2010 Update #3

Reflections of Praise

Back in my ad agency days, we had a client whose current slogan is, “Come Hungry, Leave Happy.” Know who they are?! That’s kind of how February has felt. I came into it hungry for more of God. Unlike the second half of the slogan, though, I didn’t just leave the month happy: I left it even hungrier! More than leaving me happy, it’s been satisfying in a challenging way, which is my favorite kind of way. As you prayed for last month’s requests, God has been faithful to reveal Himself…but not in the ways I had anticipated. Building relationships has been a lot more fun than I expected, but some doors have slowly closed in other areas, guiding me toward new options to explore in terms of strategic partnerships and organizational systems. Through it all, I’ve been challenged to take hours, not just moments, to seek God’s direction and pleasure. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon! Things aren’t turning around miraculously or instantaneously, but “slowly by slowly”. It’s been an awesome opportunity to grow in a life of faith as we take one step at a time toward our hope.

Please continue praying this month

• for wisdom about who and how we send internationally this summer: since it doesn’t look like key details are going to fall in to place in time, we’re working on a “Plan B”
• for clear organization and next steps as we make plans to test-run a domestic worship mission program
• for divinely-appointed meetings with strategic partner organizations…and that I’ll bring abundant spiritual blessing to those I interact with
• for God to continue connecting me with people who serve as channels and messengers for His ways and ideas (please thank Him for already doing this last month!)

Looking Ahead

Sometime during the day yesterday, I was working my way through the task list when I felt the Lord impressing the idea of “timing” on me as a theme. The more I tossed that around with Him, the more I wanted my life to be characterized by perfect timing. Not “just in time,” which is always a little stressful, but “at just the right time.” Both of them require patience and waiting (neither of which I am a big fan ), but I think I am supposed to switch my mindset from patiently waiting for His salvation to actively (yet, patiently) waiting for His perfection. I know His salvation has already come and is complete in Christ’s work on the Cross. What I don’t know in an experiential way is the perfection of His salvation in me.

As my small groups have been studying our way through the Gospel of John, the thing God keeps pointing out to me is how Jesus was very clear about when it was not yet his time (2.4; 7.6, 8, 30; 8.20) and when it was his time (13.1, 17.1). Whether it was going to Judea to raise his friend from the dead or dying to extend salvation to every sinner, He didn’t stress out when He needed to wait, and He was ready to move when it was time. Look how eternally perfect His life turned out! I don’t know how many times I’ve said this is my one prayer request (we’re only allowed one in one of the groups): to be so aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence that I wouldn’t act or speak without His direction, just like Jesus was.

Closed doors and re-routed plans for this ministry aren’t just about fulfilling the Great Commission, although that’s huge in itself. I suspect it’s also been part of God’s training course for me all along as He builds me for joyful submission to Him when we’re face to face. At just the right time.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5.6