I said a quick prayer, shut down the computer, and went on my way. She was someone I had said 'hi' to a few times here and there but I really didn't know her and it had been eons since I had taken a meal to someone I didn't know.
But through the hours that followed, God kept whispering, 'take her a meal ... take her a meal ... take her a meal.'
And finally I said 'yes' to Him and to Meal Train and to my church family.
Yes, I'm a part of this Body. Yes, I will step up to the plate. Yes, I'm done looking for reasons why I can't ... or more accurately, why I won't.
I suppose this sounds like no big deal to you, right? Someone's in need, the church sends out a call and you say, 'yes, of course I'll bring a meal.' But truth be told, if you're introverted or kind of new, it can be hard if we don't know the person, have no idea where they live, aren't sure what to whip up in the kitchen, don't really feel like a part of things, don't know alot of people.
Blah, blah, blah.
Oh what we've missed along the way in serving others, in honoring Christ, because we felt uncomfortable, or didn't want to be inconvenienced, were simply far too self-absorbed ... or {gasp} just plain lazy. And it has little to do with being introverted or new in town.
Stop it.
Stop with our endless variety of lame excuses why we're not reaching out the way we've been called to.
Stop waiting around for some kind of gold plated invitation to get involved, to serve lavishly, to love well.
*
My husband's been noticing an unmet need in our community in recent days. Actually it's been a few years. I've been nudging him to go for it, to step up to the table, to use his giftedness and his experience, to kick his vision into gear.
Too bad I haven't been taking my own advice.
On Sunday afternoon, I chopped up a whole bunch of stuff for a big ol' chef salad. Grabbed a Pillsbury brownie mix and rolled out my infamous Mom's Biscuits. Put the oven to work. We hopped in the car and I had the loveliest visit with the sweetest woman who radiated Christ to me. I got to pray with her.
I left full and overflowing ... strangely relieved and at peace. Finally obedient to a simple request God had placed right in front of me.
No more excuses.
Forgive me, Lord, for the ways I've let You and my church family down. You know my heart ... and You love me just the same.
Linda
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Love this post Linda. As a pastor, I get tired of hearing excuses. I work hard in my own life to not make excuses for things. as they say: you go girl!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sure you have some stories to tell, friend. Praise God for your faithfulness to your flock over the years. All those reasons 'why not' get quite old after awhile ...
DeleteINDEED! WHY NOT?? We never know the blessings we are missing by not obeying the nudges! He has such a wonderful life planned for us-if we only listen!
ReplyDeleteLOVE THIS POST!
Blessings!
You've said it well, friend.
DeleteListen. Obey.
I do love my comfort zone ...
Imagine what your life would be,
ReplyDeleteconstrained to stay at home.
Your window on the world, TV,
and the voices on the phone.
Imagine days that cycle past,
so hard to tell apart,
and yet time still moves too fast,
and menace chills your heart.
Imagine that you know the world
has no further use for you,
and that all you were's been hurled
into hell's own barbecue.
Then imagine the joy, ere the end
of a visit from a newfound friend.
And if you guys lived a whole lot closer, Tim and I would drop in for a few minutes just to say 'hi,' to chat a bit, check out the dogs ... and pray for you and Barbara.
DeleteDon't worry ... we wouldn't stay too long.
Ugh. You're talking to me, Linda. I can come up with those exact excuses to preempt me taking food to someone (among other things). Thanks for calling us out on it.
ReplyDeleteCalling myself out on it, for sure ... and guessing that I'm not the only one who sometimes wrestles with God when He nudges me to step out of my comfy zone ...
DeleteThanks for letting me know I'm not alone in this, Lisa!
;-)
Absolutely, Linda - no more excuses! May we all be the hands and feet of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
The hands and feet of Jesus ... yes, yes, friend.
DeleteI want to be that kind of disciple.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome ...
DeleteI think we can all plead guilty on this one in one season or another. Sometimes it comes from burnout when I said "yes" every time and for so long that I felt I had nothing left to give. The key in your article is that you listened to the Lord. I got into trouble when guilt led instead of the Lord. Thanks for keeping it real my friend!
ReplyDeletePam - I absolutely agree with you about that old guilt trip that churchy people used to try to motivate me with back in the day. I'm long over that, for sure.
DeleteAnd over-involvement in ministry and burnout leaves us crispy and dry and depleted with little of value to offer others. Been there, done that.
