Pastor Weekly - 10/8/25
Hello ICC Family!
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
Last year I planted azaleas in one shady corner of our little backyard. They are still alive. They don’t look bad. But they have never bloomed, and they have not grown much at all. This past spring I planted a jasmine vine in another bright corner of the backyard. It has survived the summer, but I think it is struggling because it has not grown much either. My diagnosis is that the azaleas need more sun and the jasmine needs less, so I think that if I just switch the corners of the yard in which these plants are located, they both might start growing and thriving. That is my hope anyway… I will keep you informed. Because I want to transplant them sometime soon, I am also hoping that they have not rooted too deeply in their current locations. I think the location is hurting them!
In a similar way, the spiritual environment that each of us lives in also has a lot to do with whether we are healthy and producing fruit. Being rooted and having stability doesn’t necessarily mean fruitfulness if a person’s trust and hope are in the wrong things. For example… you can attend church each Sunday, but if you rarely listen to the Holy Spirit and apply God’s word in your life, even though you might still be saved, you won’t see growth.
That is why our trust and hope and confidence must be in the Lord. When it is, you can thrive regardless of what happens around you, because your roots will be sunk deep into the living water of Christ’s love and mercy! Take a minute today to pray about whether these verses from Jeremiah are descriptive of your life. And if they are not, spend time praying about how you can pivot or maybe even be transplanted into ground where you can begin to experience the blessings that the Lord has promised!
I hope to see many of you at discipleship tonight. Please make note that there will be no men’s fellowship this Saturday. It is postponed until the 25th. And also, please plan to come this Sunday for a special time of worship focused on our ICC families and children. It will be wonderful!
Blessings to you!
And know that I am praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
Last year I planted azaleas in one shady corner of our little backyard. They are still alive. They don’t look bad. But they have never bloomed, and they have not grown much at all. This past spring I planted a jasmine vine in another bright corner of the backyard. It has survived the summer, but I think it is struggling because it has not grown much either. My diagnosis is that the azaleas need more sun and the jasmine needs less, so I think that if I just switch the corners of the yard in which these plants are located, they both might start growing and thriving. That is my hope anyway… I will keep you informed. Because I want to transplant them sometime soon, I am also hoping that they have not rooted too deeply in their current locations. I think the location is hurting them!
In a similar way, the spiritual environment that each of us lives in also has a lot to do with whether we are healthy and producing fruit. Being rooted and having stability doesn’t necessarily mean fruitfulness if a person’s trust and hope are in the wrong things. For example… you can attend church each Sunday, but if you rarely listen to the Holy Spirit and apply God’s word in your life, even though you might still be saved, you won’t see growth.
That is why our trust and hope and confidence must be in the Lord. When it is, you can thrive regardless of what happens around you, because your roots will be sunk deep into the living water of Christ’s love and mercy! Take a minute today to pray about whether these verses from Jeremiah are descriptive of your life. And if they are not, spend time praying about how you can pivot or maybe even be transplanted into ground where you can begin to experience the blessings that the Lord has promised!
I hope to see many of you at discipleship tonight. Please make note that there will be no men’s fellowship this Saturday. It is postponed until the 25th. And also, please plan to come this Sunday for a special time of worship focused on our ICC families and children. It will be wonderful!
Blessings to you!
And know that I am praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
Posted in Pastor Weekly