2022 was full of amazing accomplishments through the action and generosity of the Lifespring family. Whether it was through the raising of over $75,000 for the water wells, giving over $15,000 for Ukraine Relief, and even giving over $20,000 to the Neighbourlink food bank – God truly showed us that we were blessed to be a blessing.
Yet as I reflected on all the amazing things God has done in us, through us, and around us in 2022 – I was drawn to 3 small steps that I believe God planted in us to not “accomplish”, but rather instill in us to become our culture or who we are.
- Weekly Holy Communion
Jesus taught the disciples to do Holy Communion, he instructed them to eat and drink and whenever we do so, to “do this in remembrance of me”. We may do it every Sunday, yet I believe Jesus was instructing the disciples to remember Him EVERYTIME they ate. In today’s terms, 3x a day, 7 days a week. In essence, remember Him always. In a world and time where Jesus is neglected and forgotten, these instructions could not be more important. Everywhere we go, everything we do – do it in remembrance of Him – For His Name’s Sake. - Weekly Kids Tithes
Tithing has been ingrained in the Lifespring culture (you can see it from our tithes and offerings). It has been an amazing journey to understand the power of the tithe and we can see the protection it has provided this church family. Covid wreaked havoc around the world, especially in churches – yet Lifespring was protected. But what has become cultural to us, our children would not know. As tithes have become increasingly virtual, our children would have no idea that we are a family that tithes. We invited the children to tithe weekly – teaching them, training them, instructing them to give to God that which is His. - Weekly Testimonies
Revelations 12:11
And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony
Sophia Seow Testimony (7 years old) – Shared via Theresa
You guys want to hear something pretty cool? I watched service with the girls today.. particularly the end of worship, announcements, communion and Sari’s testimony. And when Donna started speaking I told the girls they could go play since I knew they wouldn’t have the attention span to listen. A few mins after they left, Sophia told me that God touched her and spoke to her! She said she felt his hand on her shoulder and he asked her “do you know what church is about?” And she answered “it’s about learning from God and taking communion to remember God”.
It’s like her first real encounter with God! I can’t believe she actually felt him touch her!
She was really listening intently to Sari’s testimony. And I told her.. after you hear how God works in someone’s life, you can expect God to work in your life too!
Sharing a testimony can be terrifying. But when we do something for His Name’s Sake – we simply obey and God is the one that can make it fruitful.
For His Name’s Sake was not meant to be a theme that we would focus on for a year – I believe it is something that God wants us to have written on our hearts – to live lives For His Name’s Sake.
Don’t let the enemy steal, kill, destroy what God has planted in your lives in 2022 – protect it at all costs, pray for good soil – let God use what He has done in you to multiply 10, 50, 100 fold.
What a journey 2022 has been – I look forward to our 2023 adventure as well.