In Search Of … The Lord’s Will

I’ve attended numerous churches in my lifetime. Being raised in a Christian home, and becoming a believer early in my life, our family attended services on a regular basis. Some of my earliest memories are being in Sunday School. My father was also a minister for a time during my elementary years, and we attended the church he started in an old bank building in Plattsburg, MO. My grandparents were a formative part of my upbringing; it was under the influence of my grandfather that my father became a minister, and they attended with us.  On family vacations, Sunday bible time was a thing. When we went to Silver Dollar City, which was a regular occurrence, we often stopped into the Wilderness Church there for Sunday service and sing-a-longs.

As a parent, I wanted to make sure my children also attended a church. We attended a few, and settled in a Baptist church in Raytown as they entered middle and high school. My daughter’s first real job was at the church café.

As they graduated, I ended up following my daughter to New Life, a small-ish church in Belton. I thought  I’d found my home church – and I did for more than five years. I made good friends, found my niche, attended Grace Adventure through the connections I made there. My relationship with the Lord grew deeper.

As so often happens in life, the time came to leave New Life, and once again I followed my daughter to the Rising. At that time, the church was “coming into its own,” graduating from meeting in Loose Park and other open spaces to finding a store front close to the Plaza. I had attended a few times for special occasions, and watched the church grow to need two store fronts. In the five or so years that I’ve been a part of the Rising, I’ve watched (most of) the younger generation get married to each other and have families. It was of immense pleasure to me to see them become parents and grow into some of the strongest Christian leaders I have ever seen. They have inspired me and encouraged me in my own growth.

When, after 40 years of full-time employment I took a sort of early retirement, I joined one of the women’s bible study groups. These ladies have become such a solid part of my life that I can’t image what my journey would be like without them. We study the word deeply, meeting each week to share what God has revealed to us and working through each lesson with diligence and joy. We share our lives and lift each other up in prayer. It’s indeed been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

And now, I find myself looking at a new chapter in church homes. After much prayer and reflection, the Rising, in its current iteration, is coming to an end. As I had been comfortable, the news has hit me rather hard. I kept thinking – “Again? God, why can’t we just stand still here, and be comfortable?”

And then it hit me – God never promised a life of comfort and ease. In fact, Jesus tells us that “in the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I have been too comfortable, and with that comes complacency. With complacency comes inertia. God has been making it clear for some times that while I might not think I’m an evangelist, my job is to share His gospel. The Apostles wrote over and over about going into the world and sharing our faith. In Romans, Paul writes, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14) He tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17).

God has been revealing to me – to all of us – that he has greater plans in store. That He has equipped us for a different path. And so, I begin to look forward in anticipation for what the Lord has in store for those of us as the Rising.

And I am grateful.