SERVING STRONG

Cold Turkey

We gathered for Thanksgiving lunch last Thursday. We all held hands. Bowed our heads and prayed for the needs that were expressed as we gathered at the table. Turns out there were several needs. In fact, if we had taken the time, we could have expressed a ton of needs: people in poverty, people grieving the loss of a loved one, people struggling with depression, people in conflict with each other... the list is endless.

But if we had taken that much time to pray for all the needs, our turkey would have gotten cold. Hmmm. Cold turkey. Perhaps we need to go cold turney -- let our turkey get cold as we lift the needs of others to the God who has the answer. Perhaps we need to leave the turkey on the table and go out and meet the needs. I don't know. Just musing.

I trust your Thanksgiving was enjoyable. I also trust your post-Thanksgiving is fruitful as you continue to faithfully pursue the calling to help other people.

Aim to Serve Strong!

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Eve. Everyone in the house has gone to bed. The TV is turned off. The only sound is the clock on the wall ticking. I sit in my chair by the newly-assembled Christmas tree. It's quiet. I'm in a reflective mood. I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for you. If you read my posts on a regular basis, you know God has placed in me a heart for the person who gives of themselves for the well being others. Working with people is no easy task. Working with people is messy. Recipients of our care and attention don't always express their appreciation. Some don't change from their self-destructive behaviors. This hurts. We want people to succeed. We want people to flourish in Christ.

My prayer this Thanksgiving season is for you. I pray that God slips in so closely to you as you do your own reflecting on your life and ministry. I pray He reassures you of His omnipotence; of His incredible presence; and of His eternal grip on the future.

May God bless you this Thanksgiving! Continue Serving Strong!

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Iron Or Toilet Paper

I was in a good meeting today. When I say good, I don't mean everyone saw things the same way I did. It was better than that. They disagreed. Let me explain...

When I share a thought with someone and they agree, good. It's been called, "preaching to the choir". We agree.

But could we have gone deeper? You see, when we come together in community to discuss a topic, we each bring a perspective of our own. We are individuals coming together to form a bigger perspective collectively.

God tells us in Proverbs 27.17 "Iron sharpens iron." I picture an iron sword clashing against another iron sword and in the process both swords become sharper than they were before the clash. This is TOTALLY different than if the Proverb were to read, "toilet paper sharpens toilet paper." Can you imagine? One section of toilet paper "clashing" against another? Any thought of sharpening is utterly ridiculous.

So in our ministry leadership, don't fear push-back in meetings. Embrace it. See it as a broader perspective. One of 2 things will happen: either you can gain greater clarity on your beliefs and values, or you can change your perspective. One way or the other, you can get closer to the truth; deeper in your personal development.

And truth and development are part of Serving Strong!

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