The attitude of service

It's a beautiful fall day here in Ohio and I am sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of coffee and sermon notes spread around trying to concentrate and failing miserably. My mind keeps wandering to this and that. I have been thinking a lot lately about how/why people serve in the church and I have noticed a few things over the years.

1. Too few people are often involved in the serving. This is nothing new and something I have heard over and over again you know the whole 20% of the people doing 80% of the work, or whatever percentage you choose to put in. And mostly it is true, I have found that sometimes it seems to be the same few people who are doing most of the jobs.

2. People act like they have to serve. Okay now I am not saying this about everyone, but I often times see this attitude. Well it needs done so I will just do it. Well, if you "serve" with an attitude of "I have to" then you aren't really serving.

3. We miss out on people who would be amazing at serving. It's our own fault really. We fail to seek out new people to serve. Why does the same lady who volunteers 3 out of 4 Sundays in the children's department also have to be the one to coordinate the food for the pot luck? But the problem is we didn't even bother to ask one of the many people who aren't serving in any way if they would be willing to step in and help out. Sure maybe the thought of doing crafts and singing with kids totally creeps them out and makes them want to run in the opposite direction, but maybe the thought of accepting food for the potluck, organizing it, and setting it out is something they feel they can excel at.

I heard someone recently say, "well, I guess I'll have to do it." And sure sometimes we do just have to step in and help out. But when you have the time because it isn't an immediate need, then why not take the time to ask around. Maybe that couple that sits quietly in the back have some musical talent they would be willing share, and maybe that guy who would melt at the thought of getting up front would be happy to help out in the sound booth or passing the offering plate. We shouldn't just assume that no one else is qualified or willing and then grumble and complain when we find yet another thing piling up on our list to do. We should be willing to listen, cause someone might offer some valuable insights in to their gifts and talents. Oh you mean you know how to make really awesome fliers or you often have some extra time with which to make a few phone calls. Or they might lend an idea of someone they know who would be perfect for the job.

My husband often says, "you have not cause you ask not." How often do we really ask or seek out to actively involve new people? Just a few thoughts to think about, instead of complaining of all we "have" to do, why don't we pray about who new we can get involved.

It's fall!!!

Someone had told me a little while ago that my blog missed me, well I have missed it too, and so, I am back. Sorry it has been so long.

It is FALL!!!!! I cannot say that with enough excitement. I LOVE FALL! Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. First, there is the weather. Fall weather is a perfect mix of cool cloudy days and warmer sunny days, and some days you get it all wrapped into one, wonderful. Oh and I am weird, I love the rain. There is something to me about a cool damp world that is absolutely beautiful, I guess one of the reasons that I loved living in the great state of Oregon. The weather is great because it gives me a chance to wear short sleeves and sandals and sweaters and boots.

Then there are the smells. I love the smells of fall, the smell of rain or the smell of the cool crisp air sneaking through my window in the morning tempting me to stay in bed "just a few minutes longer." The smell of apples and pumpkins and baking. Oh how I love to bake. Baking is like therapy to me. When the house is crazy and the kids are fighting or being loud, or just plain driving me crazy because I have had to answer the same question at least a dozen times, baking relaxes me and the finished product makes me feel as though in the craziness of life where the moment after I have cleaned something a mess appears, that at least I have accomplished something, I have completed something. And it will, hopefully, bring a smile to the face of whoever gets to enjoy it.

But one of the things I love the most, especially in Ohio, is the beauty. Everything changes color. This world of green becomes a world of reds, yellows, and oranges. Colors more vibrant and beautiful than you could possibly imagine or a picture could even begin to capture. Colors that, as the leaves begin to fall, cover everything, yards, porches, driveways, sidewalks, streets. It is a beautiful reminder of our loving creator. It's like every fall God gets out his paint brush and paints a beautiful picture just for me. A reminder that he is in control, that he carefully and very beautifully orchestrates something completely wonderful in our lives.

 

A view from outside my front door this morning. The leaves are just beginning to change, but I can't wait to drive down the street and see all the vibrant colors soon.

 

 

What's your favorite part of fall? And what does it remind you of? Have a fabulous day and enjoy the cool crisp air!

Sharing Space

I'm an introvert. Being around groups of people is absolutely exhausting to me. By the time all is said and done I am ready to collapse in a pile on the couch under a blanket, book and coffee optional but definitely welcomed. Sunday mornings at church are usually enough to exhaust me, especially Sunday mornings that I preach like yesterday, and we rarely schedule youth activities on Sundays. But with most of our teens starting school this week and next, we decided to do a cookout.

Simple and uncomplicated, nothing fancy, just hot dogs and chips at our house. That is where community happens though. When you invite people into your home. I'm not talking about inviting them into your house where you proceed to clean every inch and make sure nothing is out of place, no cobwebs, no dust, everything perfectly placed and looking like no one lives there. I mean inviting them into your home. Where toys are laying on the floor and blankets are unfolded. Where all the DVD's are not neatly stacked and in their proper cases. Where there are cheerios on the floor and a few dirty dishes in the sink. Where you can be real and honest and open. Where people feel comfortable and are vulnerable. That is sharing space, that is being in community. That's when people open up and share their hearts. That's when they know you care and are for real.

I remember one time when we were in California the church had thrown a baby shower for me and the teen girls had taken the stuff over to or house. By the time I got there they had made themselves at home in my living room and where watching television and had gotten quite comfortable. It made me smile that they had felt so comfortable they felt like they could just hang out and stay awhile.

So, while I am an introvert and desperately desire my own space, there are joys in ministry when you get to share space with others.

It's gonna be a good day

My husband is out of town for a couple of days. He left early this morning and won't be back until Thursday evening. So, for a couple of days it's just me and them. And although I know it will be crazy, every day is crazy in this house, I know it will be fun.

