Slideshow image

I don't know about you, but I often try to make things happen.  It's not out of a desire to control.  I firmly believe that if something needs to be done, let's get it done ... especially if I am passionate about what needs to be done.

Which makes pastoring a bit of a challenge sometimes.  

I believe wholeheartedly in the love of God, the proof of that love found in the person of Jesus Christ and the beautiful mystery His life, death, and resurrection have done.  Through the Holy Spirit God continues to work because His faithfulness to humanity and His love for us has no expiration date.

So I want others to experience first-hand what I have, what I believe to be true, even though I can't prove it.

But here's the hiccup ...

A person's experience with God, their spiritual journey, how the Spirit pursues and develops them is largely out of my control and unique to them.

I can't manufacture it.  I can't make it happen.  

In fact, I can do all the right things and someone still might not find Christ to be compelling or this community to be worth their time.

So what am I, and what are you (because this is true for you too), to do?

We are to make spaces.

We are to make spaces for others to encounter Christ.

We are to make spaces for others to experience community.

We are to make spaces for others to experience love in action and practice their faith by loving others.

And then we leave room for God to do what God does best, for God to do what only God can do.

Draw.  Love.  Compel.  Convict.  Heal.  Empower.  Encourage. Transform. 

And this isn't just for those outside our faith but also for us.

We can make space for each of us to continue to experience Christ personally and grow as we walk with Jesus each day.  We can work together to create a healthy space to experience a community that encourages, challenges, and cares for one another.  

And even have fun in the process.  

We can create opportunities for each of us to put our faith into practice, to do what the Apostle John challenged the early church to do: "Let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions (1 John 3:18, NLT)."

When we invite you to serve in an area, be part of the weekend gathering or attend another event, this is why. 

By showing up and investing through our presence and service, we create spaces for the Spirit to work freely in our space.  We grow together in our ability to make space for the Spirit when we leave the church building.

Because. make no mistake, God is at work in all spaces, drawing us and others to Him.

Doing what we cannot do on our own.

He partners with us to work in the spaces we have made for ourselves, for others, and Him.