May/June Prayer Letter
Dear Family and Friends,
As I look back over the last 2 months, instead of sharing all the things I did and the places I went, allow me to share one important lesson I’ve learned.
The Rest of God
Arriving home after 3 months of travel, I was tired. Much more than tired though, I was worn out, emotionally drained. Don’t get me wrong, I had a wonderful trip, met many wonderful people, but I was tired. It took all I could muster to finish details for yet another trip, my last 7 weeks on the road. After 10 days of sleep and time with family (and a garage sale), I was still worn out. Restoration finally came... after one day... one day alone in the mountains with the Lord.
I’ve heard little preaching on taking a sabbath and met even fewer believers who actually practice it. Mark Buchanan says in his book, The Rest of God, “In a culture where busyness is a fetish and stillness is laziness, rest is sloth. But without rest, we miss the rest of God: the rest he invites us to enter more fully so that we might know him more deeply.”
I attended a 3-week missionary training in May, and wouldn’t you know...we spent a whole day learning about taking a sabbath. (Could it be that the Lord is trying to teach me something? ☺) This thought from that day still grips me: Am I so busy trying to get things done that I have no time to pay homage to the King of kings? Has my agenda become my king?
If I had been taking a day with the Lord every week throughout my trip, I'm sure I would have arrived home in a much better condition...and who knows how much deeper my walk with Him might be! By God’s grace, I choose from now on to take a day with the Lord each week (without guilt!) lest I allow my agenda to become my king.
Quick Update
Summer is in full swing. I’m working at one VBS now and heading to another one in a few weeks. I’m at 83%, and have 7 more meetings on my schedule. In a few days, I’ll be the official owner of one-way tickets to Mwanza, Tanzania (traveling Sept. 3-5, 2008)! Please pray that all 100% would come in by September, and that I would REST in Him and in His perfect timing during this summer of transition.
Enjoying Him,
Lisa