I often pray that God will make me ready for the work. Not work as in a job, hours 9 to 5 but work as in putting forth effort to be an extension of grace and love. Work as in laboring to be forgiving and not growing weary of doing good in a world that is all about self-centeredness. Work as in making as many attempts as it takes to get it right, not perfect but right as in living a life of selflessness, forgiveness, and kindness. Some days are smoothing sailing and some days are challenging to even smile. The important thing to remember is to not give up because none of us are perfect.

Too often we think of the work as being something big and over the top but really the work that is most impacting is conducted in everyday life. It’s about leaving a person better than you found them. That kind of work is not found in big over the top displays but revealed through soft expressions of love in action. Work is about persevering through doubt, hurt, disappointment, and weariness continuing to be an extension of God’s presence. Work is not about winning someone to your personal cause, religion, or theology but about introducing them into a relationship with their Savior, Jesus Christ.

The work is not about titles, authority, or power. It is about serving even the underserving. I am a little weary of people that hang on to titles or religion as if they were to be cherished. And in being completely honest in my younger days I couldn’t wait to be ordained or to have my degree in biblical studies (both of which I have) but I quickly learned those things were given to me for the sake of assisting in serving more people; thus, the work expanded. Those things were merely tools God had given me to better support me in the work I was called to do. They were not bestowed upon me to inflate my ego of importance but to serve people better. With that in mind, I pray “help me to better serve You, Lord with what I have been given.” We all have different things, equipped specifically and uniquely for a detailed work particular to us.

I don’t know what you are going through, I can only tell you my story. In my life at the moment, we are responsible for both our widowed mothers, this in and of itself is challenging and tiring. We are incumbered with watching my sister go through radiation and chemo treatments for cancer. We are responsible to give our children the best life we can afford them filled with boundaries and lessons on self-discipline, self-awareness, and love. This does not count jobs, ministry, or schooling we are in, the paper I have yet to write,(working on my master degree) etc… This does not count the specific work God has set aside for us as individuals. This is why I pray God make me ready for the work because half the time I am just tired. I don’t know about you but fatigue makes me grumpy and quick to lash out in anger not grace (grace tank blog). Yes, God make me ready for the everyday work and the big event work, the small work and the big work, just make me ready for the work. Albert Einstein said “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”

That made me really think of what fueled my work? Is my work fueled by accomplishment and praises over my title(s)? Or is my work fueled by benefiting someone other than myself with no acknowledgement of my accomplishments, title(s) or sacrifices… God’s work is most importantly found in everyday life where there is no acknowledgment or plaque of achievement. This is an internal working where titles are useless and power is about serving someone other than self. Yes, God make me ready for this work… where no ego lives, vanity is gone, pride has departed, and conceit eradicated… Renew my heart and mind for that specific work so that I do not grow weary. Show me Your ways, oh Lord because they will prepare me for the challenges ahead. The work does not always feel good but work is not about feeling good it is about serving and doing with no titles, no ego, no self.

Matthew 9: ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

It is my personal desire to be one of the workers in the harvest field, whatever that work maybe. I pray you discover your work for the Lord.

Good Night Ladies…

Today my ten year old carried a sweater up to me (as I was working in my office from home) and handing it to me she inhaled big and said “your sweater smells so good.” I smelled it and said I don’t smell anything to which she replied “it smells like you and I love that smell.” I have to admit it made me smile and my heart swell just a little bit.

As I sit here working on ministry work, breaking down parables for our class, I thought about what my daughter said to me, and I am consoled that this kind of comfort does not have to leave us as adults. God wants to bring that kind of comfort into our lives. We have been fearfully and wonderfully made in His image to which He searches the entire earth to find people, to rescue people, and to bring completion to their life through His, only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I am constantly reminded how religion and hateful people try to take that from others. I encourage you today to allow God into your life to be that comfort you need, that smell of familiarity, and the voice of peace in your life that brings a transformational love. Comfort means to soothe, while I could not detect my own scent it was obvious that my daughter could and it brought her great comfort in smelling it. I believe God wants to be that for us right now. That soothing balm for our weary souls, troubled minds, and anxious hearts.

The Message Bible, Matthew 11: ^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from receiving that incredible redemptive love. God wants you to be part of His family. I love that God’s family is made up of a lot of misfits. Oh, I could do an entire sermon about the misfits in God’s family but I don’t have enough room to do that on here. Please don’t let bad experiences, religious people, or anger keep you from receiving the comfort God has for. It is such a sweet, sweet love that brings a divine peace.

It is my prayer that each of you feel the love the Lord has for you and to know it is a personal love because Jesus is a personal Savior. You were created with individuality in a unique fashion for God’s glory that is to reveal God’s marvelous splendor to the world in a way that only you can. Don’t be a victim to past mistakes, current situations, or held hostage by emotions. God looks at you with tender affection. Comforting: God was an encouraging presence to Moses, God was a reassuring voice to Joshua, God was a calming voice to the Prophet Elijah, God was an inspiring voice Jeremiah, Jesus was an uplifting presence to the masses of people that sought His help over and over… Always from the beginning of creation until now God has desired to be a comfort in the lives of those that would allow Him.

I encourage you to take a leap of faith into the comforting arms of Jesus.

Good Afternoon Ladies…

PS. It took me a long time to realize the comfort of the Lord because all I was taught was His wrath, His anger, and judgment but God is a loving God and desires to be love in your life. It took me longer to realize His comforting voice because I didn’t really have one growing up. Even if you didn’t get to grow up with a comforting smell or voice from someone you loved, know that God desires to be that for you. He wants you to be part of His family. What gives me the most comfort in life is knowing that I am never alone, I know that God goes with me on this journey I travel. He is not offended to be part of my messy life. He brings a soothing order to my chaos, comforting my heart, soul, and mind. Renewing me each day for what is ahead.