So much love...

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. 

At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. 

Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith. 

–Galatians 6:9-10

Some things have happened this month in my ministry life… that have rendered me speechless.  

I’d been mulling it over in my head for some time, & while I’m about to be brutally honest here (what else is new right?)… I pray that you will hear my heart as I share what I’m calling, ‘the tip of the iceberg’.  

TRUTH is…

Life is hard. 

People lose their jobs, lose their homes & lose their loved ones. They get hurt, get sick, & have accidents. They struggle in their relationships, their marriages & their families. Their cars break down, their furnaces go out, they can’t afford to pay their bills or to buy groceries. They are sad & depressed & lonely. 

Often times in our church family, my husband & I, & sometimes those on our elder board are the only ones that ever see or hear these things. You know, maybe it’s because we serve on the ‘front line’, or maybe it’s the fact that my husband is the ‘paid professional’ or because our phone number is listed in the Sunday bulletin. Maybe people just really don’t know where else to turn, are embarrassed or filled with guilt or fear. For whatever reason, we for the longest time, found ourselves ministering alone. We understand that this is part of our calling & have long accepted this as part of who we are & what we do… not for glory or honor for ourselves but because we passionately love Jesus & the people He brings into our lives. 

Before I go on, please, please, please don’t misunderstand me. I am far from perfect.

Honestly, I don’t always handle ministry life as well as my husband does. There are times when I feel completely overwhelmed by the need I see around me. It’s in these times that I find myself wondering aloud…  

‘As Christ followers, shouldn’t we ALL love others this much? 

Even if our ‘jobs’ aren’t ministry related?’ 

I mean, I get that because of my husband’s position, my little family does literally live, eat, sleep, & breathe ‘doing’ the work of the body of Christ… but shouldn’t we all? 

Shouldn’t we all be looking for places to serve & love on others? 

Isn’t this what truly being a Christ follower is? 

Truthfully, on a real bad day, I wish we could do away with all the 'programming' at church & go with more of a 'commune' approach. Living life in relationships together... doing 'church' every day... praying together, laughing together, crying together, loving each other... standing, hands clasped in a circle, with flowers in our hair, singing Khumbaya. Yeah I know... even for this hippie girl, that last part was a little bit of a stretch. But HELLO Acts 2: 42-27! Seriously.

 

... on to this month & the speechlessness… cause it’s pretty stinkin’ awesome.

TRUTH is...

God is good. 

Recently, a dear family in our congregation fell on hard times. To protect their anonymity, I’m not going to share details but I am going to share what I witnessed in the aftermath.

One of our elder’s wives was so burdened by what she was seeing that she reached out to them & in turn to our congregation who took hold & moved in a mighty way. They cooked meals & picked up groceries & bought diapers & held hands & wiped tears & made phone calls & wrote notes & prayed & prayed & prayed. Many little things, done by many different people that added up to really big things, done out of love. As word of this beautiful movement reached me, my heart was so overcome; I just sat down & sobbed. 

You see… I’m NOT alone. Not by a long shot.

I so need to hear & see these God things… compassionate acts of service given out of hearts of love for Jesus & for His people. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing all on my own, that I fail to see God working around me. My soul longs for a real sense of community… I’m not a fan of the Lone Ranger thing. I want to serve alongside others… to minister in partnership together.  Ultimately, I want not to feel alone in my own life’s journey… 

Clearly God IS working thru the hands of His people… in my heart I always knew it… I may just need to ask different questions & open my eyes & my heart to see just how He is doing it... 

“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.” - Jean Vanier, Community and Growth