One of the ways God invites us to deepen our relationship with him is to make a commitment to a “church home” and become part of the body of Christ.  Mike and I found Transfiguration about four years ago.  After a “dating” period of about one year, we were ready to enter into a “committed relationship” with the body of Christ we call Transfiguration.

In a committed relationship between two people, there is “give-and-take”; we nurture and are nurtured.  The same is true in a relationship with members of the body of Christ.  However, there is something much more sacred and eternal in this relationship.  What we give in the relationship, is given to God.  What we receive in the relationship, is received from God.  Once our relationship to the body of Christ through Transfiguration is understood as giving to and receiving from God, our thoughts shift away from how much we give compared to others, and towards how much we give compared to our love for God. Giving in a relationship takes many forms: we give time to be together, we give our abilities and expertise to do something which needs to be done, and we give money to meet needs and bless with gifts.

Mike and I are gradually finding the ways in which God wants us to give in our relationship with Transfiguration.  Mike has a talent for teaching and leading others to understanding, so he is involved as a “Companion” in “The Way” class.  I enjoy singing, so I am in the choir (possession of talent is questionable).

Another way we give in our relationship with Transfiguration is with money.  Mike and I began the discipline of tithing early in our marriage.  Our purpose for tithing has always been to nurture our relationship with God and his Church, not how much the church needs or expects.  God and his Church have nurtured us in return in far greater measure!

Mike and I are in a “committed relationship” with the body of Christ we call Transfiguration. In these ways, we are Transfiguration.