Obedience

In my Women’s Bible Study this week we were asked to write a response to this question- “When have you ministered recently as an act of obedience to God? What were the results?”

Various reasons for involvement in ministry flashed through my mind-

• no one else is available to do it - (easier to do it myself than search or train someone)
  
• something I can do easily (no - failure factor)
  
• it’s expected of me (saying no is - hard & I don’t like to feel guilty)
  
• obeying God & being blessed & - blessing others (the very best)

Actually I could answer the “ministry as an act of obedience” question easily and quickly. Eleven of us from my church- Eagle Ridge Church of God, just returned from a Work Mission to Guatemala. The experience of building- a house and relationships was life changing. We shared God’s blessings with a group of wonderful Christian Guatemalans that were in need of housing, education, and daily supplies. I knew what would occur for our group- blessings far above what we could give.

Previously teaching elementary students for 27 years, I was saddened by the number of children we met who couldn’t attend school. One day I met Tita and her family, whose immediate need is for a roof replacement before the current one collapses. Tita is a beautiful 5 year old who desperately wanted to attend the Christian school at the tracks. There were no family resources for registration, supplies, the uniform, or shoes.

God immediately spoke to me. He wanted me to answer this prayer for this family. Before leaving, I saw Tita register for school, went shopping for her new shoes and back pack, and saw the most beautiful smile you could imagine on her face.

How great is the joy when we minister as an act of obedience when God has directed us! Your act of obedience right now may be very different- is He calling you to a ministry of visiting, working with children or youth, praying, or listening? His list is endless.

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” II John 1:6 (NIV)

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From ACTION 1st Qtr 2008:

Bankruptcy

I recently read a disturbing article where Harvard University projects that 111,000 adults younger than 25 will file for bankruptcy this year. The policy research group Demos has dubbed Generation Y “Generation Broke”. Factors that attribute to this dilemma would be easy to list.

Equally disturbing is “bankruptcy” in other areas of our lives- in our relationships, both personal and in our ministries. Besides the obvious, Webster states that bankruptcy can be lacking a quality. As Youth Workers, we understand the necessity of relationships and diligently pursue them within our ministry- youth to youth and adults with youth.

But, are we as quick to comply with building our own support networks, or “go it on our own”? The Old Testament book of Exodus supplies us with the great example of Jethro & Moses. Jethro saw Moses getting weary trying to do everything by himself and was concerned and knew he needed to speak truth into his life. “What you’re doing is not good, Moses’ father –in-law said to him. You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. Now listen to me; I will give you some advice and God be with you.” (Ex. 18:17-19)

Even great leaders like Moses can fall victim to their own blind spots. We need to bring truth tellers into our lives and then listen to them! We need the encouragement and advice that sometimes can come only from the outside prospective.

Youth Workers, let’s pray for God to bring these “Jethros” into our lives and then that we will be willing to hear from them God’s message just for us! Let’s concentrate on building our accounts, not going broke.

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From ACTION 4th Qtr 2007:

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From ACTION 2nd Qtr 2007: