A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;
a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.
Proverbs 11:28 (Msg)
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord....
They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with
roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees
are not bothered by the heat or worried by long
months of drought. Their leaves stay green,
and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)
Some of you may be familiar with the title of this article, as it originates from Pastor Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. I started this year with the LEVNT Team with a reflection on Rick’s great question, where he challenges us to see where God features in our lives, and more specifically, clarifying we were born by his purpose for his purpose. Sometimes I know I can get caught up in my own little world, or the busyness of my work and family commitments, and forget to pause and remember the why of my existence.
This may all sound a little esoteric, but over the last week as we celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus at this blessed time of Easter, it tends to remind us of all that God has done for us, rather than what we have done for God. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny.
I like the way the Proverbs describes a God-shaped life as a flourishing tree. As I have travelled around visiting our schools and ECS’s over the last few months, it is clear to me Christ is alive and His roots deep in our educational communities, and I feel privileged to be part of this region. I thank God for each and every member of our wider community, and see firsthand the blessing that you all are to the families who choose LEVNT as their home. Heartfelt thanks for your significant efforts so far this year, and I pray that you are able to find some time over the next few weeks for family, rest and renewal.
In Christ,
Colin Minke
Executive Director
