A bit on anxiety and opposition...

A few days ago our pastor, Eric, stated something that really resonated with me.  He said that anxiety is contagious.  That hit home regarding some of what we have been experiencing lately.

So often we get caught up in the questions...

How do we pack?
What do we take or leave?
What do we put in storage for later use and what do we simply get rid of now?
Where are we going to live?
How are we going to live?
How do we say goodbye to family and friends and home?

And the biggie lately:
What if our support does not come in before July?

It is not bad to have these questions, or assess the possibilities to be wisely prepared, but I do not think it is good to dwell on them and let them consume our time or overtake our thoughts.  This creates anxiety.  And just a little bit of anxiety goes a long way as it seems to snowball into bigger and bigger things.  And we have seen that just a little bit of anxiety is quite contagious.  Believe me.

The broader context of Pastor Eric's remarks on anxiety was that we, as Christians, will face opposition as we seek to follow God and his purpose for our lives.  We certainly have seen this opposition manifest itself in various and sundry ways over the past three years.  Things that would normally be just a blip on the radar quickly escalated into major issues, causing big waves instead of little ripples.

As we reach this stage with just over three months to go until we are scheduled to depart we have been primarily focused on support.  Money...a topic that causes a colossal amount of anxiety and, as we have found out in raising support, opposition.  Our Opposer knows this very well and has been busy.  But God has also been busy and has provided us with nearly 70% of our ongoing monthly support!

One of the strongest by-products of anxiety and opposition is fear.  Fear of the unknown, fear of something different, fear of failing and fear of change can all be quite crippling.  I could go on and on about this but that would miss the point completely.  One of the coolest things about having our lives completely placed in the hands of Jesus is that He has already conquered our Opposer!  We need not fear.  Jesus emphasized this over and over - DO NOT FEAR!

In order to have faith to look ahead and face all the unknowns all we need is to look back.  The track record over the past several years of how God has answered our prayers and confirmed His call on our lives to serve Him in Africa is astounding.  He has affirmed us in so many ways that it really seems silly that we would have anxiety about these last three months and all the unanswered questions.

Great Clouds

I have had clouds on my mind quite a bit lately...along with Hebrews 12:1-3.  Nearly every version of the Bible in which I looked up this passage contains the phrase "cloud of witnesses."  Pilots love clear blue skies with not a cloud in sight.  I am no exception but I have grown to really appreciate the beauty of clouds and the many shapes they take.  I love the beauty of flying over them, especially at sunrise.  The dark of night is chased away by the rising sun that sets the clouds ablaze with vibrant color.  Unfortunately, pictures simply can't do it justice...

Then there are the serene puffy clouds, not posing not much of a threat but rather playful and somewhat inviting.

Sometimes, when the clouds start boiling upward and form menacing dark towers that scowl and spit and hiss and rumble and flash, I cannot seem to get on the ground fast enough!

I love flying in the clouds as well, especially on days with no turbulence.  The cloud seems to hug the airplane and envelop it with a sense of tranquility.  Suddenly the already small airplane feels minuscule.  It is at times like these that pilots can be lulled into a false sense of security.  Whenever entering the clouds I need to make sure I am ready to fly and dialed in to my training to keep the airplane upright and on the right course to make it safely through to where I can once again see the landscape in front and below.

About that "cloud of witnesses."  A couple of weeks ago we were at the funeral of a friend.  He truly walked with God during his life and allowed God to use him in so many ways to reach those around him and across the world with the love of Jesus.  It is possible that the author of Hebrews was referring to people such as our friend who, like so many who have gone before us, joined the great cloud of witnesses.

In so many ways I think we can also apply this concept of a great or huge "cloud of witnesses" to all of you who have come along side us and partnered with us in this journey that God has called us on.  All of you who are praying for us, supporting and encouraging us in such a variety of ways are all part of a great big cloud of witnesses, cheering us on!  It is a humbling thought...and tremendously uplifting as well.

Thank you!