Yesterday was the second Sunday in a row that I actually felt like I have attended church. The past month in Kenya was good, but so often I felt as if I were something to show-off to a congregation. Although I think it is important to recognize your guests and make them feel welcome, I didn’t enjoy preaching in front of the churches with only a moment’s notice. In both churches here in Uganda (Anglican and Pentecostal), I have been able to join in during worship and really learn and grow from what the speaker has to say. It has been a great blessing to me to be able to worship in a style that is more familiar and be fed God’s word.
This past week has been another week for me to realize more about myself and how I am wired. Again I have been given the opportunity to do some physical labor for the Lord. Contrary to what you may believe, this is definitely an answer to prayer because I have felt like I just floated through last month and accomplished nothing for the Lord. When these thoughts creep up in my head, the Lord reminds me that the work that He does in me and in others is not always visible at first glance. God is at work transforming my life to be more like Christ and even if I can’t see something that I have done for Him it doesn’t mean He is not working.
This past week has been another week for me to realize more about myself and how I am wired. Again I have been given the opportunity to do some physical labor for the Lord. Contrary to what you may believe, this is definitely an answer to prayer because I have felt like I just floated through last month and accomplished nothing for the Lord. When these thoughts creep up in my head, the Lord reminds me that the work that He does in me and in others is not always visible at first glance. God is at work transforming my life to be more like Christ and even if I can’t see something that I have done for Him it doesn’t mean He is not working.
After a day of visiting around some of the ministries associated with Victory Outreach Church, our teams dove in and started painting on a school. I was given the daunting job of painting with the roller. This is normally not a difficult task, but when the paint is thinned down, there is not a drip-pan in sight and the roller head keeps falling into the paint it becomes more arduous. I really struggled for almost an hour trying to not be frustrated with the circumstances, but was failing miserably. I knew that there was a much more efficient way to paint and I was frustrated because I couldn’t do it that way.
While I was painting several of the school employees came by to thank me and tell me I was doing a good job. The Lord really spoke to me in this moment. He reminded me that I was not doing this work for myself. I was not doing this work to get paid, and I was not doing this to garner attention or an accolade from men. The reason I was working was (and is) only for the Lord and to reveal His glory. Basically, I trust the Lord so I trust the leadership under which I have been placed. I can do any meaningless, mundane, or inefficient tasks with a good attitude because that is the way God has chosen to use me. Even if it seems useless, I trust God is working through me and the work I do to bless those around me. Colosians 3:23-24 say the following: “Whatever you do, work at it will all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Amen! Keep up the good work, Lord.
