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The vivid white siding somehow overlaps the many years, the Singsaas church with its soaring steeple has stood tall on the prairie land on the Minnesota Dakota border. This stout and substantial building was built to beckon the hardy people who tilled the alternating poor and prospering land surrounding this stately gathering place to come and worship in both good and hard times. To come humbly and find reconciliation, and communion with their heavenly Father, through the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and be strengthened by the support and fellowship of fellow believers.

Hearts were slightly heavy with aching thoughts and emotions on this final Sunday service in the middle of July, for the congregation at this iconic church. Some eyes were sagging with a tear or two as the group celebrated the joys of knowing Christ’s redemption and His presence with genuine worship, Scriptures, reflective thoughts and prayers. This service, here at the church, might have been different in style, liturgy, and manner from the first congregations over 100 years ago and even from services in the last decades ... but the intent, purpose and nourishing presence of the Holy Spirit was, and has always been, the same. Christian believers gathering together in worship.

The Singsaas Church building was raised up by stout Norwegian immigrants, board by board, plank by plank, and shingle by shingle ... not once but twice, as the people were determined to build a church to worship the ever-Faithful God in a new land and place. Somehow their intent was both a reminder of their Singsaas Church in Norway and yet praying it would cradle their hopes for the future. The and Congregations past and present, lovingly maintained and cared for this structure over numerous generations with its stunning and stately interior along with the vibrant acoustics brought a specialness to every worship service. I was honored to serve as a fill-in pastor at this beautiful and historic church during the last year and came to love the fellowship and friendship of the people there. Christ was lifted up here in word and deed, and the Holy Spirit was always present as song and word came forth to give God glory and honor. Still, any church, is not really the building, but a group of believers gathering together in living fellowship with the Living God. Coming together in worship, connection and support as mutual believers giving life to their faith in the Living God. Worship is so much more than the place where we worship, and thus there is more ahead for this body of believers, as they continue to seek and honor the Living God as they trust Him with their future.

Here is the great truth, about the Living God, He is vastly and abundantly more than we can imagine or comprehend and thus God can give more than we can imagine or comprehend. Since God is more, He will always give more. Since God is more, there will always be more of what we need for any moment, as the grace of Christ will be more than sufficient for every day of our living out our faith (2 Corinthians 12:9). What an incredible relationship, we are blessed to have with this Living God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Praise God, for He, is always able to give more than we can ever ask or imagine.

We have a great, secure and living hope in Christ, now and into eternity (1 Peter 1:3-7). As difficulties, changes and circumstance come in our lives, we need to trust our God to do more and see God as capable to do more. Much more! If we see Him as less than He is, worry and anxiousness can overwhelm us because we are trusting in our own understanding and in our own plans. Our trust in God needs to truly rest on unshakable truth that God is infinitely more and can do immeasurably more than we can ask or think. This truth will always be the truth. We can believe and truly trust in the God who can do more than we can ask or imagine, in this moment, and throughout our lives on this earth until we come into His presence for eternity. Thank you, Lord, thank YOU!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)