I am deciding right now that I'm not going to get overwhelmed when they are tired and begin to have meltdowns, but that I will be calm and do something to keep me sane. If that means locking myself in my bedroom, having a cup of coffee, baking, or simply trusting in the promises of God. I will keep my cool.

I am deciding that we will have fun. I will not say no before my children ask me questions and I will not say no immediately once they have been asked. I will actually think and consider what they are asking because some things really don't matter.

I will enjoy my children, the big boys go back to school in two weeks. And, although I am counting down the days, the dynamics of the house change drastically when I go from having four around all day to just two. And to be honest, some days I am just so busy taking care of everything that I don't take time to enjoy my children. So no matter what is going on at church and what things I think I need to get done, my children have to take priority. I know all to well that time with them is shorter, sometimes much shorter than we can ever imagine, better take time to enjoy it.

So, this morning I am having my coffee, I am resting in the overwhelming and unexplainable peace of God, and I am looking forward to having a good day. No matter what gets thrown my way, I know, I'm almost asking for trouble ;)

Crazy Love

Have you read it? The book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan. It will change your life, it will rock your world, it will challenge you, it will stretch you beyond your comfort zone. I am reading it for the second time. The first time I read it was probably about 5 years ago with a group of senior high girls in California. I read it, I highlighted, I underlined, I wrote in the margins.

When we decided to do summer small groups with our youth ministry this summer we put together a list and let the teens decide and to my great pleasure the girls decided on Crazy Love. I was excited to journey through this book with another group of girls. And again I got out my highlighter and my pen as I began and continued making more notes, more highlights, more underlines. I so love the way that God reveals himself to us.

I love looking back at past notes and seeing how different my life is now than it was then. I love seeing how different parts of passages impact me differently, and I love hearing from the teen girls how they have been impacted by the passages.

And it reminds me, it reminds me that I can read a passage of scripture more than once and learn from it. That God can use something to speak to me over and over again and meet with me where I am at that moment in time. Thankfully I am not spiritually at the same place that I was 5 years ago and yet God has more truths to speak to my heart.

I find the same thing true on Sunday mornings, there is not a sermon that I hear that does not have some truth I can actively apply to my life. Some truth that I feel God speaking directly to me. It is so important that we remain open and listening to God. The words he has are not always, "for others", they are most often directly for us.

I know what truths God has spoken to me this week, and I can't wait to hear from the teen girls how God has spoken to them, and how they have put that into practice.

A place to rest

My entire world was turned upside down this weekend, I was left feeling helpless and broken-hearted. I knew something was wrong, something was not right, something was going on. But I never imagined what it was. There was a phone call, not the ideal platform for the conversation that needed to take place, face to face would have been much better, and preferred by all parties, but sometimes things just need to be handled and it isn't always ideal, or perfect, or best, how it takes place.

I listened and I cried. But the heart of God poured out of me. I don't know how I would have reacted if Christ wasn't my center. I am not trying to brag on myself, just being real. At that moment it really was Christ who guided my reaction.

I am an emotional person, I cry a lot. At sappy movies at weddings, at Hallmark commercials, yup, I'm a crier. and I'm okay with that. But even still I have cried more in the last couple of days than I have in a while. And when I think that I'm all cried out, when I think I couldn't possibly cry anymore, the tears come again. They are tears of brokenness, sadness, of the unknown, and also tears of joy and tears of peace.

But through it all I feel so close to God. I don't know what tomorrow holds and I have no idea what happens next, but in those moments of fear and uncertainty where worry can reach up and take control, when there are so many emotions rolling around fighting for top billing in my mind, I feel it, I feel Him. There is a peace of God in my soul that is so overwhelming and so unexplainable and so powerful that it pushes everything else away. That peace wins every time. And I hear God whispering in my ear, "It's okay Renee, I've got this." And he does, overwhelmingly and fully and completely. And I do not need to worry or fret and I can truly rest in the peace of God.

He continues to comfort me and lay his hand on me and reassure me. And I continue to rest in him. It is a wonderful place to be, a place of love and comfort and peace.

Are you truly resting in the peace of God? In the good, in the bad, and in the uncertain times?

Hello, my name is..

Have you heard that song by Matthew West, "Hello, my name is"? I love that song, every time it comes on the radio I always find myself turning up the volume and singing along. For more than one reason of course. First, the tune is catchy and a lot of fun, but more importantly the lyrics are powerful, and very very true.

I said the other day that I was reading in Colossians, and I was, but I have now moved on to Titus. As I was reading something stuck out to me, something I had never really given much thought to before, the way that Paul referred to himself at the beginning of the letter.

"Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of Gods elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness -- faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior." (Titus 1:1-3)

He knows exactly who he is, and whose he is, and he knows what he has been called to do. It is clear to him, he does not guess, he does not hint at something. He is clear and confident.

It makes me wonder, am I that confident? Do I boldly declare who I am, whose I am, and what my purpose is? Is that evident in my life, in my actions, in the way that I am? What does my nametag say? What is the salutation greeting that I give to others?

We get caught up in the past a lot. We get stuck on regret, defeat, lies, deceit. And the list goes on and on and on. We forget who we are, we forget whose we are, and we are unable to follow as closely and cling as tightly to God because we are misrepresented.

We take our sharpie out and try to scribble something new over the old, but it is still there, you can still see it. God wants to remove that label, he wants to change it. Forgiven, set free, changed, renewed. He can replace that with a fresh tag, no stains, no tears, nothing crossed out. That is how we should be living, that is what we should be clinging to.

How do you "introduce" yourself? What is the name that you go by? I need to start leaving my insecurities behind and be confident in who I KNOW I am in Christ!