The Mission Video Is Now Finished! (logged April 25, 2005)

I'm glad I've kept my word in titling this area the "infrequent blog." I wouldn't want to raise anyone's expectations!

For the last four months, I've been intensely working on the annual mission presentation video for Sovereign Grace Ministries. Throughout the year, I track stories that will showcase some of our ministry's efforts and values. Then I have the incredibly challenging job of selecting which of these grace-filled stories to highlight and which to save for another time. It's a lot of work, but an immense privilege because I get to see so much of what our pastors are doing around the world.

It's also a wonderful rebuke to any self-centered thoughts that arise in my heart. This year I tracked stories about pastors and leaders from Cuba, India, Russia, Brazil, and other countries still closed to the gospel. I watched how the men and women live and serve in areas of persecution or deprivation. There were times when I would be weeping transcribing their interviews. There were other times when I would stop and pray for those faces flickering across the screen. And then there were times when I would forget all this and just sinfully respond to the pressure of trying to make a 30-minute documentary work well. But God was gracious to give me godly brothers to work with on this project, and their contributions as cameramen, editors, and composers were always saturated in prayer--and gentle reminders not to lose sight of God's hand in this project.

We debuted this video for our pastors at the Sovereign Grace Ministries Leadership Conference last Friday and I received an overwhelming amount of encouragement for simply documenting the efforts of others in our ministry. I really do have an amazing job!  

As Valentine's Day Approaches...(logged February 6, 2005)                                                            photo by Matt Wahl

Wow. I am seriously delinquent on updating this blog. Sorry! It's almost been two months. Either that's because I've been so wonderfully busy that I don't have time to blog ... or my life is so boring that I have nothing to say. Your pick. :) I'd rather think it's the former, so let's go with that.

So let's see ... I was busy with a number of holiday hospitalities leading up to a Christmas Day brunch at my house for a small circle of friends, followed by the family get-together and Christmas dinner. Then I went to Texas to see my sister's family and my three adorable nieces there. After a week there, I returned home for a few days and then went to sunny southern California on business. That was during all the rain and mudslides. My timing is always stellar. Nevertheless, God was kind to provide some sun and warmer temperatures the last two days there. While I was there, I thought I was getting sick. I was very winded--getting off the plane I was wheezing and panting as I walked up the airplane ramp. I know I'm getting older, but I didn't think I'd need the airport greeter with the wheelchair at only 41!! Turns out I was having my first bad asthma episode, but didn't know it. (My friends jokingly call me Dr. McCulley because I like making armchair diagnoses, but I seriously missed this obvious diagnosis! I thought I just had a cold.) Now I've got all kinds of new gadgets and meds. Whoohooo. The daily pill box is just around the corner, I know it.

So what does this have to do with Valentine's Day? Absolutely nothing. But it's one of the reasons I've been too distracted to dread the return of "National Singles Awareness Day." I was busy just trying to breathe, while cultivating fresh appreciation for God's wonderful creation of lungs and lung capacity. It was actually my oldest niece who reminded me. Natalie called me about a week ago to say that she missed me and wondered if we could do something for Valentine's Day.  My heart melted! Immediately I made plans with her. I wasn't about to miss this opportunity to spend time with Natalie and her brother, Patrick.  

Natalie's phone call was the third instance that week where I believe the Lord was trying to encourage me through the love of children. The same day that Natalie called, I received a gift from one of the children I was sitting. Ashley had a gift waiting for me that she had spent the better part of the afternoon creating--a gift bag with fruit, lots of artwork, and a note. The note said that she wanted to encourage me in the gifts of the Spirit. She specifically wanted to highlight patience and kindness. (To have that said by a child I babysit is nothing short of miracle! Especially when I feel my "mantra" is: "Stay in bed! Don't get up! No, seriously, stay in bed now! Bed. Feet in bed, under the covers! Bed--stay there!") And just two days prior, my niece, Stephanie, one of the Texas clan, called to say that she was going to take my book to class for show-and-tell. She wanted to read the page about her, and she wanted me to know that.

Sometimes these events can seem very random in our lives. But if we step back to consider them, we will often discover God's lovingkindness toward us. I believe He is faithful to show His love to single women (and men!) through various relationships. We don't have spouses right now, but we are His dearly beloved and He is always creative in showing His love for us. God uses many human agents. In fact, I was reminded of this just before Christmas, as well. I did mean to blog about it then, but it got lost in the Pile of Good Intentions. So I'll add it here. I came home one evening, sorted through the mail, and found two real pieces of correspondence amid the junk mail. One was the wedding invitation; the groom had been a good friend. The other was a handmade card from my niece, Claire. I burst into tears as I opened them. But not for the reason you might think. The wedding invitation left me completely unfazed. It was Claire's card that had me weeping. She had drawn a picture of me on the front and on the inside was a note she'd dictated to her mother. She said that she and Stephanie had been reading that morning about Moses on the mountain when his face was glowing. It was that way because Moses had spent time with God and His glory was reflected in Moses' face. So Claire and Stephanie talked about other people in their lives who reflected God's glory--and they wanted me to know I was one of them. These are girls of 6 and 8! Yet, the Lord worked through them to touch my heart. And then He orchestrated the timing so that I'd receive both of these items on the same day. Yes, marriage is a very good gift and I'm still praying to receive it one day. But marriage, like singleness, is both a gift and a means of sanctification--seasons and situations through which our loving Father is working to conform us to the image of His Son.  We won't be rewarded for getting married, but we will be rewarded for the ways we reflect God's glory to those around us.