Perspective Adjustment

Tuesdays, as I've said before, are often my 'hard' days. I'm up and out the door by 5:30 am with meetings, planning, discussion, etc. that lasts into the afternoon or evening. What is often difficult about tuesdays is that a lot of the discussion is about church issues and pressures and how they should be addressed and dealt with. The answers and solutions are rarely evident, and the tasks at hand are often overwhelming. What is even more difficult is that we begin the day with an hour of prayer, which is energizing and encouraging; only to have the energy and encouragement seemingly dwarfed by the to do list and the needs pressing in.

What is really the problem with me on tuesdays? What is really the problem with you on your 'tuesday'? Our real problem was made abundantly plain this morning. I lack proper perspective. As I sat fretting about soandso who is upset over suchandsuch or whatsisname who is in conflict with whosamajigger and thingamabob that needs to be delegated to suchandso and how to find the money to pay for that thingamajig- I read an email that made me put down my latte, finish my croissant, and pray. As well, my previous worries seemed a bit petty in comparison to the struggles of God's people, and, really, all people around the globe.

We recently had the privilege of sending Chad and Tiffany Northington as missionaries to the Fulani people Cameroon (Chad is building wells and Tiffany is providing medical care as a nurse). Right now in Cameroon there is a refugee crisis, as well as political and economic upheaval. Chad and Tiffany are separated with Chad stranded in the capital, Yaounde, due to protests and transportation strikes. Chad sent out an email yesterday? two days ago? asking for prayer. He said that he could smell the tear gas from the street protests as he wrote.

God cares about every detail of our lives and there is nothing that escapes his notice or the reach of his love. And so I lift up the struggles of my day and my world to him. But, I remember that I am part of a family and called into a kingdom that reaches beyond the comforts of my living room and the malaise of our affluent and often self absorbed culture. God is gracious to both listen to our concerns and rattle our myopic and small little cages often. Sometimes the power and scope of the truth of his Word puts its grip upon us. Sometimes the tears of a neighbor overshadows our budget problem, or to do list. Or maybe an email from a brother in Christ half way around the world comes into our inbox.

In all of these things, God seeks to remind us that he is sovereign, His purpose is good, this life is fleeting, and His grace is enough.

2 Corinthians 4:-17 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Pray for the Schrock's and Uganda

Terrill and Amber Schrock will be leaving us (in body, but not in spirit!) here at Four Oaks this Saturday. The Schrocks will be flying into London and then from London to Entebe, Uganda. They'll spend several months there in Entebe working with Wycliffe Bible Translators preparing to venture into the Northeastern region of Uganda. They will be serving an unreached people group there called the Ik with the good news of Jesus Christ and the Word of God in their own tongue.

Please pray for safety in travel, for provision in Africa, for endurance in a very difficult area, and for the strength of their marriage, and for power and grace from the Spirit.

And, pray that more from our body would heed the call to take the gospel into all the world!