Sunday, October 14, 2007
HEY! CHECK THIS OUT, IT'S REALLY NEAT!!!
So, ya know how when time allows, you steal a chance to check out other people's blog lists. Well I did that very thing yesterday evening and stumble across this very amazing blog. If you are at all interested in living a life respectful of the earth, generating a sustainable income on as little as 2.5 acres of land (anywhere) or just looking to be healthier, you should check it out. Going green may not be as hard as one might think! Being self sufficient can be a reality.
Friday, October 12, 2007
These are my brain things today...
Ever feel ill equipped for a job you think God is calling you to do? Such is my brain dilemma presently...
Upon moving here to this small town one year ago, my family and I began attending a small evangelical church with a very small numbered congregation. We were prompted by the Lord to "not despise small beginnings." And so we stayed. The people there are very busy but friendly. The leadership is great but in desperate need of some help operating some of the ministries facilitated thru the church. I signed up to help out with the weekly kids club since my two oldest would be attending anyway. My "gift of the gab" was put to test as I lead (and continue to lead) the devotionals each week. Some from a formatted lesson, others as the Spirit leads. Commitment #1.
Last spring the youth of the church asked, pleaded, begged and grovelled for their own Sunday School as they'd been sitting thru service nodding off and gaining nil. Our over worked and over ministried pastor couple asked if I would come on board with teaching on Sundays. With fear and trembling I said I'd pray about it. (Note: I'm not afraid of teenagers, most of them I'd worked with at kids club, but the spiritual leader of our next generations voters thing seemed tricky to me...) So I prayed. They did too I'm sure. I now teach teen Sunday School every other Sunday. Commitment #2
I've grown to love the bunch that show up on Sundays and I do count it a privilege to point them to Christ. I've learned so much! There seems to be a bit of a repore between us, perhaps because I'm not one of their parents and I'm younger than almost 40. Perhaps it's God's favor. I say all this because it ties into the following: is God or is God not calling us (my husband [whom they think is absolutely cool] and I) to lead youth group on Friday nights? Our pastor has grown weary of having to spear head all of the adult and youth ministries (and his wife is in charge of children's ministries!) and has on occasion alluded to wanting to pass on the teen torch. We've helped out with different events and are hosting them here tonight.
A pastor friend Steve, at Hillcrest church in Moose Jaw has a message you can listen to HERE all about "How to Squander your Talents". He preaches from the passage in Matthew where the master of a property goes away leaving three of his servants with each an allotment of money. They each do with it as they see fit; the first two investing and growing what they were given, the third simply burying it in the ground. The master comes back, says "well done" to the first two. But to the third, he says "you wicked and evil servant...". He succumbed to fear, or laziness or both, didn't do what he was supposed to thus was repremanded for his behavior. I've been given a great many tools, experiences and gifts by my heavenly Father. He has invested a LOT into my life. Anything good that's there is from Him. What I(we) need most right now is clear direction as to what He'd like us to do with all this. (I find it interesting in the passage from Matthew, the master never did tell the servants what exactly he wanted them to do with the $$, but they did as they saw fit--perhaps because of upright teaching, life experience, or considering what was important to the one they loved. ) I'm learning to listen to His voice. To hear it clearly. Without the static of the busyness of life, my own fears and self consciousness.
He has invested in me a great amount of treasure. I don't want to be called wicked and evil. I don't want to fall into sin by not doing what He's calling me to. There are arguments supporting not being involved; we have young kids who need our every attention. (They'd do well to be exposed to other people and the youth love our offspring.) I don't know how to lead/teach/direct in that type of setting. (That's where God steps in--when we're sure to fail.) We're already busy and exhausted. (You'll be exhausted anyway, why not go that little bit further and do something that really matters in life, instead of just filling our own selfish desires ie: sitting on the couch watching tv.)
Lord help me to see what's really important. Help me to keep your priorities straight in my head and walk them out in my life. Help me to hear your voice and set aside my self to do your will. One day I want to hear you say "Well done my good and faithful servant. You did good with what I gave you and I AM PLEASED. " Amen.
Upon moving here to this small town one year ago, my family and I began attending a small evangelical church with a very small numbered congregation. We were prompted by the Lord to "not despise small beginnings." And so we stayed. The people there are very busy but friendly. The leadership is great but in desperate need of some help operating some of the ministries facilitated thru the church. I signed up to help out with the weekly kids club since my two oldest would be attending anyway. My "gift of the gab" was put to test as I lead (and continue to lead) the devotionals each week. Some from a formatted lesson, others as the Spirit leads. Commitment #1.
Last spring the youth of the church asked, pleaded, begged and grovelled for their own Sunday School as they'd been sitting thru service nodding off and gaining nil. Our over worked and over ministried pastor couple asked if I would come on board with teaching on Sundays. With fear and trembling I said I'd pray about it. (Note: I'm not afraid of teenagers, most of them I'd worked with at kids club, but the spiritual leader of our next generations voters thing seemed tricky to me...) So I prayed. They did too I'm sure. I now teach teen Sunday School every other Sunday. Commitment #2
I've grown to love the bunch that show up on Sundays and I do count it a privilege to point them to Christ. I've learned so much! There seems to be a bit of a repore between us, perhaps because I'm not one of their parents and I'm younger than almost 40. Perhaps it's God's favor. I say all this because it ties into the following: is God or is God not calling us (my husband [whom they think is absolutely cool] and I) to lead youth group on Friday nights? Our pastor has grown weary of having to spear head all of the adult and youth ministries (and his wife is in charge of children's ministries!) and has on occasion alluded to wanting to pass on the teen torch. We've helped out with different events and are hosting them here tonight.
A pastor friend Steve, at Hillcrest church in Moose Jaw has a message you can listen to HERE all about "How to Squander your Talents". He preaches from the passage in Matthew where the master of a property goes away leaving three of his servants with each an allotment of money. They each do with it as they see fit; the first two investing and growing what they were given, the third simply burying it in the ground. The master comes back, says "well done" to the first two. But to the third, he says "you wicked and evil servant...". He succumbed to fear, or laziness or both, didn't do what he was supposed to thus was repremanded for his behavior. I've been given a great many tools, experiences and gifts by my heavenly Father. He has invested a LOT into my life. Anything good that's there is from Him. What I(we) need most right now is clear direction as to what He'd like us to do with all this. (I find it interesting in the passage from Matthew, the master never did tell the servants what exactly he wanted them to do with the $$, but they did as they saw fit--perhaps because of upright teaching, life experience, or considering what was important to the one they loved. ) I'm learning to listen to His voice. To hear it clearly. Without the static of the busyness of life, my own fears and self consciousness.
He has invested in me a great amount of treasure. I don't want to be called wicked and evil. I don't want to fall into sin by not doing what He's calling me to. There are arguments supporting not being involved; we have young kids who need our every attention. (They'd do well to be exposed to other people and the youth love our offspring.) I don't know how to lead/teach/direct in that type of setting. (That's where God steps in--when we're sure to fail.) We're already busy and exhausted. (You'll be exhausted anyway, why not go that little bit further and do something that really matters in life, instead of just filling our own selfish desires ie: sitting on the couch watching tv.)
Lord help me to see what's really important. Help me to keep your priorities straight in my head and walk them out in my life. Help me to hear your voice and set aside my self to do your will. One day I want to hear you say "Well done my good and faithful servant. You did good with what I gave you and I AM PLEASED. " Amen.
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