Today is another beautiful day. It's hard to believe we are in the middle of October already. It seems like just yesterday we were wrapping up the spring semester and planning for the Group North Summer Training Program with Navs.
So far, we have had a great start to the 2010-2011 school year. There are lots of new faces at Nav Nite and it's really been exciting to connect with the freshman class this year. Typically I lead the freshman guys study every other year and this year it's been great. Freshman Connection is a once a month event to get all the freshman, both guys and girls, together to connect, have fun, share stories, and encourage one another.
Sometimes, ministry isn't always great and easy like some people may think. It may not seem very tough physically, but it can be challenging emotionally and spiritually; issues/conflict to deal with, fundraising, recruiting and helping people get connected, speaking the truth in love, staying up til midnight or 1 talking about deep issues, etc.
But when I step back, I remember that the only way to survive the "waves" of life is to rely on Christ to give me the strength. I realize that it's not up to me to change their life; God will use me in specific way to reach/help them but He is the one that ultimately does the heart changing.
It's like trying to drive a car with no engine. You push and push and push to get it up to speed but it's tiring. Jesus is standing there with a 800HP V8 engine waiting for us to put down our pride and ask Him for help.
Or maybe it's that we aren't spending enough time with Christ getting filled back up. We try to "Run on empty"; we burn ourselves out. Why is it that we do that to ourselves? Is it because we feel that if we aren't exhausted then we must not be giving 100%. Is it because try to live a busy life so others look at us and think we are successful?
Yesterday, there was an accident close to our house and as we were seeing what was going on, you could hear a guy on the stretcher yelling from the pain he was going through. All of a sudden all of the things I needed to do didn't seem like such a big deal because I was just thankful not to be that guy. I spent some time praying for the guy and couldn't imagine what he was going through. I think we all take for granted how good life is until things really start falling apart.
Do we have an eternal perspective on life or do we let every little thing effect us?
Paul said in Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Paul knew and was fully convinced that dieing was not a bad thing because he would be with Jesus which in reality is far better than being on Earth. We may not be able to comprehend that because all we have experienced is Earth, not Heaven. But in Heaven there are no pain, no sorrows, no anxiety, no problems...just pure joy, God's presence, happiness, pure love, etc.
So let's enjoy the beautiful days that God has given us but let's not let the little things in life ruin our eternal perspective.
So as I look outside I realize that
Tim and Tara Chamberlain-For the sake of the Gospel
