Life Lessons in Transitions | First Wednesday | September 2022
God is always trying to move us toward Greater Things for his Glory
Wayne Drain’s Word
August 2021
Pastors Greg and Tamara,
A fresh wind of change is blowing across your family and the flock you lead together. It’s a time to hold on loosely, to embrace flexibility, in plans and projects as the Lord directs.
I see re-assignments of roles, re-alignments of responsibilities, and re-purposing of structures. These are necessary and timely to reorganize areas that are full of life and areas that no longer bring life, even though they once did.
Your leadership is visionary and forward looking. You weren’t called to maintain, you were called to move when the Spirit says “Move”. A key to forward movement is to follow the favor the Lord is bringing.
You lead as a team together. Walk in unity of vision and purpose. Walk in an unforced rhythm of grace that is healthy for your family.
You are entering a season of transition that will bring about transformation in individuals you lead and the culture around you.
You two are doing better than you think. Be encouraged.
Wayne Drain 08/04/2021
Word for the church 2022
You have crossed the rapids of a turbulent river in these past months. As you moved forward the waters have grown more smooth. Still a little ripple here and there but more smooth. It's a time to take stock of supplies and put your resources in order. I had a picture of a river barge loaded down with food, equipment, medical supplies, and water. The barge was making stops along the river to give resources to people and to take on new supplies and new passengers. You are becoming a shipping and supplies resource church. I sense of Lords pleasure as you cast your bread upon the waters. And I see delight on your faces as God gives back more than you gave away. I saw Luke 6:38 painted on the side of your boat in big bold letters, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
The rapids, I believe, represents resistance to the vision of this house. The river represents forward movement. Luke 6:38 gives direction, focus and fuel for becoming a resource church to other churches, tribes, tongues, and people in nations. No matter what resistance you face keep moving forward. Avoid political conflict with other churches, just don't get sucked into it. Refuse to be divided by doctrines of demons, just call them what they are and say get out of here. Just be who you are. Just give what you've been given. Just keep going where God sends you and saying what He tells you. It's your time to show and tell the gospel of the Kingdom to all who will hear and see. I heard a verse that the whole church, old and young had adopted to memory, being sung in your songs, and impressed on your kids. From the message translation, Proverbs 11:24 “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Enlargement is coming in this new season, make sure that you're facing it with generosity of heart and culture.
I am going to pray for you. Father, I just thank you for this wonderful church. Lord, I thank you for their responsiveness. I thank you God for their wild goose attitude of just wanting to get out there and let the winds take them where they need to go, whatever resistance comes they're going to move forward. And I pray God that as they as they get through the last little bit of these rapids, that there will be a smoothness in their journey. You'll start letting them see where to pull in and dock and where to help this one and that one, and this church and this people group, and this situation, and this conflict. And that Lord, no matter how much they give and give and give you'll just keep bringing more and more and more so they can give and give and give and you can bring more and more and more that's how it works. Father let them be like Proverbs 11:2, let their world get larger and larger because of their generosity. and they'll realize that the world is stingy only gets smaller and smaller and they're not going to be about stingy, they're going to be about being generous. Bless this church in your name in, Jesus name Amen
Given 2022 - Wayne Drain
Life Lessons in Transitions
1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua[a] son of Nun, who had served Moses: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:1-9 HCSB
His Presence
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2 NIV
His Power
Your Past
His Promise
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:9 NIV
God’s Strategy for Occupying the next space
God has designed change to be a process, not an event. Getting to the next level does not happen quickly. Successful transition takes time.
Little by Little
22 The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV
Remove and Replace
22 The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV