I should be doing school, but I am not. Every January, my family seems to get stricken with this sinus cold bug. It hit my dad last week, and now, it is Mom's turn. So, it is kind of hard to do school when the teacher is sick. Right now, I am waiting for bread to finish rising so I can deal with it.
Church...well....we tried somewhere yesterday (before Mom really got sick.) It was okay. But beyond that, the Lord has given me a peace that truly passes all understanding. I have had meltdowns and had to lay my feelings before the Throne of Grace. Truly, Christ has enabled me to leave it at His feet. My former church will always be a part of me (nothing can replace that) However, everything is out in the open; we all understand each other; and I wouldn't have it any other way!
I am in the process of working on a new blog. Actually, my wonderful friend, Erin, is designing a template for me. So, if things look "messy" around here, you know why. This template won't be gone forever. I just will have two to use!
Well, perhaps I shall leave you with an article I have written for the next issue of HopeChest Magazine. I would love y'alls opinion of it. Have a fabulous week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Ministry
Scenario #1—You are at church and you notice the bulletin. “Volunteer for one of our various ministries. It is an amazing way to do great things for God!” Yet as you ponder all of the various groups you could be apart of, you do not feel drawn to any of them. In fact, you don’t feel led by God. However, you start to feel guilty. “People won’t think I love the Lord,” you moan to yourself.
Scenario #2—You have returned home from a missions trip. Learning to go without, ministering to the poor and needy, watching some answer the call of Jesus…it was an experience you will never forget. Now, as you sit at home, you feel useless. “I know I was doing God’s work over in _____. But what now? Trips cost money, which I don’t have. Oh, I feel like such a waste!”
Are you familiar with any of these scenarios? I certainly am…particularly with #1. The Lord has not given me the desire to be a part of countless ministries in the church. Indeed, He has removed ones that I was doing. Yet does that mean that I do not love God anymore, or that I cannot show others His light? I mean, I was doing that by working in children’s church and playing offertory; people could see my spiritual life. Now, I certainly don’t look I am doing “great things to further God’s kingdom.” Or am I?
Ministry isn’t just something to be done in the church or off on a distant land. Yes, those are good, but they aren’t the only ways one can show the love of Christ to their fellow man. May I be so bold as to suggest a way that is often overlooked? It is called “home-based ministry. This labor of love enriches the lives of every family member as well as communicates to the world the worth and value of every life that God has breathed into man. ”
What forms can home-based ministry take? 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though the Lord were speaking through you? Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to Him forever and ever. Amen.” No two people are given the same gifts; thus, we all have different talents and avenues to use.
Some ways I have found:
Write a card to a little girl friend from church, saying that you hope she has a wonderful day. You never know how much it means to them!
Make yummy things from your kitchen and give them to your unsaved neighbors who might be having difficulties. Write a note saying you are praying for them.
Be a light to those surrounding you, a symbol of a functional family in the midst of divorce and heartache.
Baby-sit for a young couple so they can have a date night together once a month.
Bake something your dad specifically asks you to bake…even if it means you don’t get to watch that movie you wanted.
Help your mom practice hospitality by having people over for a meal. Then, when dishes need clear, you go do them so she can talk with them.
These might seem menial and insignificant, but we never know the impact they had until Heaven and its glory. And you know what? That is okay. Christ came not to be served, but to served.
I do not want to appear as if I am saying the Great Commission is wrong and we should not heed it. Christ said for us to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, ” and we should. But that can mean right in our own backyard, through working side by side with our families. Whenever we “work hard and cheerfully at whatever we do, as though we were working for the Lord rather than for people, ” we are bringing glory to God.
So, do not despair if people think you are less of a Christian. Or if you have come home from the mission field feeling insignificant. Take heart! Christ has some major role for you to play in his better-than-Oscar winning epic. It might involve a seemingly less important role than one we wanted to be cast for, but without the behind-the-scenes crew, where would the major characters be? If we only submit to His directing, we CAN be an all-important part in the movie entitled, “Who Christ Is,” that will leave a legacy for generations to come.
Church...well....we tried somewhere yesterday (before Mom really got sick.) It was okay. But beyond that, the Lord has given me a peace that truly passes all understanding. I have had meltdowns and had to lay my feelings before the Throne of Grace. Truly, Christ has enabled me to leave it at His feet. My former church will always be a part of me (nothing can replace that) However, everything is out in the open; we all understand each other; and I wouldn't have it any other way!
I am in the process of working on a new blog. Actually, my wonderful friend, Erin, is designing a template for me. So, if things look "messy" around here, you know why. This template won't be gone forever. I just will have two to use!
