I admit, reading the Old Testament prophets is not a place I usually find inspiration and vision. But today, reading about God’s justice “rolling like a river” (Amos 5:24), I also saw how He always left hope at the end.

As I sat and pondered this (while drinking my coffee and trying to wake up…still on West Africa time), I was once again filled with awe at my Sovereign Lord and felt the relationship that I have. And it was in that moment He renewed my passion for what I do – because He gave me a visual of what I do.

Not too long ago I was feeling down about my ministry. There were no “notches” to point to for those I’ve saved. No direct “Here’s what I did through God” with specific, measurable results. If anything, my first assignment was about perseverance in the midst of failure! Now, how does one connect administrative work to direct results?

And so I saw a field, filled with thistles and briars, unplowed with no fences. I was the one out there pulling up the brambles, clearing the field, building a fence – all for the future. I am the one walking alongside and slightly ahead of the Deaf as they prepare to plow the field – to translate the Scripture. Then the evangelistic teams come in planting, watering. That is the field that God sees from the very beginning as “white until the harvest.”

So I serve, and will continue to do my best to be obedient and faithful, because my job in administration is needed. One cannot have the harvest if the field was never prepared – and keeping the field free of thistles and repairing the fences goes on even up to the harvest!

And I serve because I want everyone to have the same opportunity I had this morning – to sit and read (or watch) God’s Word and feel the closeness of their Savior. All because they can understand Scripture in their own language!