Hearts in Service

Almost every Monday for the past five years I have posted a Multitude Monday post, listing the different ways I saw God at work over the past week. I'm thankful that I started doing this because it's really changed my attitude about things. Some weeks are harder than others and I'm often tempted to post only the good things. But I've also learned to see the Lord's hand in the hard times, the stressful times, the dry times and the painful times. Because it's through these times that the greatest lessons are learned. It's in the tough and troubled times that I learn to cling to His word and to Him.  I'm thankful that He's given me the ability to see my life through His eyes. In my finite, human eye all I can see is the immediate, but through God's eyes I start to see the bigger picture and the larger purpose to things I go through. And for that I'm thankful today. This week I'm thankful for blessings #3,833-3,840. 3833. Emily r

I have been in full-time ministry for over thirty years and one thing I've learned over time is that the same personality types can be found in every church and every ministry. There are always the super-star, leader types that shine bright. They are the people who seem to be gifted in so many ways. Everything they touch is golden and they are sought out by people everywhere they go. But the majority of people in every church and ministry are like wildflowers. They may not seem especially gifted, they often stay in the background, and sometimes are taken for granted and seem insignificant. They are a lot like wildflowers you see in a field. Some people look at them and think, "It's just a weed," but to God, the Creator, they have a beauty that is unique and significant.  The reality is God wants to take ordinary men and women and work through them. When they allow the Lord to mold them and gift them for a particular ministry, their true beauty is reveal

A banana was my downfall on Friday. I had a moment on Friday night when I fell apart for a bit. I started crying and couldn't stop. Most of it happened because for the past 3 months we have been carrying the burden of keeping a church moving forward despite being closed down.  Some of it was because I was absolutely exhausted. I had been on my feet baking and getting ready for the Saturday market from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. My back hurt, my knees and feet hurt and I was tired. Some of it came from dealing with some major stress as we helped a family member work through a problem.  And most of it happened because of some bananas. I woke up on Saturday and we packed the car to get ready to go to the market to set up and I said to Dan, "What is wrong with me?" "Why can't I just do things small scale?" He laughed and said, "It's not possible." "You've been like this since I met you at the age of 25.&quo

What does one do when the troubles and trials of life hit?  What is your response when the rain pours down and drenches your soul with tears?  Is it to stay tightly closed up and withdrawn?  Do you separate yourself from the rest of the world and shut down?   It is so easy to respond this way, especially when the trials are coming from those around you.  So many refuse to open up to others through fear of rejection and hurt. When the thin thread of hope is being plucked away, our response is to often just give up. To shut ourselves off from the rest of the world. To give up. To begin to even doubt if God is there or if He cares. It can feel like He is far away in His heavens.  As if through some form of cruelty, He is taking pleasure in the the suffering and pain. But the trials and troubles and rain can also wash away the very things that we use to keep God at arms length.  If we are truly seeking Him, often it is in the pouring rain we see His work the

We've been trying to stay faithful to Dan's day off and make Monday a day that we do at least one thing together. We enjoy being in ministry together and it's such a natural part of our lives that it's been difficult in the past to take time off each week. This morning we headed back to the Allegheny National Forest to finish hiking a trail we started a few weeks ago. We didn't go as far today because I'm really dragging and my back is bothering me.  But it was refreshing to be out in the forest and just enjoy each other's company as well as the beautiful day. I feel closest to God when I'm enjoying His creation so it was a peaceful and relaxing morning. This week I'm thankful for the blessings #3,823 - 3,832. 3823. An enjoyable week with Stephen. He came down for a few days since it was Dan's birthday and he starts back at the office today.  3824. Dan had a great birthday and got to do all the things he loves during the

It's been such a busy week and one in which I spent many hours at the church. We are having our first "on-site" service tomorrow with restrictions and after three months of being closed down there was much to do to help get ready for the service. I had online and in person meetings all week and unfortunately, my house has been neglected for some time. Today is going to be an at-home day. Nathan and Emily are working, Dan and Steve (who is visiting for the weekend) are headed out to a golf tournament this afternoon. So I will have the house to myself. I'm making today a "roll-up-my-sleeves" and get to work cleaning day. I also have some sewing projects to work on and other around the house projects I want to do. I have windows to clean, floors that need to be mopped, some patio work I want to accompish, as well as a number of other items. Sometimes it's good to just focus on things at home. The weather is much cooler

I've come to the conclusion that there are times when I can pretty self-centered. As much as I try to think otherwise, I fall into the trap of thinking the world revolves around me. If things don't go the way I expect, I feel depressed and down. When things are going my way, I feel great! There is a song by Matthew West called, "Outside My Own Little World" (you can listen to it by clicking on the link) that always strikes a chord with me when I hear it.  In my own little world it hardly ever rains I’ve never gone hungry and always felt safe I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet In my own little world Population me I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give ’til it hurts and I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see it’s easy to do when it’s population me Isn't this so true of many of us? We go through the motions but never really try to see things as God sees them. We

Psalm 51:16-17 (HCSB) ~ You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart." "Make me your servant," is a prayer that I've uttered since I was a teenager.  I envisioned God using me in a mighty way and doing big things with my life.  But instead of the large and flashy, God chose me to serve Him in the small and unnoticed things.  That is not what I anticipated as a young girl, praying that prayer. God works with the humble.  He often does His greatest work through avenues that go unnoticed.  He moves in quiet and unobtrusive ways and yet, we constantly strive for the loud and showy We offer God our talent, our work, our personality or our good deeds and believe we are sacrificially giving to Him or worshiping Him. We say, "God, take my particular gift and use it for you." But much of the time, we