More

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 gathering place, to come and find reconciliation, and communion with their heavenly Father, through the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ and the support and fellowship of fellow believers.

Hearts were slightly heavy with aching thoughts and emotions on this last Sunday service for the current congregation, at this iconic church, and some eyes were sagging with a tear or two as we 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 ... but the intent, purpose and nourishing presence of the Holy Spirit was, and has always been, the same.

The Singsaas church 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. Congregations past and present, lovingly maintained and cared for this structure over numerous generations and its stunning and stately interior along with the vibrant acoustics intensified every worship service. I was honored to serve at this beautiful and historic church during this season and 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 the Praise Team gave God glory and honor. Still, any church, is not just a building, but a living fellowship with the Living God, joining together in worship, connection and support as mutual believers and thus our faith in the Living God is so much more than the place where we worship. 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 (2 Corinthians 12:9). What an incredible relationship we are blessed to have with this Living God through Jesus Christ. Praise God, for He is always able to give more than we can ever imagine or comprehend.

Our trouble often comes in our deficiency in seeing God as more. We at times, see God as less, and worry or become anxious because we trust in our own understanding and our plans. Our trust in God can truly rests 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 imagine or understand, 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)