It is not officially Summer until June 21, however it feels like summer!  My family has already shifted into a summer cycle.  We are enjoying long days, playing in the water, ice cream, BBQ and letting the kiddoes stay up later.  Summer brings new rhythms to our lives.  My personal prayer over the summer is not to shift into a “vacation mode” where I disengage and become lazy but to purposely allow the margin created by the “summer pace” space for growth.  I desire to grow in my love of Jesus, grow to be a more engaged husband, father, and friend.  All of these desires are not accomplished from desire alone but additionally require focus, intentionality, and action.

The weekly fasting is a discipline that is helping me focus.  My prayer for VFC is that we use this season of fasting to focus on Jesus and how he wants us to grow.  That we continue to pray for our future Lead and Student Pastors as well as each other. Pray and ask the Lord how you can grow this summer.  Ask Jesus for practical steps to bring focus, intentionality, and action to those goals.

While fasting today, I am focusing on these verses and asking the Lord to help me grow, rejoice and love with His love.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

I hope you are encouraged in your pursuit of Jesus.  It is a blessing to serve with you,
-PJ Beaver, Pastor of Ministries