We had our staff/volunteer/board Christmas potluck party and gift exchange last night. It was so much fun! True fellowship involves the Lord, so I wrote a devotional for the evening. I started with the opening story from the book by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr John Townsend, called, "How People Grow":
"It was my first day on the job in a Christian psychiatric hospital. I (Henry) was like a kid on Christmas morning. I had been taking college and seminary classes and reading all that I could get my hands on about Christian counseling for about four years, and I was ready to put my knowledge into practice. I showed up at the medical center in Dallas early that morning all geared up to teach the patients how to find the life Iknew awaited them as soon as they learned the truth I had been taught.
I went up to the nurse's station and waited for the head nurse to finish writing in a chart so that I could introduce myself. The unit was bustling with early-morning activity. I saw patients talking with their doctors and visiting with each other. Nurses were taking patients' vital signs as other people were beginning groups, completing homework assignments, getting medications, and having therapy sessions--all the typical activities of a busy psychiatric unit.
I looked down the hall, and a woman in a pink bathrobe walked out of her room. She extended her arms outward and exlaimed, "I am Mary, Mother of God!"
Now think about this. Here I am, brand new at Christian counseling, and thinking that all I had to do was dcome in and tell people God loved them, and if they would understand more of what he has said, they would be well. This was what was going on in my mind. But when I heard what this woman said, I thought: This is gong to be harder than I thought. It was a thought I would have many times in the year to come."
Things aren’t as easy as we first thought. They never are. Last year, we all came together and celebrated our 5th anniversary! It’s gone by quickly! We’ve seen the hand of God move and bless. But it has not been easy. It’s been a long journey that each of us has had an integral part in.
Ken’s annual roast reminds me of how unique each person in this room is. I am awed that God would bring together such an exceptional group of people… maybe not individually. Individually, we’re not so hot! But together, we are a body that is a fit vessel for ministry.
You each have a vital role here.
Volunteers, you have recognized that God expects all of us to preach the Good News. And you know you are not complete in His will unless you are actively and regularly involved in sharing your faith. We follow a model of volunteerism called, “High Impact Volunteers.“ That means, that for each one of you, we can honestly say that you are here to make a difference in someone’s life, either directly or through a support role. I am taken aback when I think that you have committed such a large chunk of your time, amidst busy schedules of raising families, church functions, full-time jobs, etc. to come to the Mission each week, often after a long hard day of work, and set out to give yourself to the Lord through getting to know the residents, and practically ministering in other ways. Some of you work 8 hour shifts on the weekends! It’s really incredible that you would do that, and I know only God can move in a heart to cause someone to want to minister sacrificially in this way. And we are so very grateful for you.
Board Members, you understand business principles and practises. You know that we live in such a world that our witness can be defiled if we do not live up to the letter of the law. You provide accountably by mirroring our blind spots. You analyze what most people aren’t really interested in: personnel, budgets, policies, insurance, and all that good stuff! Without you, we would not have been able to increase our budget from $18,000 to over $500,000 in less than 6 years. I can’t even believe it when I say that out loud! Without you, I can honestly say that we would not be able to provide 36,000 meals each year to our resident and guest men, women, and children! A lot of organizations and Mission directors “put up with” or even resent their board of directors. I want you to know we brag about you all the time! We are the enigma amongst the 300 North American missions when we thank God for placing each one of you in a leadership role over this organization. Your Godly counsel, advice and encouragement mean so much to us. And we are so very grateful for you.
Staff and Interns, you are unique amongst this group. Not only do you respect business principles and see the need for them, you are required to carry them out every day. Not only do you understand that we are all expected to preach the Gospel of peace, you have been personally called by God to do this every day. This is not done without sacrifice. Do not think that just because you did not have to learn a foreign language that you are not a full-time career missionary. If you are here, it is a high call and a high privilege. Although each of us has a different position, we are all equal in our missionary call and dedication to evangelism and discipleship. Many of you have left family, friends, other relationships, and opportunities for higher pay and prestige, to daily minister to those who… think they are the virgin Mary. This is not an easy road, and only those of us who are part of this family of full-time workers can truly understand and relate to the journey. Those who come once a week, or once every few months gain a glimpse of that life in the trenches, but it is you who commit to experiencing that every day. And I am so very grateful for you.
Melanie has been teaching the staff and residents about what the season of advent has traditionally meant for believers. One thing that struck me, is that advent is NOT a season of partying. It is one of repentance, and surrender. In the way that last year was a 5 year celebration of all God has done, this year has been filled with trials and has required much perseverance for our staff. How easy it would be to quit. We all long for a different life some times… that is, a break. A reprieve. Can there be ONE DAY without a crisis?! And not your usual, “Oh I burned the roast” kind of crisis. These are difficult days for our front line staff workers: Brady is feeling suicidal today… we need to call Mobile Crisis right away. Andrew was offered drugs today… and he took them. Scott threatened someone’s life today. We have to evict him in the middle of winter. Sarah just confessed to having had sex last night. What should we do?
Oh, and in the midst of that, we do have the burned roast problems: the glass door on the oven is broken, three volunteer groups were scheduled at the same time for cooking supper, Grant can’t find his glasses, we’ve run out of serving spoons, we don’t have enough freezer space so who can store these turkeys at home, Jarad’s gone, so who wants to butcher the geese this week?, the musicians who promised to lead the Women’s auxiliary singalong didn’t show up, Larry is sick this morning, Vicki has a bladder infection, the van is in for repairs so who can use their own vehicle to get the Safeway stuff…Yes, that was all last week. I’m sure there’s more. Vicki and I started a calender with the crisis of the day but soon realized we had too many and the worst ones couldn’t be written down because they were confidential!
So, why do we do this?
Romans 10:
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? Or, Who shall descend into the deep? But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you will confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: [the rich or the poor] for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah said, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses said, “I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” But Isaiah is very bold, and said, “I was found of them that weren’t even looking for me; I was made manifest unto them that did not even ask for me.” But to Israel he said, “All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people.”
“All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
That’s hard. This is God’s call for us. It is to go, and preach the good news! Despite circumstances. Despite rejection. Despite personal sacrifice or loneliness or despair. It is to continue on in faith.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” (Gal 6:9 & 10)
So How can we run and not grow weary? How can we walk and not faint? There is only one way.
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He give power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa 40:28-31)
We need to wait on the Lord. Only he can fulfill our deepest longings. Only He meets our every need. He is faithful.
What is waiting? What does it mean to anticipate the Saviour? It means to eagerly look for Him, to hope, to expect. Are we eagerly looking for the Lord? Do our lives show that surrender we need? Waiting also implies lingering. Are we having lingering moments with the Saviour? Do we long to be in His presence, like we would a girlfriend, or boyfriend? It is Christ, our Bridegroom, that renews our strength. It is He alone that satisfies our thirsty souls.
It is for Him alone that we all sit here tonight. The things which unite us are clear in
Scripture: "One body. One Spirit. One call. One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph 4:4 - 6)
"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. " (1 Cor 7:23-24)
I hope you all have a holiday season of abiding with the Saviour.