Well, perhaps I shall leave you with an article I have written for the next issue of HopeChest Magazine. I would love y'alls opinion of it. Have a fabulous week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Ministry
Scenario #1—You are at church and you notice the bulletin. “Volunteer for one of our various ministries. It is an amazing way to do great things for God!” Yet as you ponder all of the various groups you could be apart of, you do not feel drawn to any of them. In fact, you don’t feel led by God. However, you start to feel guilty. “People won’t think I love the Lord,” you moan to yourself.
Scenario #2—You have returned home from a missions trip. Learning to go without, ministering to the poor and needy, watching some answer the call of Jesus…it was an experience you will never forget. Now, as you sit at home, you feel useless. “I know I was doing God’s work over in _____. But what now? Trips cost money, which I don’t have. Oh, I feel like such a waste!”
Are you familiar with any of these scenarios? I certainly am…particularly with #1. The Lord has not given me the desire to be a part of countless ministries in the church. Indeed, He has removed ones that I was doing. Yet does that mean that I do not love God anymore, or that I cannot show others His light? I mean, I was doing that by working in children’s church and playing offertory; people could see my spiritual life. Now, I certainly don’t look I am doing “great things to further God’s kingdom.” Or am I?
Ministry isn’t just something to be done in the church or off on a distant land. Yes, those are good, but they aren’t the only ways one can show the love of Christ to their fellow man. May I be so bold as to suggest a way that is often overlooked? It is called “home-based ministry. This labor of love enriches the lives of every family member as well as communicates to the world the worth and value of every life that God has breathed into man. ”
What forms can home-based ministry take? 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though the Lord were speaking through you? Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to Him forever and ever. Amen.” No two people are given the same gifts; thus, we all have different talents and avenues to use.
Some ways I have found:
Write a card to a little girl friend from church, saying that you hope she has a wonderful day. You never know how much it means to them!
Make yummy things from your kitchen and give them to your unsaved neighbors who might be having difficulties. Write a note saying you are praying for them.
Be a light to those surrounding you, a symbol of a functional family in the midst of divorce and heartache.
Baby-sit for a young couple so they can have a date night together once a month.
Bake something your dad specifically asks you to bake…even if it means you don’t get to watch that movie you wanted.
Help your mom practice hospitality by having people over for a meal. Then, when dishes need clear, you go do them so she can talk with them.
These might seem menial and insignificant, but we never know the impact they had until Heaven and its glory. And you know what? That is okay. Christ came not to be served, but to served.
I do not want to appear as if I am saying the Great Commission is wrong and we should not heed it. Christ said for us to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, ” and we should. But that can mean right in our own backyard, through working side by side with our families. Whenever we “work hard and cheerfully at whatever we do, as though we were working for the Lord rather than for people, ” we are bringing glory to God.
So, do not despair if people think you are less of a Christian. Or if you have come home from the mission field feeling insignificant. Take heart! Christ has some major role for you to play in his better-than-Oscar winning epic. It might involve a seemingly less important role than one we wanted to be cast for, but without the behind-the-scenes crew, where would the major characters be? If we only submit to His directing, we CAN be an all-important part in the movie entitled, “Who Christ Is,” that will leave a legacy for generations to come.
13 comments:
Ella,
Wow... what a great post! It is amazing that the Lord lead you to write this, for I am going through the exact same struggles and thought process!
Thanks for all your insight and wisdom...
Love you, friend.
Kaysie
This is a beautiful post!! And a message that so needs to be shared!!
You know my story, but your friends don't. So, in brief, I will say that the message the church sent to me, a young wife with 2 small children, was that in order to "do work for God" I had to be involved in multitudes of chruch ministries. I neglected my home duties and ran myself ragged and lost my health in the name of Christian ministry, all the while wanting really to just be home with my children and being a housewife. The world shouts the feminist message that such a role (housewife/mother) is a wasted role. And the church also gives us the same message, very subtly. They really don't think it's very important to take care of a family and make a home a haven, so they encourage women to abandon that role to do "important things for God." But "important things for God" CAN be accomplished through the home. In this day and age, where fragmented, dysfunctional families are the norm, it speaks volumes to see a family that loves and serves together!! To show hospitality to others through a home-cooked meal or some baked goods or a thoughtful card really DOES evidence the love of Jesus to them. To lovingly care for a neighbor's child so that they can go on a much-needed date, strengthens their marriage and evidences Christ to them. And isn't that what the Great Commission is all about?
I know it is hard to walk the road less traveled and to feel less of a Christian because of how your ministry looks to others. I pray the church would begin to encourage women/girls to the importance of their home role!
Love,
Mom
I hope your mom feels better soon, and hope you all find a church that fits. I've been keeping you and the situation in my prayers - God is faithful!
