While I'm Waiting

John Waller's song, "While I'm Waiting" has been really speaking to my heart. I want it to be my attitude at all times.

I find that as we (myself and the Leadership Team) go through this journey of waiting on and listening to the Lord for what He has for Southside it is easy to get worn out and frustrated.

The book of Proverbs puts it this way:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

The Message By Eugene Peterson states it this way:

Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.

As we seek Him and begin to implement the things that we hear Him speaking to us it can feel at first like a lot of work without a lot of reward.

We all want to see the same thing, we have the same "hope" in our heart; to see the kingdom of God built in Newberg, to see lives changed... we want to see the lost coming to the cross. I know we all desire to see Southside grow and flourish, we all desire to see many, many new believers come into the kingdom.

In this time of putting into practice the things that God speaks to us, it can feel like we aren't moving forward very fast, like we aren’t seeing all the throngs of new believers that we hoped to see. But, be encouraged church! God is at work in our midst, we are at a place where we are laying a foundation that will be the “tool in our hand” to do the work that God is calling us to.

As I look back over the last five months of my time here I can see the tremendous distance we have come.

God has made it clear to His church what our mission is:

Matthew 28:18-20

..."God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

We know EXACTLY what we are to do, the question that we have to seek the Lord for the answer to is, HOW we carry out this mission. In other words, what is it that God has uniquely called and designed Southside to be and do... what is His VISION for us?

At this time I can confidently say that we are honing in with a laser like focus on what God has in mind for us. Chiefly, that we are to be a church of true community. Hence we are structuring Southside to be a ministry made up of Community Groups (small groups). We believe that it is through these groups that the mission of the church will be carried out.

So... as we continue to do the hard work of listening, obeying and planning, would you be in prayer for your leadership? Many exciting things are beginning to happen but I believe this is going to pale in comparison to what God has in mind for us.

As we honor those who sacrificed to plant Southside let us always remember that our best days are ahead if we are willing to be obedient to follow the leadership of Christ in His church!

Pastor Willy