With gratitude,
Pastor Lynell
by Lynell Caudillo
Recently I read an article about change by Pastor John Ortberg in Leadership journal.
I’d like to share the following quote with you :
“Significant human transformation always involves training, not just trying.
Spiritual transformation is a long-term endeavor. It involves both God and us. I liken it to crossing an ocean. Some people try, day after day, to be good, to become spiritually mature. That's like taking a rowboat across the ocean. It's exhausting and usually unsuccessful.
Others have given up trying and throw themselves entirely on "relying on God's grace." They're like drifters on a raft. They do nothing but hang on and hope God gets them there.
Neither trying nor drifting are effective in bringing about spiritual transformation. A better image is the sailboat, which if it moves at all, it's a gift of the wind. We can't control the wind, but a good sailor discerns where the wind is blowing and adjusts the sails accordingly.
Working with the Holy Spirit, which Jesus likened to the wind in John 3, means we have a part in discerning the winds, in knowing the direction we need to go, and in training our sails to catch the breezes that God provides.
That's true transformation.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 |
God is in the business of transformation. We have a choice. We can complain about it, resist it, or get on board! I don’t know about you, but as challenging as it is, I want to be involved in what God is doing, even if it means leaving my comfort zone and doing something new and different.
Please be praying for your pastors, the elders and deacons as we seek to discern together the direction Marcus Whitman needs to go, and to “train our sails to catch the breezes that God provides.” I hope you plan to be on board for the exciting ministry adventures that God surely has in store for us all!