He [Jesus] also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 

With the lack of certainty these past few years, it has been difficult to plan. I had hoped the change of the new year meant life became predictable. It didn’t. Yet, little by little life feels more consistent. Not necessarily better. But at least consistent. 

Our January Council and staff forward planning meeting was rescheduled. Too many isolation issues. On the first Saturday of June our Council and staff met. We still had two people out due to iso, but enough to make it worthwhile. Our agenda included three items: our church mission, our strategic plan, strengthening our ministries with teams and lay leadership. It’s time to move forward. 

As Christians, God gives us every reason to hope. God can always make much from a little. But just because we hope, we can’t always act. Jesus teaches waiting is important in the Kingdom of God. Like when the farmer sows seed, and then waits. In the waiting the seed of life grows, out of sight. The bible is full of times when God’s people are wandering or waiting, being shaped to receive God’s promise. The last few years have felt like a time of wandering and waiting. This is not unproductive. With the waiting,” all by itself the soil produces grain.” Finally, “As soon as the grain is ripe”, then the farmer acts, “because the harvest has come.”  

Wandering and waiting is not forever. Our Council is readying our church to act. It’s time to take what God has prepared in us and act for him. It’s time to move forward. 

In him, 

Jason 

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash