(Note: I sent this to some of our small group leaders earlier this week at our church, and some sent it on to their group members. Response that I received was positive, so I thought I would share it with a wider audience.)
Keeping Flexible
Above my desk in my office, there is a display of flags from places the Lord has allowed me to go, and in the middle of them is Gumby. Why on earth? Well, when you are on mission, whether right here at home or thousands of miles away, flexibility is key.
The back story on the Gumby is that a former student minister gave it to me when we finished some mission training with students, with one of the latter sessions being on the necessity for flexibility. If Gumby is anything, he is flexible.
Flexibility is a quality demanded in much of life, and that is no less true in how we do church, where we do church, and what we do as a church. We rarely know ahead of time which way the wind of the Spirit is going to blow, so we have to raise our sails and be ready to go in whatever direction He leads us (or blows us!).
Jesus said in John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Paul wrote in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Stay flexible. Be ready to walk as God leads you, fulfilling His direction, no matter what that might be. Even if it is hard.
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A quick health update: The cancer is being held at bay by the treatments and your prayers. Praise the Lord. I have recently developed a new heart issue (“atrial flutter”) so I have some tests and appointments on December 1 and 2. I would appreciate your prayers in all of those.
Blessings,
Tom
