
Every member of my family is struggling with the meantime. What is that? It's the time between now and the day this new church plant sprouts through the ground and starts it's visible growth to the world. Right now, we are growing roots, praying and gaining strength. My son Garrett's (13) recent struggle brought all this to mind. As he waits for the new church to start, it's hard to stay connected and work at the relationships in the old church. It's not an easy place for an 8th grader to be. The middle school years are hard enough on a person and now Dad is taking him away from his friends. I covet your prayers for him and the rest of my kids (Casey 16, Gavin 10, Maisy 7 and Lucy 5 mo.) as they are packed into the canoe to float on this Stream with Mom and Dad. I just continue to tell him, to trust that God is bringing us to a new place and we are not sure what that will look like but we have to trust that it will be good. In the meantime, we need to enjoy the present, our friends and ministry as we wait for things to develop.
Isn' that where we all are? We are waiting for a new heaven and new earth. We are aliens and strangers in a foreign land and we wait for Jesus to return to make all things new. 1 Cor 13:12 says, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." NIV While we look forward to the future; a new church, a new heaven, a new earth, we are to enjoy the journey and trust in the Lord. Blessings!