It’s Sunday again–typical, atypical. I will teach my Bible class this morning, but no other “official” duties. My mind overflowed on my early morning walk today–thinking, praying, dreaming….
Life is about beginnings and endings.
Today’s reality includes things unthinkable last week–the death of a young lady just beginning life, married within the last year, just graduated from the university. I am praying for the family–the funeral will probably be Tuesday, a tough beginning to this week. Thank God for the stability that today’s worship will bring.
Life is about seizing opportunities.
I am praying about new missions contacts, meetings, plans to strengthen outreach.
I heard from my friend who works with a Hispanic church in the US this week–I agreed to lead some kind of evangelism or church health seminar this fall. We need to finalize details soon–September.
I heard from a church in Michigan this week–I agreed to spend a few weeks assisting with interim ministry dynamics. Virtually all of my August is scheduled.
I received an email that connected brothers in Colorado, Guatemala, Honduras, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. We will all get together this fall, apparently in Honduras, and we will put our minds together with God’s help to strengthen the work of God’s people in Central America and to bind together the broken-hearted and wounded and hurt–September.
Life is about strengthening others.
I am working on a series of lessons for this fall’s 2010 Pan American Lectureship. I am thrilled with my assignment–Galatians, lessons from the mountains, missions. I have never looked at this little letter through these eyes–refreshing!
I am praying about the work at Baxter Institute. I am praying about our current students on the PAM assignments, for our students in their weekend assignments, for our incoming class of students next year. I am missing being on campus–I am remembering fresh, young hearts that are anxious to make a difference for the eternal kingdom.
I am thinking about invitations and commitments. Invitations received but thus far unanswered–there is not enough time to do everything. Commitments made, and prayers that these activities might be the most effective and important in advancing the things of the kingdom.
Life is about delays.
I need to write my friend in Peru and tell him that we will not be able to come this fall to help with leadership training. It will be spring 2011 at the earliest! Opportunities are getting in the way of plans.
Life is about people.
My heart says life must be about the millions of people who have never heard about Jesus–we have to get the word to them. I feel guilty some days at the lack of opportunities for sharing the good news in my immediate world. Maybe I am not looking hard enough, not seeing through God’s eyes, not making or seizing opportunities.
I know also that those who will accept the task when I am no longer here must be taught and mentored and encouraged.
Dear God, help us abound in love that is like your love, give us knowledge and wisdom and insight, help us choose what is the very best, help us live lives that make us pure and blameless before you and like you. We pray that our lives might be filled with, and that we might fill the world with, the fruit of righteousness that comes when Jesus Christ is proclaimed and known and present and Lord, according to your will, by your power, for your glory and praise. (from Philippians 1:9-11)