Thursday, February 3, 2011

My Small Part


For my future children…


Background
 Apart from God and my family I love my church most. Most people ask themselves "Is it Friday yet"? I always ask "Is it Sunday yet"? Perhaps this is because more than half of my growing up years was spent as a pastor's daughter. As a pastor's daughter I would attend church regularly. There was Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service and prayer meeting on Wednesdays. I loved it all. At first I loved it because it meant seeing friends and getting to color and sing songs, but as maturity set it and my faith became my own I fell in love with the teaching and learning aspect of church. I still remember the first Sunday when I actually sat still and listened to the sermon. I was about seven and that morning I told myself I was not going to fall asleep, but I was going to listen to Daddy preach. I was hooked from there on out. J

Service
You hear about service allot these days in the church - Having a servant's heart, a servant's mindset, putting yourself last and other's first. I love this dynamic about God's people in His church. I was never one to quickly volunteer. My sister Kristi always took care of that. When we were kids and the grownups were in a church business meeting, Kristi would rally as many of her friends as she could and go tackle cleaning the church basement. What would I be doing? Drawing on the chalkboard or playing tag with the boys. Service was her thing finding a husband while playing tag was mine. As I grew older I gave myself the excuses that there weren't any service opportunities in the church, I wasn't good at anything, and no one needed me. However, I couldn't get over the fact that the Bible clearly says we are to serve one another. So little by little I started stepping out. Once I stepped out of my selfish and self-centered bubble I was shocked by how many places there where to serve. There was Nursery, cookies for Fellowship Crossing, Meals Ministry, Neighborhood Outreach, Greeter for Titus Two and so many more. As I started off slowly with these simple tasks I realized my love for my church was growing. Serving others and forgetting about me has brought such joy to my life. 99% of the time service acts go unnoticed. But if I were doing them just to be noticed that would cancel the point of doing them. Recently I was given the opportunity to be in charge of door prizes for a church function. I know I can't sing, I know I can't bake half as well as others, I know I'm awful at decorating, but I sure as heck can come up with random questions and cute prizes!
Don't ever give yourself reasons not to serve. Don't try to justify it like I did for too long. If you think there are no service opportunities, you're wrong. Look harder and step further out of your bubble. Christians serve one another. It's as simple as that.


Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

3 comments:

Roxy Girl said...

I'm so glad I checked your blog!! :)
Yes, there are so many ways to help, I love our church! What do you mean you can't bake, you are a Seben's after all!! :) Really enjoyed your post!

Kimi said...

Well I can bake, but just not near as well as so many others. I do love it though!

abigail said...

Great post! I LOVE church involvement. It brings so much joy and fulfillment to serve each other and God in even the smallest of ways!