Weak, Fainting Burden Bearers.

2 Cor. 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Rom. 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

This morning, as I think about yesterday's services and emails I have received, I am overwhelmed both in a positive way and in a normal way. Positively, when I think about the excitement of so many about our trip and the kids I can only shake my head and thank the Lord for His gracious provision and work in our lives that we can in some small way encourage others to do and be what He has called each one of us to. This is so far over my head, and that is where the normal overwhelming part comes in.

How can I give advice and direction to those who are so excited to follow where the Lord and the Holy Spirit are leading, when in my own life I am so unable to do that myself? I can't even begin to carry all that God has given me, and yet others are looking to me for guidance in their lives. I am not complaining in ANY way; I just know how sinful my own heart is and the weight of steering someone in the wrong direction is large right now.

I guess that is, in many respects, the life of any leader, but right now it seems like a much larger back pack than I have had to carry. The beautiful part of this is stated in the verses above. When we are weak then is He shown to be strong. He is always strong and He is always able to carry the burdens, but I am often trying to carry something I have no business carrying. So when the load is obviously too big, then I can't even begin to try to move it.

So as I prayed this morning I not only don't know exactly how to pray for myself and all that I am in the middle of, I also don't know how to pray for you all who are wanting some direction from me. But again the verses on top tell me that His power and grace are sufficient for all my needs and that He will work all things together for each of our good. I can lay all this stuff at His feet and He will open doors, He will direct paths, the Holy Spirit will illumine, convict and encourage as I follow Christ. I can't do any of this myself.

There are not only so many needs right in our local body and in the community around me, but now, for whatever reason, God has placed a burden on my heart for the needs of those around the world. How can I help them when I can't even help those right in my back yard? The project is too big, the needs too immense, the burdens too heavy and yet there is nothing too big for Our God; NOTHING.

So what do we do today and everyday?
We stay in the Word.
We stay on our knees and beg for direction, discernment and guidance.
We ask that we might receive- what He wants us to receive.
We seek that we might find- His will in our lives.
We knock that He might open- the doors that He has planned for us to go through.
And I guess past that we wait.

He is able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today. I have a lot of concerns today and He knows and cares about each concern and He is the Answer for each one of them. Waiting is hard but necessary.

Today there are surgeries going on, business decisions, lawsuits, slanderous remarks to address, world leaders fighting, tsunamis, flash floods and starving children who need homes and Our Great God knows about each one of those issues and He has it under control. So we must pray for each of the things we know about and ask that He might do His will here on earth as it is done in Heaven. He will be glorified in every situation.

Lord, help us to know where and what You would have us to do. Give us wisdom beyond our years. Give us strength to trust You in each of the things that weigh us down. Make us to be lights, even in our struggles. Give us patience to wait on Your hand of provision and eyes to see You working. Let our lips always proclaim Your mighty works to those around us, after we have seen You take us through each of our "Red Seas". May we never forget where you have brought us from, and may we be excited to be lead by the King of kings. May we rejoice in everything that You graciously give us; whether trials, hardships, persecutions and victories. May we only look to You and Your Word as our food and then may we eat of You and be satisfied in all that You are.

Work in us that we might be a light to a lost and dying world. Take our weak, frail, dusty selves and make of us vessels fit for Your Kingdom and Your purposes. Use us. Spend us. Change us. Grow us. Lift us up on wings as eagles, that we might run and now grow weary, that we might walk and not faint. It's all in Your hand, which is the best place for it to be.

Thank you for Your gracious care for us.