KONOMALA

After Ken’s passing

The months leading up to the end of Ken’s life formed the backdrop for a really challenging time for the church. We were all very close to Ken, and many were directly related to him. After his passing, the grieving was intense, but a few faithful believers continued to humbly and consistently put their minds on the truth. More and more, Jesus is becoming our only hope for life today and forever into the future. 

In the month since Ken’s arrival in heaven, the church has emerged with a quiet but growing sense of clarity, stability, and courage. Believers who were overwhelmed by all that was happening in life have now begun to re-engage with the church. It’s been an encouraging thing to see people responding to the Spirit’s work in their hearts. 

Although it’s been a hard season, all that’s happened has forced us all to recognize and rest in the simple reality of what is true. There are so many lies that we spend years living within. It’s only when we finally humble ourselves and recognize what’s actually true that we are finally ready to see God’s answers and experience true life in His Son. Suffering is no fun, but it can have a truly purifying work in us.

It has power 

As we’re beginning to study to book of Ephesians together, it feels like God is doing a real work of re-orienting our hearts to see ourselves in a new light. 

The historical Konomalan experience of “church” has been very similar to many of our own. It’s sad how easily us “religious” people can become hollowed out in the things that we hear and say. The right words and gestures may be there, but things can feel oddly lifeless. Or worse yet, sometimes those hollowed out things can be filled with nuanced deception and confusion. 

But then, when the truth is made clear; when a humble heart submits to God as the good Father and authority that He is, it’s almost like those old empty words or habits take on a new meaning … a new power. That’s exactly what our really good friend Michael said the other day!

The Spirit is working to open the eyes of our hearts to see the true reality of who we are in God’s FAMILY now, and Michael wasn’t exactly sure how to describe what he was feeling. He didn’t want to sound hyperbolic, but he was having another “a-ha” moment of clarity and couldn’t find a way to describe it. The weight of what God has done and who we are now was hitting him like it hadn’t before. He’s had a lifetime of experience in religious institutions, but when confusion and deception is chased away by the light of God’s word, it has power! 

What a privilege it is to be a part of our Father’s work … getting to see people grow into the likeness of His Son; watching His Spirit work to transform hearts and minds. 

Keep Praying 

Pray for continued growth TOGETHER as the family of God as He teaches us through His word in Ephesians.  

Pray for continued faithfulness and humility within the church. This is proving to be such an important season of establishing the church.

Pray for continued stamina and perspective for us as a family.