When do we reach enough?

Right now in Ladies Bible study, we are reading the book Radical, by David Platt. I am reading it for the 4th or 5th time, and it is ever bit as “radical” and inspiring as it was the first time, and convicting.

Today I read chapter 6, which I think is the one that touches me the most;  “ How Much is Enough?” Americans are wealthy. We are wealthy beyond the dreams of most of the people in the world. American Christians are wealthy and complacent. We are blind to the extreme, deadly poverty of most of the world. We live our lives, give our tithes, maybe add a little offering to World Vision to help a child in Africa, and feel pretty good; unaware that a billion people in the world live and die in desperate poverty, trying to survive on less that a dollar per day;  forgetting that today 26,000 children will die of starvation or preventable disease. Caring for the poor is not an “extra” for the Christian. We are commanded to provide for those in need. 

In Mark 10, Jesus told a wealthy young man who wanted eternal life to sell every thing he had and give to the poor, then to come and follow him. Most of us read that story and immediately explain that Jesus knew that the man’s heart was tied to his things (which is true) and that Jesus does not really ask his followers to sell of their belongings and give to the poor (really). If Jesus told one person that, maybe he would tell more of us. Are we willing to ask God if he wants us to sell everything that we have and give the money to the poor? And, are we willing to wait for an answer from God before we answer for him?

The Bible tells us in  Mark 10:21, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Jesus was not telling the man to give away everything he had because Jesus wanted him to be miserable and in want. Jesus loved the man and knew that his best interest was found in getting rid of all the stuff.

Will I trust Jesus enough to give away all that I have if that is what He tells me? Maybe more practical, will I trust Jesus today if He tells me to not buy a new bathroom rug but instead send that money to World Vision?

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Obedience is its Own Reward

I am not sure when I first said that, or if I heard it from someone else first, but I know that phrase comes to mind a lot, and I speak it a lot. Sometimes, I obey the voice that I believe to be God speaking, and there is nothing  outward to show for it. Sometimes it is a simple thing, like I feel God telling me to make a phone call, or go visit my neighbor. I obey, thinking that she is in the midst of a crisis or needs me for some reason, but everything is fine. There does not seem to be any specific reason for the visit.

I am desperate to do only the things that God is leading me to do; what Bible study to lead, what topic to teach, what special event to plan, or just how I will spend my day. Sometimes, the results are amazing, sometimes less than hoped for. Those are the times that I remember, “Obedience is its own reward”. I don’t have to see results, if I do what I believe God is leading me to do, then that is enough. God wants obedience, and He doesn’t promise certain results. I want to obey, so I must be content with knowing I was obedient, and not worry about results.

I recently ended a season of ministry in a persons life. I felt called to reach out; I loved and served, and did my best to share Christ’s love.  The response was not at all what I hoped. Eventually, I felt that I had reached an end and God told me to let go. I made the decision with no regrets and no guilt, just a real sorrow at the way it ended. I continue to pray, but I know that any good outcome is only up to God.  So, I am at peace, encouraged to know that even if I never see any result of my labor, I obeyed, and that is enough.

It is hard to not look for outcomes when we serve. I think of stories I have heard of missionaries who serve for years without seeing anyone come to Christ, Pastors who preach God’s word faithfully without seeing any growth in the church they serve, people who share their faith with coworkers diligently and never see fruit. Those are the times that we have to be content to know that obedience is the reward, regardless of outcome.

I hope this post does not sound discouraging. I am not discouraged, just contemplative!

Blog Confusion

 

Blog’s are rather mysterious things. You write something, you send it, it floats through the internet atmosphere, appears as a post in a blog. You never know what happens from there.

My name is Jeannette and I am in control of this blog. I don’t know who reads it, but occasionally someone mentions a post, so I know that someone out there in internet land is reading.

This is officially the blog for a ministry, Cottonwood Women's Ministry. I am the blog writer for this, so I consider this “my” blog. Sometimes, I will think about a post and decide it is too personal to put on a blog that is really a “ministry” blog, not a “personal” blog. The problem is, sometimes I don’t know where “ministry” ends and my “personal life” starts.

Today I am writing a “personal” blog. Today I am feeling a little stressed. It has been a stressful season. I don’t want to explain (I am not willing to get THAT personal!) but just understand there have been some extra stressors in my life the last few months.

Yesterday was my birthday, and God gave me a verse, sort of my verse for the year. 
  “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9  Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 4:7-11

I know that Peter was telling the believers that the end of the age was coming, the time when Jesus would be returning. But, the word that God gave me was that the end of all things would be coming. No circumstance will last forever. Every situation will come to an end. In the meantime, I am to be disciplined to pray. That is the source of strength and power to persevere through the difficult time.                 And I am to love earnestly, which also means fervently, and without end. When relationships are difficult, we have to decide to love anyway, to commit to loving. Then, Peter says to show hospitality, to remain open to people, receiving, accepting others. And continue to serve in the gifts that God has given me. If I do these things, I will get through the hard times, the times of stress; and in the end, God will be glorified.