a servant's life

"If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 4:11

This week in our couple's Bible study we were discussing serving and what motivates us to serve.  Our group is full of amazing, servant-hearted couples who all serve in our church in different areas.  We all are juggling serving with family obligations on Sundays as well as other volunteer or service opportunities during the week.  It was interesting to hear everyone talk about serving - the majority of us serve to be better connected to the church, either through relationships or in being a part of what happens on Sundays. 

As we were talking the conversation moved to some of the changes and growing pains our church is going through, and it was evident we all feel a sense of ownership in this church.  We all have our ideas of how it should grow, how we should change to better serve Christ and the community, how our church leaders should communicate to us.  At least for myself, this sense of ownership has morphed into a sense of entitlement - as though I'm entitled to tell the elders how to run the church or I'm entitled to critique the decisions of church leadership. 

Thinking back to the conversation it is evident that I have lost my sense of what being a servant of God really means!  We serve God with gifts that God gave us where and how God wants us to serve.  I'm here to serve and support God and our church leadership - God will lead us in the way he intends for the church to go.

In some ways that's a hard pill to swallow, but in other ways it's a huge blessing.  God directs us "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" Isaiah 30:21.  So as long as I'm in prayer and in the word God will direct me - it is not my responsibility to make all the decisions.  My responsibility is to pay attention to where God wants me and to serve with a grateful heart!

sharing my adventures

Ever feel that nagging in your heart that you need to do something?  Something you're not sure about?  So you argue it with God in your quiet time, and He brings that nagging feeling back day after day.  You tell God it's not something you're ready for or it's not one of your gifts, but that nagging feeling still comes back.  Maybe you even yell at him about it - you don't want to do it, you aren't going to do it - but still He nudges you toward it.  Finally, you give in (because we all know who wins this battle in the long run!). 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

And so now I blog.  

My journey as a Christian started 37 years ago and will continue forever.  This blog is just my small way of documenting and sharing it.  We'll see where this all goes - thank you for joining me in my imperfect journey.