Day 2

I just finished up almost the last touches to the June calendar for our student ministry "The Flood" for church. Its going to be a busy month! Vacation will be needed come the week of July 4th for the Bateman crew adn those who are along for the ride. (stick with me!) I am pretty excited about it though as we reach out into the community with our "Flood" students as well as some time to just hang out and enjoy the summer! Yeah for summer!!
Isaiah 40:28-31
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I really needed these words from God today. Yesterday was a pretty tough day with some things going on at home. People only see what they want to see and when we focus only on ourselves - we tend to only see what is wrong in our life and not the good. Not even the good in others and what they are trying to do, how they reach out to walk with us and how much they really love us. Self centeredness is such a trap that this life uses to keep us focused on ourselves and always in the mind set of making ourselves happy. It takes so much more energy and focus to reach people like this because they dont accept it; Because they don't see the good you are trying to do. They don't see the benefit in it because they only see themselves. Though life may be hard at the moment - we have to forget the past, look forward in the future and evaluate what we have right now. God wants to use us with what we currently have. He doesn't wait for us to get it all together to use us. God has given us so many examples in history of using people right where they were and with what they had. Nobody had it all together and everyone was broken and struggling and God still used them to do great things! Who am I to do this for God? We often times don't feel worthy of doing something for God because we don't see ourselves that way. God wants to do great things in us and once we get past that vision that we are GOOD ENOUGH for God - You will put down the pity party and get going. The Lord does not like pity parties and those who have them are shocked to find that although He is invited, He seldom attends.
The real price of success lies within the need to persevere. The trophy is never given to someone who does not complete the task. Setbacks are just setups for God to show what he is able to do. Funerals are for people who have accepted the thought that everything is over.
If you could sum up in one word what it takes to be effective in ministry (your personal ministry and walk with Christ), what would that word be? – Relentless – You must be a person who is relentless, always abounding in the work of the Lord. If you give up easily, there is no need for you to attempt to accomplish much for God. Relentless is a word to describe people who will not take no for an answer. They try things one way, and if that doesn’t work, then try it another way. But they don’t give up. Giving up puts us in a place to have regrets.

Help us today Lord, soar like wings of eagles. Help us walk and not grow faint. Your love and steadfastness will keep us on your paths. Lead us today Lord and help us not give up. Give us a place to lean and rest on this path in life Lord... speak to us and enable us to do great things for You. Help us be relentless in our pity parties so that we may see with Your eyes and not our own. We praise you and love you this day. Amen