Great article! There are so many good yet little ways to be a blessing to others. Recently we've been doing a lot of hospitality; we had families over for supper the last 3 Friday nights, took a meal to my pastor, and had 2 ladies over for lunch today. It's easy for me to get stressed with all I need to do cleaning and cooking, but in the end it's all worth it. Now I try to keep that in mind from the beginning!
My dear Ella,
You will be in my prayers with the "church situation." I have been going to the same church ever since I was 5 days old, so I'm afraid that I don't have much experience in the whole trying-to-find-a-new-church thing. :-) Even though you will miss your old church, I have no doubt that God will put you in a place of worship just right for you and your family!
Send your family my get well wishes! Colds are NO fun. :-(
To all of you, thank you for your response about my writing. I feel that this is a message that needs to be out there. Sadly, it isn't.
Thank you for your prayers about church. They are much appreciated and God, well, He is faithful.
Mom is doing much better, though not all healed yet.
I thought that that was a wonderful post Gabrielle :).
We don't belong to a church either right now, but when we did, we we're smothered by people pressing on us the importance of 'participation'. It's terrible how often a believer's passion for God is measured by how often or how much they serve in the church or by how many missions trips they have gone on. Rather than considering the numerous ways that God can use a person.
Keep on serving right where God put ya! Love, ~*~Jess~*~
The blog thing. Still working on the changes on my end. I hope to have your new blog design up and running by the end of this week.
Outstanding article, Ella! You did a great job; it was so inspiring and thought-provoking, and I know that the girls who read Hopechest will truly be blessed by it! :) All too often today we think that the only worthwhile service is that which is done out in the world, and that which is well known. But some of the very most important and long-lasting service is that which we direct towards those in our own home! So often today, we neglect the service of our families, and that's such a tragedy. Thank you for speaking up for the truth, Ella!!
Keep up the great work! :)
Blessings,
Rebekah
P.S. Do you know whtether or not Hopechest magazine is in need of another author? Or if they'd even be interesting in another one?
Mrs. Gardner,
Thank you so much for those encouraging words of truth! You're a very wise woman, and have blessed us girls in many ways!
Isn't it simply tragic how the church has adopted the lies of feminism as well, rather than going by what the Bible says? It just turns my stomach to think about that!! How that must displease God something fierce!
Rebekah, thank you for your encouraging comments about what I shared. You know, it astounds me now to think of the fact that there wasn't a single older woman who ever told me what an older woman was supposed to teach the younger women. I actually stand amazed that the passage in Titus 2 is overlooked by today's churches. I once asked my pastor's wife what I could do for a ministry. Oh, how I wish she had told me that I already had a ministry---that of caring for a home and a family. But she didn't...she just directed me to something that I could do in the church, something that took me out of my house even more and away from the duties that God directed me to in Titus 2. So I now make it my goal to loudly proclaim Titus 2 to the ladies younger than I. It really is a blessed role to minister to those in your home and to others through hospitalilty in your home.
Thanks, Rebekah. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you continue walking the road less traveled.
Rebekah, I am glad that you liked the article. This message isn;t around much anymore, and I felt it was the one God wanted me to write.
As to HopeChest, perhaps if you wanted I could send you a spare copy and you could see if you like it. If you were to subscribe, they love to get articles from people. Granted, it has walked away from certain Biblical Womanhood aspects, but I am slowly trying to change that. I do love this opportunity that God has given me; He dropped it in my lap, and I pray He gets the glory because of it!
Mrs. Gardner,
You're welcome! I've really appreciated your words of wisdom on these various subjects. That's so true! Hospitality in your home is such a long-lost art, and is a beautiful act of service.
You know, it's one thing that the world adopted the lies of feminism(for, what can we expect?), but it's a huge tragedy that the church has adopted them!! I've done a lot of studying on feminism lately (its history, founders, hidden agenda-to destroy God and to create socialist nations, etc.) and it simply astounds me that the church itself has adopted these views, and sees them as wonderful! How tragic!!! May the Lord show mercy on this nation(though we certainly don't deserve it!) and bring us back to Him and His ways.
Thank you for your kind words, Mrs. Gardner!
In Christ,
Rebekah
Ella,
The article was great, and I'm so glad you wrote it! Praise God for laying this subject on your heart. It's such a shame that this message isn't taught much anymore. It's instead been replaced with "Do service that will make you rich and will have you be well known." What a shame. Good for you for standing up for the truths found in God's Word! :)
Yes, I would love it if you would send me a copy. Would that be ok? That would really be a blessing. From what I've heard about the magazine, it looks really great. So, I guess that's why I was really surprised to hear about it walking away from some Biblical Womanhood aspects. Which ones has it walked away from and how? What a wonderful opportunity God has given you, to be a shining light for many girls! :) Praise Him for His wonderful plans.
Keep up the great work; the Lord is truly using you to minister to many young ladies who desperately need to hear the messages you're sharing.
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