Taking Time To Serve

`Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Matt 25:40
During the time of my mom's illness I was a single mom raising my 10 year old son, Joel . Life was busy. There just seemed to be so much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it. Sound familiar anyone? That was a season I look back on now with a different perspective. I remember one day in particular that exemplifies this busy season of my life. I went to visit my mom, I had some time before I had to rush back and pick up my son from school. Upon arriving at moms she mentioned how she needed some bread and if I felt like going to the store to get some for her. I looked at my watch and figured I had time so I said sure. Then my mom says, “You know what, let me come with you”. Now I'm starting to panic. You see it takes mom time to walk and she has to carry her oxygen with her. But, what can I say, “No I have no time” so I said,” Lets get going then.” When we get to the store I find a motorized cart for mom and we walk down the aisles. She is pointing to items on the shelf and I put them in the cart, all along checking time on my watch. She sees me looking at my watch and says, "How much time do we have?” and I tell her, “Not much. Sorry mom, I didn't plan on this and I have to pick up Joel and take him to his church group.” So we quickly check out and I get mom settled in the house. Mom asked if I could drop something off to my sister who was on the way home. I rush to my sisters drop off her item and rush to pick up my son. At this point my son is now getting out of school and I'm at least 15 minutes away. I drive faster. The lights and siren distract my driving and I had to pull over. The officer was kind enough to not give me a speeding ticket but I got sited for not having a seat belt on. I forgot to put it back on after leaving my sisters store. Now I am really late as I pick up my son. We hurried with homework and dinner so we could get to his church group. That was one example of a day that if I had the power to do over again I would of done things so differently. I would have given my mom more time and wouldn't of rushed as much. My son was in good hands, the school wasn't going to leave him alone and it's not like I do this all the time.
Today I can relate to the loneliness my mom must have felt. The verse in Mathew states before hand in verses 35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” What it doesn't say is “I was in the church counsel meeting and you served me, I was in in every church service and you came to visit me, I was at the weekend retreat and you honored me,I was in your schedule and you arrived on time.” Sometimes I got caught up in serving that I forgot who I was serving. God wants us to serve Him but not at the cost of turning our backs on the least of these.
Since I have been struggling in the last two years I have spent many lonely hours wishing someone would come and visit me, to pray with me and to invite me out to go shopping or someplace fun. Most times God answers my prayers and sends me a sister in Christ to serve me in this manner. For some, like myself, my prison has become my body. I have a hard time getting myself in and out of the car with my walker. I can't do simple things like reach up and get something off the top shelf of my closet. Vacuuming, weeding and other chores I used to do have become difficult and nearly impossible. But praise be to the Lord, who sends me a beautiful servant of His and helps me in areas of need. Yesterday was an example of Christian action, my home church group had a brunch at one of our members house. I wasn't going to go as thinking about the “what ifs” , in having a disability and worrying if I can manage, screamed in my ear. I learned in my support group how I have to take the risk with safe people. My brothers and sisters in Christ have proven of their safety net in loving and caring for me. I am spoiled with this family of believers. How they watch over me and look out for my best interest. I had such a lovely time and was sooooo glad I went.
When I look back on my family of faith I am in awe of those who cared for my needs. A good friend sends me little gifts, I have received financial blessings, and have had my house cleaned, another bought my walker, I have received numerous cards and prayers and so much love. I was hungry for fellowship and you came and visited me, I was thirsty for the word and you gently shared with me by being the love of Christ.
I understand the busyness of life, I wish I could of spent more time with my mom and not made her feel rushed. I understand now when I get to heaven God is not going to see all the ministries I did for my church and other Christian organizations and say “Well done good and faithful servant”, why you may ask? Because in serving in the capacity I served I already received my reward on earth. Matt 6:1-4 states, "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” I think God would have honored me more if I spent more time helping my sick mother then rushing my son off to his church group. It's ironic how we get lost in the serving and doing for “Jesus” that we can become blind in helping the least of these. Trying to get to church on time so we ignore someone stuck on the side of the road. Or not wanting to go out of our way to pick up someone to even bring to church. Working on a Saturday to help plan a weekend retreat is honorable but because of your publicly serving you have received your reward. But what if you took time out of your busy weekend to visit someone in your family or life who needs some love. Unfortunately serving family doesn't get us the appreciation we deserve, not here on earth anyway, but most certainly in heaven. Ephesians 6:5-7 reminds us to serve others as if we were serving the Lord. That means family too. So I encourage you to take your elderly aunt out to a movie, or pick up a single mom, friend or sister, and treat her to a gift just for her. Take your dad out to lunch and listen to his life story. Look for someone who is the least of these and find a way to serve him or her.
Be creative! Don't expect a reward of thanks, if you get one that is an extra bonus, but keep your eyes heavenward as that is where your reward comes from. Pray today and ask our Father who He would have you bless today. And to all those saints who have and continue to bless me during this season of my life...thank you, thank you, thank you. I am humbled by the out pouring of love. During the lonely days where I feel isolated and have my pity party’s I can feel safe to reach out to you as if I was reaching out to the Lord and know you will hug me and remind me of how much I am loved.

OLIVE BRANCH

I was doing my daily pool exercises when I thought it might be easier if I had a focal point. So my eyes scanned the outside of the screening and I came across a branch growing straight up to the heavens. It reminded me of an olive branch. My thoughts went to the story of Noah and he releasing the dove who eventually came back with what is described as an olive branch. I decided to do some research on olive branches and was delighted to find the meaning. Most of the research described an olive branch as a symbol of peace. Some described it as a sign of victory and hope.
When you think about the story found in Genesis 8, Noah had to release a dove a few times before he was confident that the time was coming when it would be safe to leave the ark. Genesis 8:10 states, "Seven days later Noah released the dove again, and this time, towards evening, the bird returned to him with an olive leaf in her beak."(TLB) What joy Noah must have felt. Reminds me of a Crocus plant emerging through the semi frozen ground symbolizing the end of a long winter and the beginning of spring. I was filled with hope when I saw a tiny green tree growing among the soot and ashes after the devastation of a fire. It always amazes me when a flower blooms in-between a crack in a sidewalk. All these descriptions inspire hope in me. Yet, in order for me to truly appreciate hope I first have to experience despair and suffering. Noah did. Think about the complete destruction of the human race except for Noah, his family and the animals he rescued and released. I can't even imagine the devastation of it all. Then an olive branch comes by way of a dove. A sign of life. The first sign of redemption outside the ark. No longer will God wipe out the Earth again. No longer does anyone ever have to live with despair. We are given a new life, a hope, a beginning and eternity through God's son Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 states "When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!"(TLB) There will always be suffering and destruction as we live in a fallen world. But when we focus on the Lord we have an inner joy. We have hope and once again we can see life emerging through the ashes. We can have our very own olive branch through prayer, the Bible and in each other. The messenger (The Dove) is God the Father, Jesus Christ His son and the Holy Spirit.
This week is going to be a week of answered prayer. I will be looking for the olive branch, the symbol of hope, peace and victory through the outcome of those who I will be praying. Today and tomorrow (Tuesday), a dear friend who has been going through a time of suffering is at a clinic looking for treatment and help from her life of physical weakness. A man who I have been praying for is going in for surgery on Wednesday. A young boy who has endured extreme hardships through out his life is leaving on Thursday to a hospital out of state looking for release and healing, me and my sister are going to pick up new leg braces on Friday praying they will help alleviate pain and give me the ability to walk with out the fear of falling. I am excited to see how each of those mentioned will receive their olive branch, their own symbol of hope and new life. I will keep you posted.....