Only When Necessary

I knew it was going to be a good day when Bruce woke me at 5:00 with "Glory Days" followed by my oldest daughter knocking on the door to get me up to go work out.  Exercise always makes the day go better.

I felt good today...strong even.

That's saying something when you realize that I made caramel apples with the kids after school! Sometimes things like that are enough to put me over the edge.

I've been working on my sermon for Sunday.  It's on the biblical concept that we are all called to be in ministry.

That doesn't mean that you are expected to run out and quit your job and start going to seminary.  But, no matter what your job is, you should be serving others on a regular basis using your gifts, abilities,  passions, and prior experiences.

Although many people do this by serving in their churches, they are missing the boat if they are not also serving outside of their churches.

Most people immediately equate this with "volunteering". And volunteering is a wonderful way to be in service to others. But you can also be in ministry by raising your children to know and love God, having a conversation with your neighbor in which the Holy Spirit prompts you to share the Gospel, or even writing a blog.  :)

Each of us should have a personal ministry where we intentionally reach out to others based on our specific and unique set of gifts. This isn't always through our words, but through our actions. In fact, Francis of Assisi is famously quoted as saying:

Keep in mind that God created you with inborn gifts and talents, blessed you with others who helped you develop specific abilities, and guided you through the experiences in your life that have led you to this point right now. You are the only person in the world who is that specific combination that defines who you are.

And God has a specific plan that involves YOU. You are the only person who can reach certain other people in this world. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit is calling you to your task.

Are you listening?

Even more importantly...

are you answering?

Follow Me

This was the first day I had a hard time keeping my britches up.  With another week and a half away from home, I may find myself doing some creative finagling with my clothes.  I am kind of scared to step on the scale when I get there.  After all, my stored energy needs to last a long time.  (Shamefully, I have had more than my share in the ol' storage shed.)

I have an internal debate going on about exercise.  It seems to me that it would be important to maintain muscle tone and aerobic activity to combat the fatigue.  I've been exercising and it feels good, but I'm aware that this is causing my body to burn the calories faster.  Should I just do weight training 2-3 days a week instead?  I guess I need to do some research.

Another issue that I haven't mentioned up until this point is heartburn.  This has been a surprising annoyance. But it has allowed me to enjoy my one "treat"--Tums.  (I still take medications, as needed.)  So why would I have heartburn when I only eat 1/2 cup of bland food at time?  Is this another sign that my body is getting getting rid of toxins?  Is this just part of the adjustment process?

It appears that I am coming to you with way more questions than answers this evening.

And that's okay.  We don't always need to know exactly what we're getting into before we jump in...before we're in the thick of it.  

I know twelve guys who were called to "Follow me."  Who just jumped right in.  And who helped change the world.

Was it always the best decision for their families?  Their careers?  Their health?  I think that many could make a good argument that it was not...especially when considering that each of them suffered an early and unpleasant demise. 

But I would hazard a guess that each of them would make that choice all over again.

I'm not saying they had no regrets.  Men from this group struggled with their pride in front of Christ, denied him, questioned him, disappointing him, abandoned him...and one even betrayed him.

Yes, even those chosen twelve made mistakes.  Even those chosen twelve needed grace.

Do not let your fears, your questions, keep you from following.