Not sure what to think...

Today has been a long day...and in many ways it isn't over yet.  We started off early heading to Cincinnati Children's Hospital with Reed for corrective eye surgery.  After the morning there we headed home with Reed pretty much out of it, but doing well.  The doctor told us that the surgery went well, but we won't truly know the results of the realignment for 4-6 weeks.

And in other news we were told that the boy who has been staying with us in foster care is leaving tomorrow morning.  As I wrote elsewhere - I'm not sure I know what to think about this yet.  I know my emotions aren't really there and I don't believe Erin's are either.  We know that we can trust God in all of this, though that doesn't necessarily make it easier.

I will write more in the next day or so as I get to reflect on all that has happened.  Thanks.

Trying not to sweat the things I can't control

Being a perfectionist is hard...or is it difficult?  I should look that up.  At the moment our church plant is in the process of a lot of work, much that is very detailed.  One item that is occupying a good amount of time is an upcoming Informational Meeting (I know...a pretty lame name but I'm not sure what else to call it).  On the 19th of this month we will have a meeting for people to come and learn more about our church.  I'm praying for 20 new people to come and hear what God is doing.
One aspect of this process is publicizing the event.  Now, I like to tell people what we are doing and having a conversation is great; but I have less graphical ability than most 8 year-old's.  Our resident graphic designer got a pass for this event as she just returned from a summer overseas and needs some time off.  However, this left the design in my hands or my wife's.  No one else in our group has any graphics ability either.  As we were working on it I felt myself getting more and more stressed.  My thoughts were not very positive.  I didn't verbalize them too much, but it was clear I was bumming over our "uncool" flyer.  Erin thankfully intervened and called me out a wee bit.  I then grabbed my Bible and said "I just need some time alone right now."  So I went upstairs and opened up my Bible.  Here is what I read.


            1       For God alone my soul waits in silence; 
      from him comes my salvation. 
            2       He alone is my rock and my salvation, 
      my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 


            3       How long will all of you attack a man 
      to batter him, 
      like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 
            4       They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. 
      They take pleasure in falsehood. 
                  They bless with their mouths, 
      but inwardly they curse. Selah 


            5       For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, 
      for my hope is from him. 
            6       He only is my rock and my salvation, 
      my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 
            7       On God rests my salvation and my glory; 
      my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 


            8       Trust in him at all times, O people; 
      pour out your heart before him; 
      God is a refuge for us. Selah 


            9       Those of low estate are but a breath; 
      those of high estate are a delusion; 
                  in the balances they go up; 
      they are together lighter than a breath. 
            10       Put no trust in extortion; 
      set no vain hopes on robbery; 
      if riches increase, set not your heart on them. 


            11       Once God has spoken; 
      twice have I heard this: 
                  that power belongs to God, 
            12       and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. 
                  For you will render to a man 
      according to his work. 

Psalm 62.  A great Psalm that proclaims great truth.  For me the words could not have been better or more of what I needed.  Here are a few of the many encouragements I took from this Psalm.

• My salvation is not in the success of this informational meeting, or the church plant as a whole - nor is my worth.  That comes from being a beloved child of God.
• My trust is not in this flyer, but in God who is at work. I may be feeling that it is lame and won't be effective, but that is my perspective and not God's.  Therefore my call is to pour out my heart to God and ask him to be at work calling people; stirring hearts.
• The last two verses - power belongs to God and so does steadfast love.  God is not only powerful, but he is good too...he is loving.  He has displayed that over and over in my life and most clearly in sending his only Son to be an atoning sacrifice for my many sins and "lameness" in rebellion against him.  Quite simply:  I can trust him!

I would appreciate your prayers for this meeting (and one coming up August 16th as well) that God would call many people.  Please also pray that we would see people come to faith in Christ through the presence of Living Hope and our ministry.  And feel free to pray that I relax and trust in the work of God...not that I won't work hard, but that my work will be in his strength trusting in his working!