Positive Progress

Many of you should be familiar with a phrase I use quite often, “God will provide our increase.” This phrase is based on years of experience in trusting God in the midst of insurmountable odds, situations and circumstances. I know that many of you have experienced this same movement of God. What an incredible feeling, to have God meet us at our wits end and provide us with more than we could ever ask or imagine. For those of you who have not experienced this encounter with God, it might be because you have not given God enough credit for who you are, what you have and how you got it. If we consider our progress in life a result of our own might and strength, we negate the opportunity to see God working for our benefit.

 

Today like never before, we are challenged to the core of our understanding. It seems that answers to complex issues and situations are beyond our ability to comprehend. We find ourselves second guessing routine sound decisions and we do not seem to be able to come to consensus regarding issues too common to our existence. When these moments come, we feel helpless and hopeless and we do not know where to turn. The good news for us on today is that if we look to the hills which cometh our help, we would recognize that our help comes from the Lord who is the maker of heaven and earth.

 

As we look to the hills, we discover that God provides. The positive progress that many of us pray for, hope for and long for is still found in Jesus. Jesus is still the answer to all the world’s problems and Jesus is excited about helping us achieve God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. As a church, I know that many of you have been praying, hoping and longing for many positive things concerning our church. We want the best for God’s house and God’s people, yet sometimes, we do not know how to make it happen. Again, the good news is found in the reality that God provides our increase.

 

As we prepare to work with the Church of the Resurrection, we must be crystal clear about what our future as a congregation will look like at least 20 years from now. We must visualize the church, the people, the ministries and the lives that God will transform because of our faithfulness. We must work together to establish clear goals and standards that will ensure us good success long after our lives of active service is done. Now that is what I call positive progress. I invite you to join us in visioning a future for our church that exceeds our wildest imagination?