TRANSFORMATION FORUM

Becoming Less… We live in a world where" becoming more than we are" is a measure of success.  We strive for personal improvement, for labor that reflects achievement.  Every aspect of life is filled with a drive to "increase."  Now let us add to that the issue of sustainability.  How long do I remain relevant and useful?  How do I compete with a generation right behind me, nipping at my heels for my position?  We define success on prestige, accomplishment and gain. But is there ever a time we intentionally become less in order that another may become more.  This is the very situation John, the Baptist is realizing as Jesus ministers in the same region, preaching, teaching and baptizing people.  John's disciples are becoming desperate; their leader has competition in in the person of Jesus.  As the one called to "prepare the way of the Lord", John experience great popularity, John was very successful in his ministry.  John was faithful, preaching

Who is this God who loves me so much?  Why do I think I know Him yet His vastness escapes my comprehension?  With each day of living, I experience so much of His love only to discover how little I know of him.  My love for Him is so minimal in contrast to His love for me.  If love is about shared lives, I am receiving so much more than my God receives from me.  I struggle to love Him and He pours love, His love into my spirit.  I love through worship and adoration; in contrast, this is so much less than how He loves me.  When I contemplate how He loves me, I am humbled.  To be His created, to be the desire of His heart, even as a man, God’s intimacy captures me as if I was still a child.  He encourages me, how do I encourage Him; He strengthens me, how do I strengthen Him; He expends even unto death for my sake, what can give of value to Him; He speaks to me and life is transformed, what can I say to Him that transforms His being?  On and on goes the contrasting.  Maybe therein

... How do I love you when I consider the generosity of your love towards me. I find myself at a lost with my capacity to express the joy and comfort you are to me. I also struggle trying to see value in my life the same way you value me. Am ... I comforted knowing you love me so greatly? Truth be knowing, not everyday...Your love is inspiring, you motivate, it is often causative. But in those moments when I chose myself over you, my spirit, my mind is struck by my denial of your love. Your love is haunting, always pursuing, even chasing me down. Do you know how this makes me feel, knowing I did not choose you, that in the moment I chose self? Yet, there you are, as one who will not be denied my love and devotion. Why do you hunger for me, me of all people? So confused, so unworthy of your devotion am I. Some would say I am experiencing condemnation, I beg to differ! I am deeply humbled by this love that transcends me and my demands. I am humbled in those mome

I so enjoy posting devotions, insights that others share from their hearts.  I have only known Lindsey Dunham for a short while.  I have been really impressed by the power of what she pens for her Facebook page.  I have asked and received permission from Lindsey to post her insight from today's Facebook.  I invite you to take your time reading her thoughts, Lindsey speaks of God's love with such intimacy.  I look forward to sharing other posts that she pens in the future...Thank you Lindsey for revealing your heart, and welcome to Transformation Forum. While on Facebook yesterday I read a statement "It's better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction." I liked it because I feel it to be true, but then a voice immediately said, you never walk alone. How quickly Jesus reminded me that He is always walking with us. We tend to forget that He is there, an everlasting presence. This escapes our minds easily, especially when things in our life are

“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…” August 3, 2014 This posting is a continuation of my previous post.  My heart for this series of posts regarding the Holy Spirit is to stir our attention, to cause us to revisit our current perspectives, beliefs, even attitudes about the person of the Holy Spirit.  Ministering in a small rural church is challenging my perspectives about the Holy Spirit.  Though we are small, our sin is complex and runs deep in the various layers of our community.  I am learning quickly, the needs of the people far exceed my current capacities, spiritually and intellectually.  I am being “pushed” by the words of Jesus telling His disciples it was necessary for him to leave; the Father would send the promise of His Spirit.  I am passionately involved in wanting to discover so much more about this mysterious person, the Holy Spirit.  I am finding it necessary to put down a number of previous beliefs.  This is good.  Scripture is calling me to read wit

"...I Will Put My Spirit In You..." Ezekiel 36:25-28 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” NIV This morning I begin with confession.  The Spirit of the Lord is holding me accountable in your presence.  As your pastor, I have brought you the best of myself in service to the Kingdom of God.  Yet in my prayers before the Holy Spirit, I am hearing a different prayer springing forth from my heart.  In those prayers, I have heard words, my words of confession and disappointment.  These words from my heart acknowledge a shift in the season of this fellowship and my own life.  There is a deep realization that God is calling us, you and me, into a