momentary light afflictions...

By my last blog you know that I have had 2 "bruising" weeks. I got home from Houston Tuesday night... EXHAUSTED. I could feel the effects, but did not figure out until I woke up early Wednesday morning... I was sick. So I've spent the rest of the week trying to get well. I have loaded up on all kinds of good stuff... and finally yesterday - right before they closed I went to the clinic to get a shot and a couple of prescriptions. Today is better. I'm only here at the computer because I REALLY need to work on my sermons and Bible class for tomorrow. If you know me... you know what a mess this week has been - I NEVER wait this long. Sure I've been brewing on them for a while, but if I get to Wednesday and the messages are not ready... I go into panic mode. There was no time for that this week. I got home to a desk swamped in paper work... to a class to prepare for Thursday morning, and a memorial service here in Denver City - remember I was feeling like dirt!

This morning as I was working on the messages for tomorrow - both on the cross - the words of Paul came to mind "momentary, light afflictions are producing for us an eternal weight of glory." I needed that encouragement. When I feel like I am suffering I want to know what is wrong... how I can fix/change it. I rarely think of God using it - although I KNOW He not only can, He ALWAYS does.

I hope next week will be a slow down - I am committed to making it one. I need time to exhale and inhale... time to read... time to pray... time to sleep... time with Sonya... time with the girls... time. I need to remember that this is momentary... and not really that big of a deal... I need to remember He is using it to produce something in me... and through me.

Today... what do you need? Thanks for praying for me. Let me know what I can pray for you about.

HELP!

I just got home... what an incredible weekend. God blessed my life in so many ways... some of them were pure joy... some of them were very painful. I had to face some things about myself... about my faith... about my walk with the Lord that I would rather not face... and would rather not admit.

One of the things I had to say... sadly it is say again... is this: I am not very good at letting go and trusting... sometimes it is trusting God... sometimes it is trusting others...
One of the results of this "do it myself" things is that I go and go and go... until I can't go anymore.

That's where I feel like I am right now... I am completely exhausted. I feel weary. I need to stop and breathe... but I can't. So I am asking for your help... it is not just for this, but also in the future... I had a fast paced week (this is an understatement). Yesterday a friend called from Houston to ask if I could come and do the funeral of her 7 month old daughter. I am completely overwhelmed. Not only am I weary... I am totally inadequate for what I am asked to do. I have not stopped asking myself - what do you say, what do you do. I don't know. But I leave in the morning for a 10 hour drive to Houston. The funeral and graveside will be Tuesday and then I will head home.

Here's what I need. Please pray for me. Pray that God will give me strength through His Spirit in the inner person. Pray that God will use me to help begin the healing process for a young couple - and their families. Pray for me... that I will let go... lay it all down... that I will learn to trust more... to walk faithful...

Today... HELP!