Every one of us has room to grow. None of us are yet who we ought to be. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are on a life-long journey to become who God created us to be. This process is called sanctification – becoming more like Christ, becoming who we were meant to be.

The question is, “What is involved in becoming?” How do we do this “becoming” thing?

I can’t suggest the complete process because I am still learning how to become a “becoming” person. However, I think I know how “becoming” starts.

“Becoming” who God created us to be starts with moving the things that God has clearly revealed in the Scriptures to the non-negotiable, never-optional category. What that means is if it’s clear through God’s word, we don’t have to think about them, pray about them, wonder about them. If God said it, then we do it.

• We don’t need to pray about whether we should pray
• We don’t need to think about whether we should grow up in the faith
• We don’t need to wonder about whether we should give and serve
• We don’t need to pray about whether we need to share our faith with others to birth new Christians
• We don’t need to pray about strong Godly marriages and families
• We don’t need to wonder about being faithful to our spouse

The things God has already clearly revealed through God’s word, are things we don’t even have to think or wonder about. These are things we do because God said it.

This is the first step in “becoming” who God created us to be. Too many church goers are thinking, wondering, and compromising on things that ought to be in the non-negotiable, never-optional category.

Let’s start this “becoming” journey on the right step!

 

As we continue to live into 2020 I want to do two things:

1. Reflect on 2019
2. Lean forward into 2020 and see what God is up to through the ministry of the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace.

The message of 2019 is “God is Faithful” and “You are Awesome!” In fact, these two are absolutely tied together.

God is so faithful. God is faithful to keep his promises. The Ministry at the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace continues to impact and touch more lives. There is a tangible sense of expectation for God to show up and do what only God can do whenever we gather to worship. God is so faithful!

And…

The primary way God demonstrates his faithfulness to the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace is through you! Every time God shows up to be faithful to us, to the people in this community, God shows up through you! God is at work by calling his church to do his bidding, and it was you who answered God’s call.

God is faithful! And you are awesome! Thank you! Thank you for showing up. Thank you for serving. Thank you for giving. Thank you for doing your part.

Finally, as we look forward to 2020, there is no doubt that God is up to something great through the ministries of the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. God desires to touch and impact even more lives through his church in the coming year. So, as we continue to live into God’s mission in 2020, keep showing up to serve, give, and make a difference.

God bless you and God bless the Little Church and Lakewoodgrace in 2020!!!

Pastor James <><

 

Everyone is going from point A to point B.

Everyone is living their days with the same 24 hours every day. No one gets a single second more than the other.

What is interesting is some people are able to get so much more enjoyment and life out of life than others. What is the difference? How can some get the more joy out of life than others when we are all living the same 24 hour days? Why are some never satisfied?

One is busy going from one place to another. Their goal is the destination and everything and everyone in between is an obstruction and a nuisance to be avoided. Think about that last sentence. The people in that sentence include your family, spouse, friends, and strangers. Because we have made the goal and objective of life the destination we see everyone and everything as an obstruction and nuisance.

Wow. What a sad way to live.

Such is the life of a traveler.

One who is journeying through life also gets to the destination. But the destination is only a part of the journey. All of the journey – the traffic congestion, the conversations along the way, the fellow journeyers, the smells, the sounds, the sights, and fellow journeyers – all of that is the journey.

There are no obstructions. There are no nuisances. It’s all part of the journey.

We will all arrive at the destination one way or the other. The question is how do you want to get there.

We are on a journey.

Journeyers take the time to notice the life that is happening all around them. Most importantly, they make the time to notice the people on their journey. Unless you take the time and intentionally make the time to notice, you will miss it all. And most importantly, you will miss the people. And what a shame that is for you and everyone in your life.

Life is a journey. Live it well.