I have an office now. The only thing it is lacking is high-speed internet. Or any internet for that matter. And also Klove. I can’t reach it in my office. :( Yet another reason for high-speed... And so I still must come to the camp office/computer for my online needs. But, it is a start. I used to work from my room. Propped on my bed with my laptop in front of me, books and papers both stacked and scattered all around. Nights were depressing because I had to stack my “work” everywhere to go to bed as there was no real place to put it away. My office here is quiet and tidy. Praise & worship plays softly through speakers on my desk. My Bible sits an arms length away and my study books as well as various notebooks and journals stand neatly in a corner. I’ve set pictures along the wall along with phrases and quotes to encourage me throughout the day. It is peaceful and gives me plenty of space for thought.
I have been thinking a lot recently. Life tends to get crazy for the Seale family and I tend to become discouraged in the ministry by things happening or not happening; or things I want people to say and they don’t; or things people do say and I wish they hadn’t. And so I imagine God has been asking me, “Hannah, why are you doing this? Why are you here? You are loved and appreciated by Me, no matter the circumstances around you, or what someone else may so, or not say. I am the reason. Remember Me.” There is a story I’ve heard many times over the last year or so, but recently it has been working its way to my heart…
God spoke one day to a man, “Son, do you see this boulder? I want you to push this boulder.”
The man wanted to be obedient and he wanted so much to please the Lord, so day after day, he would go out and push on that boulder with all his strength, but try as he might, the boulder would never move. He felt he was making no progress, and he wondered what the use was. But still he remained faithful and continued to push.
Then Satan approached him one day as he was pushing. In a mocking voice he spoke to the man, “Do you honestly think you are making a difference pushing that boulder? It’s not going to move. Surely you see that. You’re definitely wasting your time.” And he laughed at him.
The man was hurt and frustrated. So he went before the Lord. “God, I have been faithful to do as You have asked. I have gone out, day after day and pushed that boulder. But God, it has not moved an inch! I do not understand!”
The Lord looked down at him and spoke softly, “My son, I did not ask you to move that boulder. I have only asked you to push the boulder.”
Recently I have felt like that man. We are in a slow season here at the camp, both financially, and in our programs and I tend to find myself wondering what the use is. Are our efforts even making a difference? Maybe I have misunderstood Him and this is not where He wants me after all. And so I went before Him and brought my frustrations before Him. But He, in His love, showed me that it is not about the programs, or how many people we have here. It’s about working with what we do have and who we do have to grow the Kingdom of God. He’s not asking me to move the boulder. He’s only asking me to push it with the strength and means He has given.
“Now finish the work, so that your eagerness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:11-12
I pray you may be encouraged as well.
I have been thinking a lot recently. Life tends to get crazy for the Seale family and I tend to become discouraged in the ministry by things happening or not happening; or things I want people to say and they don’t; or things people do say and I wish they hadn’t. And so I imagine God has been asking me, “Hannah, why are you doing this? Why are you here? You are loved and appreciated by Me, no matter the circumstances around you, or what someone else may so, or not say. I am the reason. Remember Me.” There is a story I’ve heard many times over the last year or so, but recently it has been working its way to my heart…
God spoke one day to a man, “Son, do you see this boulder? I want you to push this boulder.”
The man wanted to be obedient and he wanted so much to please the Lord, so day after day, he would go out and push on that boulder with all his strength, but try as he might, the boulder would never move. He felt he was making no progress, and he wondered what the use was. But still he remained faithful and continued to push.
Then Satan approached him one day as he was pushing. In a mocking voice he spoke to the man, “Do you honestly think you are making a difference pushing that boulder? It’s not going to move. Surely you see that. You’re definitely wasting your time.” And he laughed at him.
The man was hurt and frustrated. So he went before the Lord. “God, I have been faithful to do as You have asked. I have gone out, day after day and pushed that boulder. But God, it has not moved an inch! I do not understand!”
The Lord looked down at him and spoke softly, “My son, I did not ask you to move that boulder. I have only asked you to push the boulder.”
Recently I have felt like that man. We are in a slow season here at the camp, both financially, and in our programs and I tend to find myself wondering what the use is. Are our efforts even making a difference? Maybe I have misunderstood Him and this is not where He wants me after all. And so I went before Him and brought my frustrations before Him. But He, in His love, showed me that it is not about the programs, or how many people we have here. It’s about working with what we do have and who we do have to grow the Kingdom of God. He’s not asking me to move the boulder. He’s only asking me to push it with the strength and means He has given.
“Now finish the work, so that your eagerness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:11-12
I pray you may be encouraged as well.
Keep pushing that boulder.
