I wrap up my stay in Africa today and will be home tomorrow, Lord willing! It has been a great stay, as always, with many open doors for the purpose message. It's time to go home, however, and I have been seeking the Lord about "home" while I have been here. I thought I would share some thoughts with you in this Memo.
GLORIFY GOD
Jesus had work to do that only He could do. That seems like an obvious statement. When Jesus was praying in John 17, he said:
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do" (John 17:1-4, emphasis added).
Jesus glorified the Father by completing the work the Father had assigned. He did not glorify Him by talking, singing or preaching. You will glorify God in the same manner. Because there are many things you can do, it is essential you identify and engage the work that only you can do.
MY WORK, YOUR WORK
I have prayed this year that God would help me structure my "world," which consists of: 1) pastoral duties; 2) college instructor; 3) author; 4) administrator; 5) coach; and 6) consultant. I have been looking for how I can perform more effectively in all these areas, or seeking to determine which areas I should eliminate or reduce.
In my most recent efforts to structure, I have been praying, "Lord, show me the work that I am supposed to do, that only I can do, and then help me delegate or eliminate everything else." One big breakthrough is that I hired an administrative assistant who has been a wonderful addition to my life and work (my first assistant since 1991). Yet there is more to be done if I am to do the work that only I can do and glorify God in the process. I sense I will have to stop doing some things, perhaps many things, if that is to occur.
This will require some additional adjustments and changes as I enter 2012. I must ruthlessly jettison all things that others can do in the interests of doing what only I can do. That will require courage and self-awareness, for I must pay attention to my heart: "Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy" (Proverbs 14:10).
No one can tell me the condition of my heart, or yours for that matter. No one can tell you, "Oh, you should be so happy with what you are doing. You are so talented and gifted, there is no way you should be doing this or not doing that." It is my job to get in touch with my heart and then follow its leading, trusting that God is in control, fulfilling the promise in Psalm 37:4: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." God fulfills those desires because He placed them there in the first place.
As you close out 2011, I encourage you to do what I am doing: Take a good, long look at your "world" and identify the work that only you can do. Then with courage and determination, structure your life to do that work. As I return home, I don't have all the answers, but I will not give up, for I want to glorify God just like Jesus did - by completing the work God gave me to do. Have a great week!
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THE BIG BLESSING: I distributed almost $3,000 here in Kenya toward the library project and food for Upako Centre and Each One Touch One Orphanage. Yet there is much more to do as I work toward the $25,000 goal of The Big Blessing to be collected and distributed by March, 2012.
As you pray about your year-end giving, I urge you to consider my work here in Kenya. Conditions are tough (19% inflation, shortage of cooking gas, high fuel prices and an election next year that always seems to cause great economic turmoil). Help me start libraries where children can have electricity and find their textbooks to do their homework. Help me feed hungry orphans. Help me build a facility where HIV/AIDS widows can learn, work and grow. If you want to read more about my work in Kenya that The Big Blessing will support, you can do so here.
Then please give as 2011 ends through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. When you give, the orphans will give you a big "thumbs up" for your kindness and mercy shown them. And I hope and pray that you and yours will enjoy the blessings of Christmas and enter into a prosperous New Year. Thank you and God bless you!
You can read the first thank you from my most recent trip here.
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