learn to trust God. Proverbs 3:5-10 promises us that if we trust God and seek Him, He will provide us with overflowing resources. When our WILL is committed to doing GOD’S WILL, and we choose to follow our Lord Jesus, our lives will overflow with the generosity we have received from God.
YOU
“You” focuses on each one of us individually, and our prayerful decisions before the Lord. It’s not about anyone else’s choices, but it is about each of us individually praying and responding to God’s call. Often this requires conversation and prayer with a spouse and/or family. As the Lord speaks to each of our hearts, we can respond in faith, rather than in doubt or despair. Jeremiah 17:7-8 indicates that a person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted near water. “It does not fear when heat comes, … in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” YOU can be like a tree planted by the water.
GROW?
“Grow” is a challenge to everyone in the church to take the next step in his or her spiritual life. Psalm 92 reminds us that “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon…In maturity they still produce fruit; they are always green…showing that the Lord is upright;….” When our people grow spiritually, our church will thrive. The Apostle Paul says, “We must no longer be children…but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14-15). It is time for us to GROW.