I've been thinking a lot about my Mom lately. Especially in connection with the text I sent last month about stepping out of our comfort zones.
My Mom is 79 years old. She is an extreme introvert who has a quiet voice and can barely make herself heard to order at a restaurant. She doesn't like to drive - it makes her very nervous. We often joke that she has about a 5 mile radius from her home where she is comfortable driving and rarely ventures beyond that.
But almost 3 years ago she felt the Lord leading her to sign up to be a deaconness at her church. It's a 3-year commitment and one of the responsibilities is to go visit church members who can't make it to church anymore- once a month- for 3 years.
I admit I didn't think she should do it and was concerned about her wandering outside her 5 mile comfort zone. I advised against it. But she ignored my well-intentioned but incorrect advice and obeyed the voice of the Lord instead and made that 3 year commitment.
Now, we can argue about whether a church should be asking people to formally commit to performing the duties that, scripturally we are ALL supposed to be fulfilling in our churches. But truthfully, without accountability, we have been failing to support and encourage eachother the way we are instructed to. So asking for a formal commitment isn't a terrible idea if those who sign up are called by the Lord to serve.
My Mom's 3 year commitment is coming to an end and I am so proud of her service and the growth that has taken place in her life! She wasn't harmed in any way by driving to visit people who aren't able to get themselves to church anymore. In fact, I have seen her grow in confidence and she now has a stronger support network, solid prayer support and a stronger relationship with the Lord - KNOWING by experience that He is faithful and truly WILL provide the strength in areas where she is weak if He calls her to serve Him outside of her comfort zone.
I furthermore have to tell you that I'm convicted! If my 79 year old mother, a widow with macular degeneration and an essential tremor can step THAT FAR outside her comfort zone and emerge stronger and more confident than ever before, what is stopping ME from listening to the Spirit within me, prompting me to serve in ways that feel uncomfortable?
What's stopping YOU?
My Mom is 79 years old. She is an extreme introvert who has a quiet voice and can barely make herself heard to order at a restaurant. She doesn't like to drive - it makes her very nervous. We often joke that she has about a 5 mile radius from her home where she is comfortable driving and rarely ventures beyond that.
But almost 3 years ago she felt the Lord leading her to sign up to be a deaconness at her church. It's a 3-year commitment and one of the responsibilities is to go visit church members who can't make it to church anymore- once a month- for 3 years.
I admit I didn't think she should do it and was concerned about her wandering outside her 5 mile comfort zone. I advised against it. But she ignored my well-intentioned but incorrect advice and obeyed the voice of the Lord instead and made that 3 year commitment.
Now, we can argue about whether a church should be asking people to formally commit to performing the duties that, scripturally we are ALL supposed to be fulfilling in our churches. But truthfully, without accountability, we have been failing to support and encourage eachother the way we are instructed to. So asking for a formal commitment isn't a terrible idea if those who sign up are called by the Lord to serve.
My Mom's 3 year commitment is coming to an end and I am so proud of her service and the growth that has taken place in her life! She wasn't harmed in any way by driving to visit people who aren't able to get themselves to church anymore. In fact, I have seen her grow in confidence and she now has a stronger support network, solid prayer support and a stronger relationship with the Lord - KNOWING by experience that He is faithful and truly WILL provide the strength in areas where she is weak if He calls her to serve Him outside of her comfort zone.
I furthermore have to tell you that I'm convicted! If my 79 year old mother, a widow with macular degeneration and an essential tremor can step THAT FAR outside her comfort zone and emerge stronger and more confident than ever before, what is stopping ME from listening to the Spirit within me, prompting me to serve in ways that feel uncomfortable?
What's stopping YOU?
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