I’ve been part of the Northland family since I was a little kid. There’s been ups, downs, and moments in between. But God has been present in all of it.
This process of searching for a lead pastor has been exciting, frustrating, exhausting, and mysterious all at the same time. It’s a challenging time in the life of our church because it requires an extra degree of trust and faith in God, but that’s why this season has been equally as rewarding.
Think about a time in your life when you felt closest to God, was it a good situation or a bad situation? I don’t know about you, but my closest moments with God are when I’m at my worst. I’d like to say that I’m mature enough to be consistent regardless of my circumstances, but that’s just not the case. Unfortunately, or fortunately, God uses uncertainty to bring us closer to Him. I think He probably knows that if things were going great all the time we would slip away from Him. I know I’m guilty of that. I’ll think, “oh, everything is going great, guess I don’t need God right now.” And then he’ll wake me up.
As we continue to pray throughout this process, let us remember that God has a plan for each and every one of us and our church. Some members of our Succession Planning Committee shared their thoughts and Scriptures that God has laid on their hearts during this long season of waiting.
As in the search for a king of Israel it was not what people expected, but it was God’s choice in His time. He always keeps His promises.”
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” - Deuteronomy 31:8
FOR THE NEW PASTOR: This is God’s word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing, I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, You’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” - Jeremiah 29:11
FOR US AS A CHURCH BODY: “Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things. I am doing something brand new, Something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:18-19
“God has a plan for Northland. Our journey of faith is waiting for that plan to be revealed in His timing, in His way, in His purpose. In our waiting we praise the God of perfect faithfulness.”
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. - Isaiah 25:1
‘Lord, we desire your plans, your choice, your will. That is my heart’s desire. Amen.’
Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it. - Isaiah 46:9-11
“When this process began, I felt a sense of being unprepared for the task ahead. But when I looked through the list of committee members, I felt a sense of peace. I recognized a cross section of Godly men and women with unique giftings. Over the last months, this has proven to be true. Each of us have been used by God in the unique ways He has created us. It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 12:12,” ‘The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.”
“God has been faithful before … He will be faithful again.”
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you (we) need now, so that you (we) will continue to do God’s will. Then you (we) will receive all that he has promised.” - Hebrews 10:35-36 God shows his faithfulness in ways we do not see. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts/” - Isaiah 55:9 His answers are not always immediately evident. “For we live by faith and, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7
“I recently read this in a devotional and it was encouraging to me in my personal life as well as the season we are in at Northland. ‘Waiting is used to test our faith. Waiting can bring out our impatience, worry, discouragement, and lack of trust in God. God uses times of waiting to allow us to demonstrate our obedience and faith. He calls us to wait patiently on Him while He prepares us for the next step. The joy in which we endure trial is a sign of our hope in God. With endurance, we see that this isn’t a time that we can just sit around and wait for an answer. The purpose is to make a believer mature and complete, meaning God wants us to be actively participating in the work He has for us.”
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:2-4
“God has shifted our thinking from “What’s good for Northland” to “What’s good for the Kingdom!” Our focus has become more about working together for Kingdom causes in order to make Jesus known to those who don’t know him and to deepen the relationship of those who do. The Gospel has become more central through evangelism and discipleship and we are grateful for the unity we have felt around that mission… the Great Commission!”
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20
“It’s so comforting to remember that God is working at Northland, just as he promised. He is at work throughout Northland’s ministries, and He is at work in our search for a new Lead Pastor. May we continue to seek His will and trust Him.”
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” - John 5:17