Secret Service

“Serving those who never thank us and doing it for the love of Jesus can retrain us against our desire to be noticed or appreciated”

Excerpt From:
Willard, Dallas. “Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice.” NavPress. iBooks. 
This material may be protected by copyright.

I know for myself, I often desire for others to notice the work I am doing. If I do not get recognized, or if I don't feel appreciated, I find myself frustrated. I decide in my heart that it's not worth it. 

The reality is that if I am mature in Christ, I come to the realization that my efforts are not for my own glory, but for the glory if God. If this is true, then how people react to what I am doing ceases to matter. 

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)

Leadership Structure

I am working out a new leadership structure for Salem Friends. Currently, we have a monthly meeting every month. My idea is to have a Bi-monthly business meeting. On the off months, the leaders of the committees will gather together.

The purpose behind this shift to to give me an opportunity to bring unity and vision to our leadership core. My hope is to be able to invest in the spiritual lives of these leaders, and for them to be able to share with each other where God is leading them. It gives them an opportunity to talk with each other about their individual ministry, and hopefully help us to move in one direction as a church.

I am sure this idea is going to be hit with some opposition. But for me, it is important to invest in the lives of the leaders. I don't know how else to do it. I do not want to add an additional meeting to the meetings already in place. We will see how this goes.

Lord, I pray for unity in Salem Friends, and direction to operate well out of the gifts you have blessed us with.

Another Funeral!

I have been a part of more funerals than months I have been a Pastor. Transparently Salem is the place to have a funeral service and the Salem cemetery is the spot to be barred for this region. I am starting to get excited to have a few weddings on the horizon, but I am a little worn from all the funerals.

God is good. It is great to have the opportunity to serve people through the death of a loved one. I have discovered that it is a great time to share the Gospel. People need to hear it and death opens closed ears.

Lord I continue to pray for rest and balance. Pastoring is hard. Give us strength and equip us to do your will in this place.

Final round: searching for balance

   As I begin my last semester is the masters program, I find myself continuing in my search for balance. Balance if school, church, and family. Whenever I seem to have the leg up on one, another one slips through he cracks. And in the midst of all that, God should remain the priority. Oh how I can't let that go.

   Lord, I pray for balance. I pray to keep you my priority. I pray for wisdom to live as you have called me to live.