My not-so-subtle God

Tonight I had my first care team meeting. Let me backup a bit. I have never been the type to get too involved. I don't feel obligated to buy girl scout cookies, or wrapping paper or pizza kits from school kids. I'm not the mom who attends every single field trip or drags her kids to a dozen activities every week. It's just not me. Call me lazy, appathetic, scared... okay maybe that last one. Especially when it comes to church stuff.

For those of us who didn't grow up in church, do you remember that feeling of never wanting to go to Sunday school because you just knew they were going to ask you to list the descendants of Adam? That's me! I've never read the Bible cover-to-cover but I know the basics. I'm learning more everyday.

Well, I've been feeling a bit convicted about serving the Lord. I've had a few people approach me about volunteering at church, but a lot of it would take me away from the main service. I just feel like I need Pastor Jerry's message each week, like I just need to be fed. But our church (only just over a year old) has decided its time to put together a care team. I missed the initial meeting a few weeks ago. I had planned on going but something came up. I figured, "Oh well, I probably wouldn't have been good at it anyway." And I let it go, thought God would let me know where to go.

Yeah, in that not-so-subtle way that God likes to deal with me, He let me know. Somehow, the team leader ended up with my e-mail address. So I was being included in the first few prayer/care requests. I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid! I don't know why me for this, but who am I to question Sovereignty?! Okay, okay Lord, you don't have to shove! (a gentle nudge, maybe)

And so, I made it to tonight's meeting. I had such a nice time, met lots of new people and left feeling really fired up about this new opportunity. We listened to a woman whose little boy died after a three year battle with brain cancer. She turned her tragedy into a foundation (The Jay's Hope Foundation) that assists families of children with cancer. Talk about triumph over adversity! She lost her son only 2 years ago, but firmly believes that God led her through that storm to prepare her for this work, this labor of love. She was quite inspirational, to say the least.

So here I go, serving God, blindly. It's okay though, I've got His eyes to guide me and His words to come through me. Just don't ask me about Adam's descendants!

Me, Change the World?

In order to appreciate today's post, you have to read yesterday's first. If you haven't, go ahead, I'll wait......

At church today, the topic of the sermon was "Becoming a World Changer". Don't you just love it when God picks up that brick and throws it right at your head?! While I'm knee-deep in my struggle with trying to serve, He brings me a message like this one. A world changer? Really, me? Exactly when do I fit that into my schedule? After soccer practice? Maybe while the washing machine is going? Or perhaps cutting out some of my 30 minutes or so it takes me to eat lunch?

One of the points Curt touched on was this: "A world changer is anyone who serves to better the life of someone else." And right then, it hit me.

Let me break down that statement. A world changer is anyone (not a whole bunch of people, or a church, or an organization...ONE) who serves to better the life of someone else. (Not the world, not a city, not even a neighborhood...ONE.)

It reminded me of something I read once. "To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may just be the world." I think I may be on to something here. God is trying to let me know that He doesn't expect me to be the next Nelson Mandela, or Steven Curtis Chapman, or even Ty Pennington. I just have to be me. I don't have to single-handedly create a new charitable foundation, I just need to be there for someone in need. A song from Casting Crowns says it best, "love them like Jesus". I could bring sandwiches to the people under the bridge, or visit with seniors at the nursing home, even something as small as offering a shoulder to a friend who is troubled.

As I pointed out in yesterday's post, everything big began as something small. You can't start a fire without a spark. I don't need a business plan just to spread God's love. I just need to focus on what I can do today. Well, today is nearly done so, I'll prepare for tomorrow. I can't wait to see what my Mighty, Powerful God has in store for me.

Making a Difference

I've been struggling lately with where to go next in my walk with God. I know He has a plan for everybody and I've been praying for God to show me the steps He would have me take. I'm still working on my faith, not that I don't believe with all my heart, I do. But its so difficult to muster the courage to live by that faith, to remember that "I can do all everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13".

Its easy to let the enemy convince me that I'm not smart enough, strong enough, determined enough. In trying to find my place to serve, I've focused on looking for an organization, charity, whatever, where I can donate money or volunteer my time. But tonight, I watched a program called CNN:Heroes. They were honoring regular, ordinary people who have made significant contributions to the world. Most of them were simple people with simple ideas.

There was a guy who makes prothestic legs for people in Mexico.

A man who started a first responders service for areas hit by natural disasters.

A Hollywood nanny who sends a third of her paycheck to fund a school in her homeland for AIDS orphans.

A man from Ethiopia brought books and literacy programs to the children there.

A former inmate who started a video project to keep children in touch with their incarcerated parents.

An early morning runner has logged more than 5,000 miles running with shelter residents who receive shoes and running gear in exchange for staying clean and sober.

A woman quit her job and moved from Washington to New Orleans. Since June of 2006, she has helped 120 families rebuild and move back into their homes.

A Cambodian woman dedicated her life to providing free education, food and healthcare to kids living out of a trash dump.

A lady in Texas crosses the border several times a week to provide food, clothes and toys to impoverished families in Juarez, Mexico.

A grandmother in Somalia who started teaching 20 kids in her home now educates 1,500 girls in 6 locations. 1,000 more are waiting to enroll.

These people took what they knew and turned it into something great. Nothing special about them, besides their dedication and faith. Most of them thanked God in their speeches. I've been so conditioned to think that one person can't make a difference. But here are 10 people that did. They made a BIG difference, just by using what they already had. Most of them had no special talents, just compassion.

So what can I do? I feel certain that God planned for me to see this program, to remind me that I can do anything. I am so thankful for His little daily reminders, and that He opens my eyes to them. What will I do with this knowledge? Where do I start? I have a couple of ideas, nothing big, nothing earth-shattering. But then again, maybe to a few it will be. After all, these 10 people started small, and their projects took on a life of their own and grew.

So I will continue to pray for God's guidance. And I will quit listening to myself and listen to Him. And I will take those first steps in faith and see where He leads me. The path may change over time, but as long as I am following Him, I will never be lost.