May 28th, 2020

A blessed Thursday to all
Yesterday I met with a fellow church member who had not been over at our home in a while. We sat on the back porch and before the meeting, he looked at our hill an pointed out the many changes that had taken place since we first moved in.  He said that unlike the many trees that had been there before, the trees and plants that replaced them demonstrated an intentionality to how they were laid out.  It was gratifying to hear that our work was bearing fruit.  One of our sons had said earlier that we should post some before and after pictures.  

As I sat and thought of the before and after, and about the comments regarding intentional design, my mind went to my spiritual growth over the years.  The work in our back yard is the result of many hours of work by Pam and I but we are not the only ones who have contributed.  We had brothers from the church come over and help put in a French drain; enlarge the retaining wall, and pour a large concrete pad area.  We had a sister in Christ spend many hours with us on the hill putting in plants and showing us how to put in a sprinkler system. Others have been a phone call away when I needed advise on something we were trying to do.  So the transformation on the hill is the result of intentionality, hard work, and the help of others. It is the same for our growth as Disciples of Christ.. 

In Galatians 6:2, Paul writes [Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.] Eight verses later he states, [So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.]  My growth in Christ has come about through the study of Scripture, communion with Him in prayer, lessons learned through service, and through the support of brothers and sisters in Christ. They carried the burdens of my tears when I was hurting; carried me when I felt weakened by challenges; pushed me over hurdles of my own making, and encouraged me when I felt emotionally drained. My growth as a child of God did not happen without personal effort and it did not happen on my own.

Just like our back yard area, the progress is the result of the contribution of others.  Each day, we need to seek to build each other up. The transformation of our lives from before and after cannot happen without the help of others. The transformation from before and after of others cannot happen without us.  

Have a blessed day
Vic