Beloved LifeWay family,
I pray and hope God has been near to you through his word and by his comforting Spirit. By his grace, I have been comforted by the steadfast presence of God through his word and his people, especially this week.
I was at a short conference with 100 other pastors in the PNW. We sat under the Word, prayed for one another, and we were refreshed by God’s presence through his word. My prayer is that this Sunday will be a time of refreshing strength through God’s word and the gathering of his people.
Last Sunday, we had an All-Church Meeting with some significant news of future change. (If you missed our meeting for whatever reason, please connect with me or someone in the church to be filled in with future transitions.)
Back to change… Change. We all (at least, most all) have a hard time with change. It unsettles. It shakes. It brings uncertainty. I have had a number of conversations with some of you—I too am feeling the uneasiness that comes with change. I have run into a number of you this past week, and this change is bringing memories of past changes—with churches, communities, and even families.
These are real. And even more real yet is the steadfast presence and peace of God that calls us back into loving and trusting fellowship with him.
I believe God has a specific encouragement for each of you this coming Sunday. Wherever you may be—content, confused, scared, or despairing—come with ready hearts to hear the word of the Lord and be reminded of who he is and what he is doing—the God on mission works despite the insecurities of his messengers.
The original plan was to be in Acts 2 for Pentecost Sunday. But I have a deep sense that the Lord is asking me to change my message for this Sunday to 1 Kings 19. So, let’s go for it.
I hope God encourages your soul as much as he did mine.
Personally, in times of big life changes, whether it was leaving for college, getting married, having children, or leaving for a foreign country (and then coming back after almost 8 years!), I have been greatly helped by the steadfast promises of God through his word and in Christ.
My prayer for this Sunday is that we would be reminded of the God who never changes even when we do, and be even more deeply rooted and anchored with confidence in God’s promises and plans for our lives and the life of our church family.
With deep affection,
In Christ,
Tim