Wow! It's been a few day's since my last blog. Haha...sorry! 'll try to do better about feeding y'all something. Starting in June we will be doing our teaching from the book 'Heart of The Artist on the third Thursday of every month from 7:00pm to 7:30 as opposed to "whenever I feel like it." We are asking that every member of our creative arts team (media, lighting, sound, vocals, musicians, drama, dance, etc.) attend these meetings. It's an opportunity for us to all learn and grow together as a team. I also want to ask you all to be faithful in attending Team Church every month. Attending Team Church is vital in cultivating and maintain unity amongst those of us who are laboring together on a weekly basis. Pastor Brian always has an amazing leadership lesson that challenges us to become the best we can be for the Kingdom. Plus you get to enjoy GREAT FOOD and FELLOWSHIP!!! Please make every effort to attend. Our next Team Church is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th. It would make me crazy happy for our Creative Arts ministry to have 100% participation. Let's do it guys!
OK, I want to take a moment and share a tidbit from our book. I always enjoy reviewing this material because it really forces us to take a step back and evaluate our motives for doing ministry. Why do we do what we do? Do we do it solely as a volunteer and out of obligation? Or do we truly feel that we are doing it in response to the call God has placed on our life? Do we understand that there is a HUGE difference? Let me just say... YES ...there is a big difference. First I want to stress that volunteering is NOT a bad thing. Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do and sometimes its not what we WANT to do. But how many understand that there is a much deeper level of commitment, joy, and sense of reward when we know we are operating in an area we know God has called us to? Colossians 4:17 says, "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." In 1Timothy 1:12 Paul says, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointed me to His service." Paul understood that his ministry wasn't just routine volunteering that he did out of obligation or guilt. It was a special calling from God. Wow! God help us to change the way we think about and approach our positions in ministry. So how do you tell the difference between volunteering and calling? The following is a list of differences that were observed by Rory Noland between people who are merely volunteering and those who are operating in their calling.
1.) Volunteers see their involvement at church as community service, but people operating in their calling see it as ministry.
2.) Volunteers whine about what it's going to cost to serve, but people operating in their calling are committed to serving. They see themselves as stewards of the gifts God has given them. They calculate the cost but they focus on the benefits.
3.)Volunteers shrink back from resolving relational conflict, but people operating in their calling seek to resolve relational conflict for the sake of unity in the church.
4.) Volunteers look upon rehearsal as another commitment they're obligated to fulfill, people operating in their calling look forward to rehearsal as another opportunity to be used by God and to develop their skill.
5.)Volunteers do no outside practicing or preparation, but people operating in their calling come to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible. Volunteers do just enough to get by because after all, their just volunteers.
6.)Volunteers are not open to constructive criticism; they get defensive about it. But people who are operating in their calling are grateful for feedback because they want to be the best they can be. (OUCH!! Help me Lordt!)
7.)Volunteers feel threatened by the talent of others, but those operating in their calling praise God for distributing gifts and talents as he chooses.
8.) Volunteers want to quit at the first sign of adversity or discouragement, but those operating in their calling will dig in and persevere. No church is perfect, but for that matter, none of us is the perfect church member, either.
9.)Volunteers find their main source of fulfillment in their talents and abilities, but those operating in their calling know that being used by God is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life.
10.) Volunteers can't handle being put in situations in which they're going to be stretched, but those operating in their calling respond to God's call with humble dependence on Him.They know that if God has called them to minister, He will equip them to do the work of the ministry.
This is not intended to offend you, but to challenge you. It challenges me. I don't always operate with the right attitude and sometimes I need a reality check that points me back in the right direction. I hope reading this does the same for you. I recently viewed a video on youtube that had a great message about doing things halfway. I though you might enjoy it so here is the link: ALMOST (SAVED).
Jason and I count it a privilege to serve with each and every one of you. We love you deeply and desire to see you excel and be the best you can be....for the KINGDOM.
Much love!
Misty
No comments:
Post a Comment