Serving

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who ...

A Fearful YesI recently had a very busy week full of coffee dates, client meetings, meals with lovely people in our church community, family get-togethers, our Wednesday night Life Group, and what felt like a whole bunch of other appointments and errands.

Out of breath, overwhelmed, in the middle of a big city, I glanced for the hundredth time at the route on my phone.  Which bus was I supposed to take? What time does it get here? Am I on the right side of the street? Why in the world did I decide to do this? Last year our family took a trip to San Francisco.

A few months ago a repairman was working on a project at our house while our six children sat eating lunch around the kitchen table.  “Oh, do you run a daycare?” he asked as he observed them.  Chuckling, I told him that all the kids were ours.  He seemed shocked by my words.  “Seriously?”  I smiled and nodded, telling him that we had adopted four of

Haiti 2014To my dear friend, Did you grow up hearing about the great missionaries in Christian history, like I did? To me, theirs were the real adventure stories, and I ate them up like the last berries on the bush, each one savored.

I’m sure each one of us can think of someone, either past or present, that has been seen as unlikeable for one reason or another. And if not by us, then by others. Maybe it’s their personality, habits, demeanor … or maybe they are downright rude and inconsiderate of those around them.

In 1890, Catherine Booth wrote, “It will be a happy day for England when Christian ladies transfer their attentions from poodles and terriers to destitute and starving children*. She reminded women that living for pleasure and filling their days with eating, drinking, dressing, and sightseeing left no time to serve God and become His hands and feet to the poor and outcast.