Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Dear Friends,
Spring has arrived. Though as some of you look out your window upon a wonderland of snow, you are probably doubting that fact. Spring is a fascinating time of new growth and new life. Awaking from hibernation, flowers and trees return to life with new buds. Each time my boys and I pass the farm down the road, we see the new lambs in the field. Even people are filled with a new vigor as we emerge from our homes out into the spring air. We have more energy than we did during the winter doldrums.
During spring, Christians also celebrate Resurrection Day, otherwise known as Easter. This is a day full of the glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins, and then He defeated death, bursting forth with new life. In His death and resurrection, we have a newfound freedom from our sins and freedom from the wages of sin. While we lived in sin without following Christ, our lives were dormant, stagnant, or maybe even decomposing, like the trees in winter. Yet, if we walk with Christ, we are given new life, transformed once again into the vivacious creatures God intended us to be when He created us.
It is only by the grace of God that such restoration, renewal, and transformation is even possible. God created us with intention, and He considered His creation to be “good”. However, in sin, we lost that. Even creation awaits renewal through Christ (Romans 8:19-24 ESV). Through Christ, we find more than just freedom and salvation; we find renewed purpose, new life, and transformed minds - changes in interests and priorities as well as behaviors. Christ not only models a godly life, but He demonstrates to us what God intended humans to be. As Christians, we are meant to be different, and our faith should be visible. We are in this world but not of it, and people should be surprised by how different we are (John 17 ESV and 1 Peter 4:4 ESV).
Change can be terrifying, and most people are resistant to change. However, the paradox is all of us have something we would like to change about ourselves. Maybe something that we want to do better? Or some bad habit we want to stop? Or maybe a fear we would like to get overcome? Maybe just a chance to try something new? My family just went through a year full of transitions: moving, new jobs, my son going to kindergarten, and more. All of these new beginnings were scary yet exciting. It felt like our whole world was just flipped upside down and completely rearranged. Following Christ is a bit like that. He shakes up our whole world. It is as if the shades have been removed, and everything casts their colors more brilliantly. One of the most striking things about the beginning of spring is how the bright colors of the new flowers contrast against the backdrop of grey rainy days as well as the decaying plants that have not recovered from winter.
Another new beginning is upon us: the formation of Agnus Dei Lutheran Orthodox Church. The beginning of a church can be a daunting but exciting time. There is new life along with a lot of change and hard work. It is also an opportunity to allow your creative spirit to flow. Getting in on the ground floor provides a chance to really consider how your passions, talents, and abilities could be used for Christ. In the Sunday morning worship service and the Sunday school class, you will find the comfort of the familiar as we study the Word of God and worship God together. However, as we grow and develop, there will be some out-of-the-box type thinking that goes into our future ministries.
Living life under Christ has transformed me in ways I can only begin to explain, and He has been a major part of my life for most of my life. Spring is a time of renewal and awakening, but it is fleeting as the seasons change. Even then, it serves as a reminder of the new life we can have under God’s grace.
Change can be scary, but it can also be exhilarating.
Until next we meet…
Pastor Jessi
Suggested Readings:
Spring has arrived. Though as some of you look out your window upon a wonderland of snow, you are probably doubting that fact. Spring is a fascinating time of new growth and new life. Awaking from hibernation, flowers and trees return to life with new buds. Each time my boys and I pass the farm down the road, we see the new lambs in the field. Even people are filled with a new vigor as we emerge from our homes out into the spring air. We have more energy than we did during the winter doldrums.
During spring, Christians also celebrate Resurrection Day, otherwise known as Easter. This is a day full of the glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus died for our sins, and then He defeated death, bursting forth with new life. In His death and resurrection, we have a newfound freedom from our sins and freedom from the wages of sin. While we lived in sin without following Christ, our lives were dormant, stagnant, or maybe even decomposing, like the trees in winter. Yet, if we walk with Christ, we are given new life, transformed once again into the vivacious creatures God intended us to be when He created us.
It is only by the grace of God that such restoration, renewal, and transformation is even possible. God created us with intention, and He considered His creation to be “good”. However, in sin, we lost that. Even creation awaits renewal through Christ (Romans 8:19-24 ESV). Through Christ, we find more than just freedom and salvation; we find renewed purpose, new life, and transformed minds - changes in interests and priorities as well as behaviors. Christ not only models a godly life, but He demonstrates to us what God intended humans to be. As Christians, we are meant to be different, and our faith should be visible. We are in this world but not of it, and people should be surprised by how different we are (John 17 ESV and 1 Peter 4:4 ESV).
Change can be terrifying, and most people are resistant to change. However, the paradox is all of us have something we would like to change about ourselves. Maybe something that we want to do better? Or some bad habit we want to stop? Or maybe a fear we would like to get overcome? Maybe just a chance to try something new? My family just went through a year full of transitions: moving, new jobs, my son going to kindergarten, and more. All of these new beginnings were scary yet exciting. It felt like our whole world was just flipped upside down and completely rearranged. Following Christ is a bit like that. He shakes up our whole world. It is as if the shades have been removed, and everything casts their colors more brilliantly. One of the most striking things about the beginning of spring is how the bright colors of the new flowers contrast against the backdrop of grey rainy days as well as the decaying plants that have not recovered from winter.
Another new beginning is upon us: the formation of Agnus Dei Lutheran Orthodox Church. The beginning of a church can be a daunting but exciting time. There is new life along with a lot of change and hard work. It is also an opportunity to allow your creative spirit to flow. Getting in on the ground floor provides a chance to really consider how your passions, talents, and abilities could be used for Christ. In the Sunday morning worship service and the Sunday school class, you will find the comfort of the familiar as we study the Word of God and worship God together. However, as we grow and develop, there will be some out-of-the-box type thinking that goes into our future ministries.
Living life under Christ has transformed me in ways I can only begin to explain, and He has been a major part of my life for most of my life. Spring is a time of renewal and awakening, but it is fleeting as the seasons change. Even then, it serves as a reminder of the new life we can have under God’s grace.
Change can be scary, but it can also be exhilarating.
Until next we meet…
Pastor Jessi
Suggested Readings:
- John 17
- Romans 6:1-14
- Romans 8
- Ephesians 4:17-32
- 1 Peter 4:1-11
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