In 1991, I left the chuch that had been my home for 14 years. I felt God was telling me to become part of the Vineyard church here on Long Island. I liked the change and knew I had made a good move. A new church was being planted in Suffolk County, the South Shore Vineyard, and I became part of it. Through the years, we faced a lot of changes. Our leadership decided God wanted us to become independant, so we did, and became known as The Lighthouse. Time passed and our leadership decided that the Lord wanted us to become part of the Association of Bridge Churches, and we did that too. Our name became The Lighthouse Bridge.Those leaders left a few years later to go where they felt God was leading them. New leadership came and we love them and our name changed again to the Bridge Long Island. We lost a large portion of our membership when the change in leadership happened, and lost some more as people felt called to go somewhere else after a year or two. Our church has decided to merge with another church and become a larger family. And our name will be changing again.
Strange title for my blog post, but it's strange times in my world. Things change all the time, whether we're ready for it or not. I like change; I've said that before. I guess the Lord knows I mean it, because it's happening rather quickly... I don't know how I feel right now. I'm not ready to be excited for what's ahead. I'm not sure how things will work out. I want to know what God thinks about it all, but He's not telling me. And I've BEEN asking. For the last few months,He's been showing me what would happen, but He didn't say it's His perfect plan for us.
I know what I want, but that's not going to happen. I know what others want, and that is happening. I don't think it's wrong, it just isn't my plan. God didn't ask me what my plan was.
The only inkling I have of His plan is that He wants me to make a decision for LOVE.
It's hard watching something die when you've spent so many years praying for it to live and become what God designed it for. Fifteen years of weekly prayer meetings, if I'm counting....and I am.
And all the words spoken over us over the many years; what happened to all of them?
Perhaps others don't feel like it's a death, but it is to me. I'm glad the Lord is metamorphosing us into something new, but I don't feel much like a butterfly.
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing. I feel very similar to what you expressed. I have my own thoughts, concerns, wants etc. I'm trying to focus on all the good ahead as we move forward so I'm not wrapped up in the what if's and I don't knows. I hope your faithful praying comes to pass even if it's under a new name. Thank you again for sharing your heart and mind.
xoxo Candice. funny thing today; I have lots of hits from Ukraine. I couldn't figure it out, but it must be the language on the video..they can read it and understand..and they must be telling their friends. 24 hits in one day when I maybe had 3 or 4 in the past month. isn't God good? I just liked this vid and never thought about the language.God uses everything!
Hi Ginnie,
You are not alone in your grieving. Jesus cares. I think we've all been grieving our losses for quite some time. "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Praying for your heart and that you will feel His healing presence through all the changes, that you will see the "goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." <3 Donna
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