Years ago, I observed an interesting event when a friend of mine underwent open heart surgery. The surgery was successfully performed, and the recovery was anticipated. However, as my friend was recuperating some 24 hours after surgery, the medical staff came and got him out of bed! Not only did they get him out of bed, they made him walk the hallways several times a day. At first, I thought they were rushing things a bit, but then he explained what we all know by now. The sooner the body is required to function fully, the sooner its strength and health will return. It is by immediately attempting to function as we were designed to that the body responds best.
I’ve learned that this also is true spiritually. We were designed to know the Lord, then serve Him with our time, energy and resources. We function best that way. The individual who serves the Lord gains all the strength they need to do so, and the church that is geared to serve God by serving people functions best.
We are making preparations for a great season of growth and progress. The needs are many, and a ministry like that of which God has given us requires many people who will serve. Let me ask you, “What is your area of service?” To put it another way, “How will you serve God at FBC?”
One of our leaders e-mailed me the other day and wrote the following: “My gift isn’t giving, but I give. My gift isn’t serving, but I serve. My gift isn’t encouraging but I encourage.” His words exemplify the servant-spirit that make a church powerful in the hands of God – the willingness for God to use us.
I challenge you today to find a place and begin serving. Our staff would be delighted to help you match your experience, strengths and passions with the needs around us; it is something we really love to do. We’re ALL on mission, beginning in our own church – then to the world.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING THE SERVANT YOU ARE! I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK GOD FOR YOU! DURING SERVICE ON SUNDAY SOMETIMES YOU TALK ABOUT RUNNING PAST 12PM I WISH YOU WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO PREACH UNTIL THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS STOP I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEIR WATCHES BUT I CAN REMEMBER ALOT OF TIMES BEFORE WHEN WE DIDNT WORRY ABOUT THE TIME AND WOW WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE WE WERENT WORRIED ABOUT THE TIME. SOME PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GONNA LEAVE EARLY FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER BUT THEN THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE FOR THE DURATION. WE ALSO USED TO HAVE THE WORSHIP LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THEN THE MESSAGE WAS GIVEN AND WE DIDNT RUSH BECAUSE WE RAN OVER IN WORSHIP EITHER. I SURE DO MISS THOSE TIMES!!!! I LOVE OUR CHURCH AND WHERE WE ARE GOING, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I LOVE THAT YOU ARE SO TRANSPARENT I KNOW THATS HELPING ME AND MY HUSBANDS RELATIONSHIP AND OUR WALK WITH CHRIST. YOU ARE AWESOME AND I LOVE YOUR HEART!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: sally salazar | October 20, 2009 at 11:41 AM