Stress & Trust

Stress. The silent killer. Left unchecked, it will impact your physical and mental health in ways modern medicine is still learning to understand. Stress is basically our response to pressure, a demand, or threat. In most cases, the pressure is never as bad as we think but in the moment it sure feels like it and the result is we regularly carry the stress around until the next big stress replaces it. All stress is not bad but the kind of stress I'm talking about is.

 

And as a follower of Christ, it is something I'm working hard to reconcile how I feel (pressure) with what I believe (God). If we take God at his word, then we know we don't have to carry the stress alone. Now this is where it gets hard - an appropriate level of stress is to be expected but defining an appropriate level is very subjective. So, I think the best way to think about it is to simply ask the question: where does your ability to carry it all end and the need to rely on Him begin? That's not to say we shouldn't rely on him to help carry it all, BUT if we're "stressed out", I think it is fair to say we're not relying on him and instead are relying only on ourselves.

 

If you're reading this, my challenge to you is no different than what I've challenged myself to. Some stress is normal, but we have to remind ourselves that anytime we are overly stressed we are rejecting God's truth that the burden is not ours to carry alone. We are basically saying "I don't trust you enough" or "I don't think you care enough to intervene". And as believers, we know that isn't true. Let's start acting like it!

 

Why build Entoto Gear?

Over the last few years, we've been working to build and launch Entoto Gear. It's been a labor of love. These things always take longer than you'd hope and cost more than you'd like.  But as it relates to our "why", here's our WHY.

 

Early this morning, before the sunrise, Ayelech awoke and began her journey up Entoto Mountain to being a long day of work.  Her assignment? Gather eucalyptus, strap it to her back, and begin the treacherous journey down the mountainside. Her load will average out at roughly 100lbs, weighing about as much as she does. Her day, is largely occupied by this task.  For her troubles, she'll receive about 20BIRR, the equivalent of .60 days. Her hope?  Something other than this…

 

This story represents the hundreds of women on this mountain alone, thousands of women on this mountain range, and tens, if not hundreds of millions of women around the world subjected to back breaking labor simply to survive. 

 

Three years ago, while on a mission trip, I encountered the women of Entoto mountain. Frankly, I'd seen stuff like this before. This time it was different. This time I noticed it. This time I noticed them. This time it hit me. And it hurt. What must it be like to have this as your livelihood? How do you end up here? Why don't others help? Do they even know this is happening? As I learned the stories of these women, my heart broke and my eyes opened. To borrow from a biblical story, I could not cross to the other side of the road. I needed to help. I needed to do something. Thus, Entoto Gear was born.

 

We all have mountains to climb. Keep climbing!

 

More to come.

 

 

I Need More

Time and time again I encounter  tests of my faith

Yet more often than not, I receive a failing grade

Your word is true, this I know for sure

Yet for some reason, I need to see more

Lord grant me more faith to believe

Bless me with faith the size of a mustard seed

So that I may bear witness worthy of display

Thank you so much for your mercy and grace

 

I love you Jesus

 

 

 

 

 

The Bar Is High - Can You Jump Over It Or Are You Falling Short?

May the Lord’s words, written by David remind us of God’s standard and where we can all stand room for growth. Lord - help me be the man you’ve called me to be. Psalm 15:

¹O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill? ²He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
³ who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
⁴ in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;⁵who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

 

The Pursuit of Significance

A short while ago I went to the theatre to see Unstoppable. Like most people I left a happy customer having enjoyed the movie. While I'm sure some elements of the movie were somewhat exaggerated I know a good portion of it was true considering it was based on actual events.

I then got to wondering why do we all enjoy movies like this one so much? I finally realized it is because we all want to do something of significance. We know we are here for a reason and watching others do something of significance is encouraging but also serves as a reminder of our own desire for it.

We each have a calling and we long to discover it. The only way to find it is to grow closer to the One who created us with a specific purpose in mind (Psalm 139:13). How can we learn our calling if we are not in relationship with Him?

Are you where you want to be in your walk with Him? Without him the very significance we desire is unachievable. You cannot produce fruit without being connected to the vine (John 15:1-8). May we each stay connected to Him and grow in the Lord as he guides us toward our purpose which is undoubtedly to help others know of His great love for us!

Ray

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