Just Give Up

Woke up this morning feeling really lousy. Can't swallow, and my neck/throat feel like they're the size of an NFL linebacker's. Was doing my best to be optimistic...hey, the sun is shining, but pretty soon I started to think of all the things I had to do this morning, and wondered how I was going to get through it. First there's worship team practice at 8:30, the I have to lead sunday school opening (more singing), then the worship team is playing during the service, and then I have to lead junior church. I love doing all of this, so I wasn't feeling sorry for myself, but just wasn't sure how I could do it. Exactly right then the song that was playing at the moment came through loud and clear as if it hadn't been on before, and someone just turned it on real loud. "Hallelujah, You are sufficient". It's this amazing song called "Sufficient" off of the new Bleach CD.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

So I was thinking about this, and the thought hit me, that as long as I struggle and try to do it on my own, God can't give me that sufficient grace and power. I have to give up...give it to him. Quit trying. "For when I am weak, then I am strong". This verse hit me pretty hard, 'cause I like to think I'm a strong person. Not that I could bench press two hundred pounds (or even a hundred for that matter) or push a truck by myself, but I'll never back down from a challenge. 100 mile hike on the Maah Daah Hey...no problem. Forty mile hike on the Mantario in one day...bring it on! But if I want God to work in me, and to be my everything, I'm going to have to quit relying on my own strength and give him control.

On another note, the date has been confirmed! It's official! June 18th to the 26th four people will embark on the journey of a lifetime...well, journey of the summer at least ;) We held a little planning meeting last night...well, it was more like sharing stories from all our different hiking tips, but whatever the case, it was a lot of fun. Can hardly wait. I'll have to bore you all with a countdown 'til then ;)

Anywhoos, it's 8:04, and I should head to the church to pick out some songs for sunday school opening, and set up the sound equipment for the worship team.

Have a wonderful day!