Where are We Headed?

I pressed shuffle on my Amazon music playlist. I began driving home from the church at night on Rt. 314. I felt like something, someone, was gripping my heart and I needed to pay attention to it. A song came on I had never heard before, so I began to listen to the lyrics.

“Through waters uncharted my soul will embark

I'll follow Your voice straight into the dark

And if from the course You intend I depart

Speak to the sails of my wandering heart”

I looked up to my left - clouds parted to reveal the biggest, brightest, shining full moon I had ever seen.

“Like the wind you'll guide

Clear the skies before me”

Hearing those words and simultaneously being taken captive by the beauty of this moon brought goosebumps up and down my arms. God was here with me. He was speaking to me; I knew it.

That evening I was moved into deep prayer, praise, and communion with God, but this moment with the moon has stuck with me for weeks. What timing it was to hear those words as soon as I saw this clear circle in the sky where the moon shone brightly and lit the road before me.

“Like the stars Your Word

Will align my voyage

And remind me where I've been

And where I am going”

This reminds me of the wisdom a college professor shared in my class once. “God loves to use the flashlight principle,” he said. “He shines just enough light to reveal the next two or three steps He is asking us to take in our lives. We protest, “God, I can’t see where this is going! Can you show me where this path is taking me?” To which He replies, “My child, take this step of faith and obedience. I will light the path as you walk along in faith. I give you just enough light to see the next step. Trust me. Take that step.”

Where are we headed?

I direct that question to myself, to you, and to all of us who make up the church here at North Woodbury. Maybe it’s true that we can only see the next one, two, three steps before us. But are we taking the next step as an act of faith and obedience to our loving Father?

To myself I ask, is fear keeping me from moving forward?

To all of us that make up this church, I ask, what steps do we need to take?

I see so much potential for NW to raise up leaders that truly change this community from Sparta to Chesterville to Johnsville to Lexington over to Mount Gilead and Galion and back again. I see us working with other churches in this community to bring revival and transformation in Morrow County, seeing many come to know Christ for the first time and be changed. I see powerful partnerships and the spread of God’s truth resulting in our people being set free from drug abuse, generational poverty, destructive relationships, suicidal tendencies, and the bondage of addiction. I see the potential for us to have a global vision that is mission-minded and shares the Gospel in seismic waves. I see mentors and meals and discipleship and worship and prayer and the fruit of our unity that is only found in Jesus Christ. By the grace of God, we do know where this path ultimately ends:

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” - Revelation 5:11-14

So church, I ask you, if this is where we are headed, then what is your next step?