Making it through the frustrating times

Though October has been a great month over all for the congregation, due to the many missions efforts and inter-congregation activities, Sunday was hard. It was not hard to see the brothers and sisters, it's not hard to sing or pray. One of the great challenges of a missionary is to leave someone behind to continue the work. That means that at times, those who have no idea how to lead the congregation in prayer must stand up before the church and lead a prayer or someone who can't really sing, leads the congregation in worship or someone who should never preach, gets to preach. This was one of those weeks that the sermon was just not much of anything. Scripture was shared, preparation was obviously made, but there seems to be those with a talent and those that just don't have it.

Now in the gran sceme of things sitting through a bad sermon is NOTHING! I realize that and I acknowledge the fact that several have sat through one of MY bad sermons before. The point is not how bad the sermon is/was. The point is what do you do when things get you down or frustrate you? As a missionary I often feel like EVERYTHING I do matters! People comment on my hair (good and bad) or lack there of frequent. I won't give any more examples, but there are plenty :) So needless to say, they notice when I don't like something! After the sermon, Ben stood up and said he was challenge to know more about God. It was obvious he was digging for something positive to say, but his attitude was perfect!

The attitude is what makes or breaks us. I remember a few months ago we had a visitor tell us we sang too much, didn't clap for the visitors (ironic) and said too many prayers (this was a Christian). What he didn't notice was that very Sunday was our SENDING Sunday when we sent out Evelyn, Rafa and Beto. How many church are sending missionaries out FROM Mexico?! He entered that morning on a witch hunt and his attitude stunk! What are we focusing on? Sunday our ladies planned for yet another trip to visit a nearby congregation. The youth had a combine class that went better than ever and are planning on attending a youth rally Oct. 31st. We had several visitors and a huge opportunity to encourage another congregation here in Leon!

God is good! Even when things don't go our way, we must strive to see the good in all. Chances are that Satan takes a small thing like a below average sermon or an ugly word from someone, etc and uses it to blind us to all the good God is doing! Don't let Satan blind you. I'm not telling you to "sing and be happy", much less "don't worry be happy". What I'm saying is God has a time and purpose for everything. Even the bad things have their place for His ultimate glory! Praise Him today and continue to renew your attitude with time in the word and in prayer!!