Thoughts on my Day of Rest

Sunday afternoon, I’ve taken a much needed day to rest, which I normally do on Sundays. It’s the dry season in Kenya but the temperature in Kitale seems just perfect. Even with a lack of rain, from my view from the gazebo, the compound is still so green. In my daily rush to get work done; I seem to overlook the simple beauty of the Lord’s creation that constantly surrounds me. Today I’ve taken a good look and say “wow God!” He created all of this for my enjoyment. His love is so great.

Being my first week back in Kenya, I spent most of it being overwhelmed by all the tasks that I need to complete in the next weeks and months. Wondering too, how the Lord is going to work everything out, changes within TI, nagging conflict, the constant needs surrounding me every time I leave my house and walk the African streets… A weeks worth of stress built up to today.

I spent a portion of my day praying through the many matters on my heart. I opened my Bible to Philippians and was greatly inspired by the words of Paul, realizing that all of my anxiety was based on all of me, my own worries, my own weaknesses, my limited ability to do things on my own, and no things that really matter.

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of t he surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… Not that have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lied ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:7,8,12-14. 

After reading this, I realize that none of it really matters, not in the whole scope of life or in regard to knowing Christ Jesus. In fact, all these things are a loss. They are a loss because they are not the goal and not even a means to the goal, the goal being the pursuit of Christ Jesus.

Knowing that I truly submit to the Lord’s will and believing that He has all things in the palm of His hand and then there is nothing more for me to do than to pursue Him.

Running a ministry is hard, leading people is even harder and living life is darn near impossible. I don’t feel like I do any of these as well as I could or should, but I know that as long as I keep my eyes fixed on the goal, then all these things are possible, especially since I’m not in control. That’s a relieving truth…

I’m ending my day of rest fully refreshed and renewed and excited to be nothing more than a servant this week; a servant to the Lord humbly administrating the tasks that He has placed before me.