July 26th

Have you ever lived through a season where you stopped, and looking back, just stood amazed at how much your life has changed? This week was one of those times for me. If we havent met yet, my name is Wynn Hansen and I am the Pastor of Worship & Discipleship here at Meadowbrooke. This week I have the privilege of writing you since Pastor Keith is on vacation. 

This series in Ephesians that we have been walking through has been both challenging and humbling for me. Challenging in the way that it has pushed me to want to be a better version of myself than I have ever been. It has caused me to grieve my past sins as well as my daily struggles to the point where I have had no other choice but to rely on Jesus more than I have ever done before. It has humbled me because about a year ago a friend looked at me and said Wynn, I truly believe that in a year from now, God is going to have done such a work in you that you are not going to recognize yourself at all. Was that ever true. Now more than ever I see and feel the value of what scripture has spoken into my life, what community can do for my soul, and how the combination of those two things can change the course of ones life. Both spiritually and physically.  In Philippians 4:8-9 Paul instructs us all how to set our minds right and how to focus ourselves on the presence and wonder of our Lord Jesus. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.[1]

I cannot think of a scripture that gives a clearer picture of what it looks like to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. To walk in humility with the Lord and how to be priests out there in this broken world we are in. Each of us lives a life of temptation, a life of brokenness, and an intense longing to belong somewhere, but in the same way, each of us also lives a life of intense potential and the ability to be closer to Jesus with each new day. I truly believe that seeking and pursuing the Lord using Philippians 4 as a road map will fast forward each of our growth to the extent that each of us will look back a year from now and not recognize the person that we have become. 

I think thats something worth celebrating. Meadowbrooke, I want to end this letter to you by encouraging each of you. You, as a community of believers, have changed the course of my life. You are changing my mind and my heart by the example of Christlikeness I see in you each week, each time you stop by my office to encourage me, and each time that one of your prayers intercedes on my behalf. You are the bride of Christ, and it is beautiful. 

Please join us this week as John Byrne (Special Guest Teacher) takes us through a summary of the book of Jude. 9:00 am & 10:30 am on Sunday. See you there. 

In Christ, Wynn Hansen. Pastor of Worship & Discipleship.