Thursday, October 2, 2008

Missionary work in your backyard

After reading this post, I got to really really thinking. I have always had the mindset that Church's should step up and serve the poor, and barked and balked when they did not-and I don't even go to a formal church. I have always thought my husband should be the first to step up he is the man of the house so he needs to be the one to reach out. Yet the bible shows that the women should be the servant (proverbs 31:20) and many many times over we expect only the leaders to serve? How did our country get this way? How did I , because I have a servants heart yet I don't serve unless I am being served. My husband has made the statement more than once "I wish you were as nice to me as you are to your best friend." I serve that friend like she's gold cuz she serves me! So I only serve when I am given service! Stupid because that circle of service with my friend, would probably be obtained with everyone I met if I would just step up and serve-without expectations!

So many times in the last few weeks God has really been showing me little things that I do that are super selfish. I don't mean the big in your face stuff, I mean the
little bitty things. For example when I read the post above I realized I expected church's and my government to feed the poor, yet what do I do? I could not sleep over it. When I think of serving the poor I usually get pretty upset at them because I know in many cases their being poor is a product of their own cause. But just think if I happily served anyways instead of judging, how many people might turn their lives over to the Lord from my service. The Lord will take care of the poor that take advantage of my good deeds and I should not try so hard to protect myself from that happening. I am sure the Lord would tell me if I am should not be doing certain things for certain people.

I know so many mom's say-myself included "but I have to raise my children and the best thing for me to do is to not get to involved outside the home so that I can train my children the way they should go." Yet time and time again I see missionaries who have about 10 or so kids, serving the Lord, their family and the community every day and the kids are far more in love with the Lord than my children are. They don't just preach it to their kids they live it with them. And the mom (because she is not selfish with her time) still has plenty of time to train up her children...more than anything, by her actions of service!


I really think the Lord is pressing on me have more of a servants heart. I am the kind of person who wants to be everything to everyone (not going against my convictions, but it's always been who I am) however I have a hard time doing what I love, serving.

I have started this journey and I wanted to share it with all of you. I will not share what I have been doing because I do not want to sound like I am bragging I just want to show others that it can be done and actually it's not near as hard work to serve others as you would think. The reward is worth the suffering. Like with child birth you do it to gain the joy of a child, the same is with serving, you do the service not to gain a thank you but to gain the knowledge that you did a good deed for the Lord.



What things do you do to serve your husband, or your children, or the needy, or the elderly widow's? I don't mean for you to tell me on here, I mean just take a moment and think about it.

Some service that I have seen from other mom's in the past few weeks that have touched me:

A mother does not 'workout' because she gains enough of a workout chasing her babies...when I told her my kids are calm and play well on their own she said mine do to but I play with them instead of letting them play on their own. Boy oh boy that was a wake up call. Here I was thinking I was a good mom to let my child join me when
they asked ,but if they don't ask I take it as a good oportunity to do something for me!

A mother took her kids to the park and picked up walnuts while they played so she could earn a few extra dollars. How many of us find the closest bench?

A mother told me the other day, she does most everything around the house without much complaining cuz it's her job. She even does her children's jobs from time to time so they can play with their dad. I never do this. I always expect my family to do their job's ALL of the time. I always say "I do my job you have to do yours." or "I am not your slave" Not serving very well is it! I do expect them to do their jobs but if they have had a long day a few minutes playing with dad is not a bad thing. And how much more will they grow up and call you blessed by giving them that time with their dad, and how much more will your husband do so also!

I would love to know what you think about this.

Latte




1 comment:

EEEEMommy said...

Great post! I'm definitely wrestling through the whole servant's heart thing too, as well as being a "DOER of the Word." It's easy to point the finger at others, but we get so much better results if we actually examine our own hearts and then purpose to live life differently, following Christ's example of humility as described in Philippians 2. He came not to be served but to serve. We are called to be like Him!
I'll be praying for you!

Grace and Peace,
Angel

 

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