Inspiration & Service 17 Jun 2008 06:05 am
Day 6 - June 16
Today I am challenged, I am fatigued and I have errands to run, Kitten chow to purchase, my car’s oil to get changed… the list goes on and on. This was something that we mentioned several times in our devotionals during the trip. When you are on a mission trip - you’re essentially removed from reality. When you return from the mission trip - the real world is like a slap in the face. You simply slide right back into your old habits, your old routine, and you slowly lose touch with those feelings that were so raw and so real during the trip. God doesn’t ask us to spend 5 days a year serving others. He asks us to do it everyday.
Some people might say that my ambition to serve for 365 days could be impossible. They might point out that I work for the church and am therefore serving every day I work anyway. They might tell me not to be hard on myself on the days when I don’t find a way to serve someone else. But my challenge to myself was this - if God asks me to serve everyday and He expects it, how can I possibly live knowing that I’m not fulfilling His plan for my life? I don’t expect it to be easy, but I know it isn’t impossible. I won’t be hard on myself when those days do come around where I’ve missed the opportunity to serve. There will be many days when I am open to the possibility that God is going to do something great, even in the seemingly trivial, and I’ll be ready to respond.
I am going to be mission-minded and service-focused not because I expect to gain something from it but simply because that is all God has asked of me. I know that there is power in obedience and the anticipation of what might happen through His power within me is pretty exciting. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
I have been trying to build a relationship with our elderly neighbors. This trip reminded me once again that I don’t have to go far out of my way to find opportunities to serve. I can share the love of Christ right in my own backyard. Our neighbors have family here in town that come to see them a few times a month. They have a young granddaughter that likes all of our pets and is always eager to pet a cat or play with a dog. I try to be out there when she visits so she has an opportunity to play with one. They talk to me often about what’s going on in their lives, and if I’m outside I’ll go over and begin a conversation. I know they enjoy cats and when I have kittens I’ll take them over for a visit so they can interact with them. It’s through this relationship that I hope to share the love of Christ. I’ve realized that after 2 1/2 years living next door that I’ve missed many opportunities to serve them. I’m hoping I don’t feel the same way in a year’s time. Tonight I made dinner, baked a cake and cookies and took some over to them. The husband was outside smoking so Ryan and I spent some time talking about the weather. I told him to tell his wife hello. He said that he’s a cookie eating machine - so score one for picking the right dessert to take over. And chocolate chip are his favorite. Thanks, God.
