Faithful Over a Few Things

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’   Matthew 25: 21

This Sunday, our dear pastor and his lovely wife and son had some much deserved R & R.  A brother from the fellowship delivered the message on Sunday.  He taught on the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25.   It was a message I needed to hear.


Ever since we decided to homeschool, I purposed to put aside all my ministry roles outside of the home so that I could focus on homeschooling.  For a season, I decided, I would pour all my gifts into my family and home.  This decision was practical.  It made sense.  The only problem was that it just never felt right.   


As wives and mothers, are our primary callings in the home?  Yes!  However, there are other needs (both within and outside of the Body of Christ) that each one of us may also be called to meet.  I've always been convicted that we can never convince our families and neighbors of God's goodness and love if we never step back from our own (many) responsibilities as wife and mother to show them His love.  I believe in stepping away to minister to others, we not only bless those who are outside our home but those inside it as well.  It reminds our family- especially our children- that there are times when our own desires must be put aside for the needs of others.  


God gave us our gifts to be a blessing.  When we use them, it should not be a burden but a joy.  The servants in this passage were entrusted with a gift from the master.  When he returned to settle accounts with each, he expected that they had been not simply good stewards of the gift, protecting it from destruction.  He expected that each had used the gift to bear fruit.  It was only in those cases that the master  uttered the words we all long to hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord."  


I am not a preacher or a prophet.  I'm not an evangelist or a teacher.  I do however have a gift from the Lord.  He has given me the analytical and organizational skills of administration.  I can take what might seem like a dry and daunting task to others and break it into small, manageable parts and bring order to a situation.  I have used my gift as secretary of our church, an event coordinator for our Women's Ministry, to organize rides and other help for a friend in need.  Please know that I am not bringing glory to myself at all- God has entrusted me with this gift of administration and I want to use it to bring glory to Him alone!  


Now that we are homeschooling, do I need to step back from some of these roles to pour my time and energy into this calling?  Yes!  Are there ways that I can still use my gift to bless others outside the home as well?  Yes!  God confirmed this to me in Sunday's message.  There are opportunities to minister with my gift that He is bringing to me.  When I know He is calling me outside the home to use my gift, I must follow.  


I have heard Him already.  It is a little thing He asking.  I want to be faithful over it.  

Linking up to Michelle's Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday meme:

  

Baby Steps to Radical?

Edited to add that I've linked up to Shelli's great blog Hopefully Devoted.  On Fridays she posts about "the least of these" and encourage readers to join her.  Check out her wonderful blog! 






I'm not sure this would qualify as Radical with a big "R" but my husband and I decided to have a big ole yard sale to kick off our journey out of the American dream and into the eternal one.  God blessed us with a beautiful, sunny, mild fall weekend and we sold a whole bunch of "stuff."  We made about $350 and cashed in our loose change as well for a total of $440!  Praise the Lord!

We are still praying about exactly where and how to give this money.  My heart is being pulled toward sponsoring a child from our daughter's birth country, Guatemala.  $440 is almost enough to cover one year of sponsorship through Compassion International.  I'll keep you posted!

I'm looking forward to next step in this journey...

Never Thirst Again

She stumbled in late to our little meeting.   Obviously physically taxed- perspiring and off balance. One eye forced shut by the "benign" brain tumor.  Her voice shaky, she shared that it is growing and threatening the other eye, threatening her very life.  She spoke of her unquenchable physical thirst.

We sat dumbfounded- seeing a life in crisis, listening to her fear and anger, shared more through her body language than her audible words.  Four moms hearts repulsed at the possibility of one being taken, too young, from her sweet and loving husband, from her two little boys.  Soon, we began to speak.  To try to offer words of truth and encouragement and explanation to this precious one.  We stumble over our words.  She does not know Him, how can we ask her trust that He is good?  Finally, we just encourage her to come before Him with her real feelings- to forget about trying to be good to earn His favor- to simply pour out her heart before Him.

The meeting ends too soon, as we all have to run to the school to get the children.  With my heart practically beating out of my chest, I ask for us to pray together.  Something we have not all done together in this way.  Our little group is mixed of believers and seekers and doubters.  I kneel beside her, placing my hand on her shaking thigh and the others gather round, too. My voice breaking and my eyes welling, I begin to pray aloud boldly asking for physical healing and for spiritual revelation for this one.

We all go to our own cars and I let the tears flow freely as I drive.  I am desperate.  Lord, please, God, please!  I groan and I trust the Spirit to bring my petition before the Father.  I ask for healing, for salvation, for peace.  Please, Lord, show me how to minister to her and her family.  Allow me to bring You to her!  Please, lord!  My tears and begging continue all the way to school.

As I wait for my children, He tells me. "Quench her thirst."  And I know what He wants me to do.  My spirit begins to slowly settle.  I gather up my children and share with them what we are going to do.  And they understand that it is time to be serious and obedient.  In the front cover of His Word, I add my own words of encouragement:

"He is not hiding from you.  You can find Him in the pages of this book.  Jesus said, 'whoever drinks the water I give her will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give her will become in her a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'  May your thirst be forever quenched, my friend."

I leave a card with my phone numbers holding the place in John 4.  We drive over with a bag full to quench the physical thirst and the Book to quench the spiritual thirst.  I hand her our gifts and silently pray for fruit.  I make sure she believes that my offers to help are sincere.  We embrace and I leave her in His embrace.