Dear New Life,

I hope you're experiencing the beauty of Michigan right now. It's a season of transition for most things, but I've noticed that the grass keeps growing. That means, I keep mowing. I derive a surprising amount of satisfaction from a well-cut lawn with clean, straight lines. It's satisfying, but it takes effort and intentionality to make it happen. When I'm on the mower and I'm not paying attention, it's easy to veer off course.

Life is like that, too. As this new season gets rolling, and particularly if I'm not being attentive, I find something inevitably happens to me. I'm led by my calendar, not my values. Is that true for you, too? As we find ourselves a few weeks into September, take a moment to assess whether you are being led by your calendar or whether you are making sure your calendar follows from what's most important.

"(Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."

2 Cor. 5:15 (NLT)

May we glorify God by the way we live this week!

Joel VanderSchel, on Behalf of the Elder and Minister Team