Today I was trying to finish sermon #1 for Refuel (which begins next week) and I was feeling a little stumped on whether to spend much time trying to identify what emptiness is. I kept going back and forth--(back) "people already know what emptiness feels like"... (forth) "it might be helpful to have people identify with a particular feeling or action that is emptiness"... (back) "no, waste of time"... (forth) "I wouldn't be so sure". You get the idea.

After several hours of preparation I went to my daughter's soccer game and a woman who goes to Saddleback said, "I started reading your book and I could so identify with your indicators of emptiness... I think I said 'yes' to everyone. Is that normal?" It was exactly what I needed to hear. Tomorrow I'm adding it back in. I count on God's Spirit guiding me in my preparation and it wouldn't be the first time when God has chosen to use the words of others (unbeknownst to them) to help guide my preparation.

God loves his people! And, I sure love the people at Saddleback Church.