Today in his sermon Keith mentioned that the majority of Christians leave their church between the ages of 18-24. He also said that 50% of them would come back if someone would take the time to go to visit them personally to tell them how much they are loved and missed.
So my question is: what does that mean for us? As individuals, as a women's ministry, and as a church family? What are we being called to do to reach this age group? How can we minister to them?
What about members of any age groups who have left, or just aren't involved, or maybe once were but aren't now? What are we called to do for them?
How far are we willing to stretch ourselves out of our comfort zone to share Jesus Christ with another person? I'll let you in on a secret. It is hard for me to pass out invitations. I don't know why it is so hard for me to do that, but it always has been hard for me. It is harder for me to do that than it is for me to talk one on one with someone or teach a Bible class. For me, to pass out invitations is way out of my comfort zone. So I am already praying for courage to not back down when it comes to passing out invites to our kick-off in September. And I know that all of us have things that are more difficult for us and send us out of our comfort zone. But let's make the commitment to go to God with those, and to allow Him to transform us, so that He can reveal Himself to us and through us in a way in which we could not ask or imagine.
Grace and peace to you all!
Michele
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
We Shall Morph Indeed
Last night was the kick-off to our summer series. We are studying about spiritual transformation using the book "The Life You've Always Wanted". It's going to be awesome!
This morning I was thinking about worms. Actually, I was thinking about the song "At the Cross". When I was in high school, I had a friend that protested that hymn. You see, the original version actually says "for such a worm as I". That was later changed to "for such a one as I". My friend would actually almost shout the word "worm" as we were singing the second version during church. She protested that singing "one" takes away the true meaning. We are lowly and undeserving, and He loved us so much that He would die for us, despite the fact that our nature is vile, repulsive, and "wormy".
But then my mind quickly shifted from worms to caterpillars, then to butterflies. I thought about how God reveals a part of His divine purpose for us with the beautiful example given to us in nature of the transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly.
You see, we are like the caterpillars, stuck to the ground with our face in the dirt, our view limited to only what is in front of us, limited in purpose. We wander aimlessly in futility, without eternal perspective, without Godly power, without His purpose in our hearts, without the knowledge of the faithfulness of His nature and the security found in His love. All we see is the earthly dirt in front of us.
But He has a great love and a bigger plan and purpose for His little caterpillars.
He transforms us into butterflies. Beautiful butterflies that reflect His glory. He gives us wings powered by His strength to take us places that we never dreamed of. We no longer see dirt, but see an eternal purpose with a God-inspired perspective. He leads us to soar as we use the gifts with which His Spirit equips us.
He has a purpose for us. A plan. A destination. A goal. And great love for His transformed creation. Love that existed before that transformation but now is understood by it.
Oh how He loves us!
Some of us may identify with the worm, feeling insecure in His love, unworthy of Him, living without purpose or identity. Some may identify with the caterpillar, lacking eternal perspective, feeling as if there is more to this life that what we currently are experiencing, wondering where He is, why circumstances are occurring that hurt us, what possible plan does He have. Then, there are the transformed butterflies. The creation that has allowed Him full access into their hearts so He can transform them, allowed Him to get rid of the earthy dirt that clouds their minds and limits their eternal perspective, and are soaring with His strength.
We are a new creation in Him!
Sisters, let us, with great enthusiasm, allow Him to transform us into the creation that He has purposed for us to be. May we actively seek to allow Him the pre-eminent position in our hearts this summer. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us- Romans 8:37.
Grace and peace,
Michele
This morning I was thinking about worms. Actually, I was thinking about the song "At the Cross". When I was in high school, I had a friend that protested that hymn. You see, the original version actually says "for such a worm as I". That was later changed to "for such a one as I". My friend would actually almost shout the word "worm" as we were singing the second version during church. She protested that singing "one" takes away the true meaning. We are lowly and undeserving, and He loved us so much that He would die for us, despite the fact that our nature is vile, repulsive, and "wormy".
But then my mind quickly shifted from worms to caterpillars, then to butterflies. I thought about how God reveals a part of His divine purpose for us with the beautiful example given to us in nature of the transformation of the caterpillar to the butterfly.
You see, we are like the caterpillars, stuck to the ground with our face in the dirt, our view limited to only what is in front of us, limited in purpose. We wander aimlessly in futility, without eternal perspective, without Godly power, without His purpose in our hearts, without the knowledge of the faithfulness of His nature and the security found in His love. All we see is the earthly dirt in front of us.
But He has a great love and a bigger plan and purpose for His little caterpillars.
He transforms us into butterflies. Beautiful butterflies that reflect His glory. He gives us wings powered by His strength to take us places that we never dreamed of. We no longer see dirt, but see an eternal purpose with a God-inspired perspective. He leads us to soar as we use the gifts with which His Spirit equips us.
He has a purpose for us. A plan. A destination. A goal. And great love for His transformed creation. Love that existed before that transformation but now is understood by it.
Oh how He loves us!
Some of us may identify with the worm, feeling insecure in His love, unworthy of Him, living without purpose or identity. Some may identify with the caterpillar, lacking eternal perspective, feeling as if there is more to this life that what we currently are experiencing, wondering where He is, why circumstances are occurring that hurt us, what possible plan does He have. Then, there are the transformed butterflies. The creation that has allowed Him full access into their hearts so He can transform them, allowed Him to get rid of the earthy dirt that clouds their minds and limits their eternal perspective, and are soaring with His strength.
We are a new creation in Him!
Sisters, let us, with great enthusiasm, allow Him to transform us into the creation that He has purposed for us to be. May we actively seek to allow Him the pre-eminent position in our hearts this summer. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us- Romans 8:37.
Grace and peace,
Michele
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