It's Early

It's 5:51 am and I'm on the computer. I woke up early this morning --- very early. 4:15 am was not what I was planning on but here we are. It's been this way for the past week or so (except I did make it to almost 7 am Saturday!!).

There's a lot of stuff rolling around in the old brain:

• We leave for the Cuba mission trip Thursday afternoon. I'm really excited and know God's going to do great things. But going on a trip like this means I have to get so much of my work done way in advance, plus all the stuff that's going on now at church, preparing to preach and teach in Cuba, coordinating the trip, supplies, schedule, travel, etc. It's a lot of work. I love it but it seems to be taxing my brain this time and causing me to wake up way too early!
• A good friend of mine is going through a horrible time right now and there's nothing I can do for him except for pray. It's been heartbreaking and weighing on my mind as well. This guy and his family have become close friends of ours over the past four or five months. I've watched God work in his life in huge ways over these months. I know that he probably sees what has happened as a big blow to the progress he's made but I am trying to assure him that this does not have to derail his progress, God is still in control, and even these circumstances are a part of a bigger plan. That's really hard to see in the middle of the crisis. Please pray for him if you will. He and his family need to experience God's presence in a powerful way.

Today's going to be super busy. I'm about to work through my sermon one more time (this happens every Sunday morning at about 6:15 am.). I am really pumped about what God has given me to share about suffering and how we share each other's load. If you're going through a trial, listen to today's sermon online. It will be posted on our website by the end of the day Tuesday.

After church, our HOME group is serving at the Buddy Walk at Anderson University. We're giving out drinks. Then we have our final Cuba team meeting at 4 pm. We'll be packing all the materials we have to take with us. We've got some great teaching stuff for the pastors, Bibles, crafts for the kids, etc. Pray we can get it all packed and over there. There are weight restrictions on what we can take. I'm sure we'll be right on those.

I guess that's it for this early morning post. Warren Weirsbe, a great Bible commentator, said this: "When a day begins you never know how it's going to end." So true. Even though we don't know how, we know WHO holds the events of this day in His hands. I pray yours is a great one. Make it a day of worship no matter where you are and what you are doing.

Gloria a dios! (Glory to God!)