catching up

I think the adrenaline is finally wearing off. I spent the day catching up with people, emails and voice mails. It is good to get back into my every day ministry. I really started to feel fatigue setting in around the middle of the afternoon, though. I am mentally and spiritually excited, but physically I need to catch up.

I wrote a lot today in my journal about ideas and dreams I have for the church here. The needs around us every day are staggering. I got some emails from a sister in the church today about teenage prostitution and sex trafficking in the US. She had read my post about the prostitute that I encountered a couple of weeks ago. I was so saddened to feel the depth of hopelessness that people feel every day, and the traps that Satan has them in.

Then, there are the very real, intense issues facing the Christians in my ministry every day - the hurt, the disappointment, the brokenness that keeps people from experiencing God in the way he has intended.

It can all be quite overwhelming. I kept coming back to Luke 12. What a great chapter. I love vs 32-34 where he tells them to not be afraid, but to store up a treasure in heaven that will never fail. This whole week, I have been asking myself before any activity: will this time spent help to advance the Gospel? And if so, is it the most important one for me to do right now?

I am praying every day for wisdom. I am so grateful that God is expanding my heart and mind. I need to grow so much. There is an old hymn that says "There is much to do, there is work on every hand." I feel that way, and it could overwhelm me, but I know that God only expects me to do my part, and not his.

On another note, please pray for John and Nancy Mannell, elder in the East Region of the LA Church. His mother passed away today. She was 102, but loss like that is always difficult. They were supposed to speak at our marriage retreat this weekend, so we will have them come back either next April or next November. I know they would appreciate your prayers.