Status Updates From Unexceptional: Ordinary Wom...

Miriam McConnell calls me regularly and asks, 'So how are you doing" If I am having a week like I described above, ri reply with something like, I'm just plodding along, I suppose.' Miriam then often responds helpfully by saying, 'Well, I'm a strong believer that plodding is a spiritual gift!'
It is during these 'daily grind' weeks that I need reminding that this is where my satisfaction in Christ is most evident…

Faith is not just about having the right information and applying knowledge as appropriate, like in the business illustration I used above. I needed to learn to love and trust God with my heart, soul, mind and strength. There were truths I was being taught that could not be learned from the comfort of a sofa with a book and a coffee. I am learning that suffering is not an interruption to ministry but a part of it.

I'm not sure there is an act of mercy more significant to them than listening. Intense hardships leave behind a swarm of defeating emotions like guilt and shame. They rob one's sense of humanity.
Listening is a silent act, but it screams, I'm troubling myself with your sufferings. Let me feel what you feel.' It models our Lord's attitude towards us all (Philippians 2:6-8)

… my hope is that you would see God in the midst of the details. He is intentionally in the midst of the curveballs of disappointment, of doubt and - most importantly - of joy. There is no new philosophy here, but rather it's a plea that you would trust in our God, who is wise. It's ultimately trusting in his plans that brings true happiness, not a series of what we think are the best of decisions (Prov. 16:20)

Remember that, whatever you are doing, you are ultimately serving the Lord. Your aim is not to please every single person within the church-planting team or church. Whether we have a specific role or not, we should be serving the Lord joyfully with know you whatever gifts and capacity he has given us: 'Whatever you do, suggestio. work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters' Col 3:23

“God thankfully uses the weak, broken, and totally messed up for his good purposes and glory”

In Scotland roughly 40% of our nation lives in a scheme (an area that in some places would be called a housing estate, project and so forth). Schemes are vibrant communities with a wealth of history and culture, and a mix of seriously complex issues. Sadly many of these schemes - in fact almost all of them - have no active gospel church because few indigenous Christians live and worship in the area.