Tonight, we will have our annual kindergarten graduation.  This is a very exciting time for these boys and girls, as well as for their families.  There will be several cameras per child in our sanctuary.  As I was thinking about this event, I realized that I did not know what the word “kindergarten” means.  It means “children’s garden.”   We are trying to help these kids grow to be what they can be.

Growth is supposed to be a part of life.  We may stop growing physically, but we are to never stop growing in the other areas of our life, especially spiritually.  Each of us has the opportunity to make contributions into the lives of others.  We spend a lot of time trying to keep the weeds of this world from choking the lives around us.  There are days when that seems to be all that I do.  I am sure that you have had the same experience.  This work is important, but we must do more than that.  We should constantly be trying to help those around us grow and become a “bumper crop” for the glory of God.  How can we do that?

1. Stay focused on the kingdom of God rather than the circumstances of the moment.
2. Don’t lose sight of developing your own spiritual life.  You cannot share what you do not have.
3. Develop the habit of looking for opportunities to expand the kingdom. The things you do and the words you say do make a difference.
4. Find a person in whom you can invest today!  Become proactive instead of reactive when it comes to touching people.

We all live in a garden and the Lord wants to use you to help cultivate the crop.  That is one of the reasons that He has you where you are.  Don’t miss the opportunity.