September Message

As we engage in another program year, it is a good time to ask ourselves some questionsWhat is this year going to be like? Is it going to be like last year? Is it going to be a year of growth and if so what is that going to look like? How are we going to grow both personally as well as the Body of Christ, His Church? If we are not growing and journeying in faith then we are stagnant and are not doing what God has planned for us.

We are creatures of habit and the more we do something the more it becomes a habit and the more we become comfortable with the status quo and we just keep doing the same thing. God is never stagnant in living his faith or in his time of Prayer. Jesus continuously found new ways to live his faith and share his gifts with us. He never let a routine or a habit slow him down, or interfere with progress in his ministry. We too have been called to live our faith in a unique and energetic way. Faith is not an added burden to our life but one that gives us energy and purpose. Faith should not grow old or boring, we need to realize that God has put us here in Brimfield Illinois in 2023 for a reason. He has given us the gifts and talents He needs us to make the community of Brimfield and the world a better place. He is waiting to see how we are going to be creative in how we use his gifts and talents.

We have been given a wonderful gift from God– The ability to share in the plan that God has for us, and the world around us. May this year be a year marked with growth and faithfulness. May this year be marked with us building a community that is eager to serve, and do whatever God wants us to do.

We can only know what God wants if we stay connected to him through Worship and reading His Word. Faith is only really faith when we move it from our head to our hearts. We can not just have the knowledge of faith but we have to live it out everyday and in every situation. Jesus called us to be dedicated to him all the time. The story that we are living is the way that we experience God and show him how much we love him. It is us connecting our lower story with his Upper story. He does not want disciples who just talk about faith, he wants us to live our faith in our daily lives. So every moment of everyday is part of our Story of Faith. Every time we focus on our faith or we make a decision and share our faith it will make our faith stronger and more alive. We get to experience how close Jesus is to us and how much he loves us. He is not a God who is up in heaven only—He is with us every minute of everyday, loving us and sharing his love with us. Jesus continuously gives us opportunities to grow into the disciples he wants us to be.

May this year be filled with an outpouring of His Holy Spirit and love. May we grow in our discipleship both to Christ and to one another.

With God’s blessings,
​Pastor Steve Barch