Flower of June God's face shines on you...

flower of June
Originally uploaded by ericblauer.

Jacob's Well started meeting in East Central as a gathered church in June 2006. I found out this week that the Karen phrase we had painted on our walls means something different than I thought it did. We thought it meant "flower that loves God". For me that phrase captured the spirit of our growing church as reflected in a poem I wrote at that time called "Gutter flower".

But I found out the phrase actually means "Little girl who loves June flower". Jacob's Well is truly a small flower that was planted in June.

We are so thankful to be a part of what God is growing in our community. It has been a difficult yet extremely rewarding adventure.

One of the awesome parts of this journey is reaching new people from in and out of our neighborhood. We are growing and having to adjust all our time tables because of it. So far this month we have moved past 100 people! God is so good.

We are praying that the fragrance of Christ in this little gutter flower will continue to draw those who who are awakening to the kingdom. That the graves of the dead will be opened and that our community will begin to hear the singing of those who have been brought alive by the power of God's mighty voice. That a rushing stream of grace and mercy will continue to spill out of this well and bring to life everything that the river touches. That sweet fruit will grow up among us and the leaves of of this branch of the tree of life will bring healing to the nations.

And most importantly Jesus will delight in this little flower. That she will grow in beauty for the glory of His name. That her unfolding petals will glisten with grace. Though she should be trampled in the dust at times, she will rise again and again to His glory. That she will become the host to a thousand seeds that spread on the four winds of God to other hidden places. That she will be one of many to come that will grow in unlikely and holy places.