I only want to serve 'without reluctance or under compulsion.' The Lord loves {and deserves!} a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 has become a favorite verse in recent years.
It is good to know others have and listen to lazy and what to cook excuses. I have an “energy” crisis excuse. On our meals team, some people will purchase food (pizza, take out etc) if they don’t want to cook something non edible and bring that to a family. That appeals to some and cuts out the what to cook excuse.
ReplyDeleteGlad you made a new friend
I love that you have a Meals Team, Carol ... and yes, let's hear it for take out! My go-to comfort food when I haven't been well is Won Ton soup.
Delete;-}
If I ever need meals, someone could bring me a quart of it and I'd be a happy camper.
Chicken rice soup is mine (without the rice) so I hear ya...bring it by 5he quarts
DeleteWithout the rice, huh?!
DeleteGood article Linda. I need to be better at listening to God's nudging before He uses bigger ways to get my attention. Thanks for sharing - I am sure she loved your biscuits!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the bigger ways are scary, aren't they. I don't want to be around when He has to bring out the big guns ...
DeleteSadly, most of us have to learn the most important lessons the hard way.
Oh, how wonderful! All you said is so very true and needful. I don't know why we hold back from doing what Jesus would do, but we are all very guilty of it, and it was good to read this reminder today. Those biscuits sound amazing, too!
ReplyDeleteYes, my Mom's biscuits are delicious. I at least double and sometimes triple the recipe. They freeze beautifully without baking and then you can just pull one or two out of the freezer and pop in the oven.
DeleteToo fabulously delicious. Thanks, Mom!!
;-}
Awww, Linda. I'm convicted. I stopped providing meals awhile ago because it's another drain on my days. And, I know, that sounds terrible. And maybe God isn't calling me to do this right now. But maybe He's calling me to do something else, and I'm missing it because I'm not listening. Ouch. You've given me much to think about tonight.
ReplyDeleteI don't think what you're saying is terrible at all, Jeanne! You're in a very different season than I am ... and your focus these days might very well be ministry to your young men.
DeleteI guess the most important thing is that we're each listening to God saying, 'this is the way, walk ye in it' (Isaiah 30:31).
Bless you, friend ...
Linda, I have often had lame excuses for not meeting a need within my church body. But,when I do it always seems like a God ordained moment to connect with someone I barely know. Thank you for reminding me to be generous with my time.
ReplyDeleteWow, this right here, Pam -->'a God ordained moment to connect with someone I barely know.'
DeleteMaybe that's why we introverts shy away from God's nudges to get out there ... the difficulty of connecting with people we barely know. We seem to negate His graceful presence in our lives, His power and tender ability to give us what we need to reach out.
The familiar is so easy and predictable, isn't it ... and keeps us from relying on Him for what we need to minister.
Linda, I love how you tell it like it is: "Stop with our endless variety of lame excuses". Exactly right - we do need to listen to God urging us to step up, even when (especially when?) it's uncomfortable or inconvenient!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Laurie ... especially when it all seems a bit daunting, for whatever reason.
DeleteI can think of 17 reasons not to do just about anything God is nudging me to do. They center on me, myself and I! I’ve never regretted taking a meal. Great post, Linda!
ReplyDeleteWell said, Sue! And thanks for keeping us focused on what real hospitality looks like ...
DeleteLove it.
Linda, I love this post! Such a gentle reminder to be open, submitted, and surrendered to allow the Spirit of Christ to flow through us to do those things He has prepared in advance for us to do. I'm right there with you. Many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this right here, Beth-->'do those things He has prepared in advance for us to do.'
DeleteHe already knew, didn't He ...
Yes - it seems like no matter what the need, there are always reasons not to answer it. Looks like we've all wrestled with that at times. One of my biggest excuses: "Someone else could do it better." Though that's often true, that doesn't mean God doesn't want me to do it. Like others have said, sometimes we've gotten burned out from saying yes too often or acting out of guilt. But that doesn't mean we should never say yes again. Thanks for the reminder to listen for the Lord's nudges and be willing to act on them.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Barbara, 'someone else could do it better' is an easy excuse to grab onto ... probably because it's true! {At least from my kitchen!}
DeleteAnd yes, when we're burned out or guilt-induced, it's time to step away from the table {literally} and catch our breaths, find some healing.
As an introvert, I so get this. And as one who is good at excuses, I so get this. Thank you for the gentle nudge. SimplyBeth
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing every introvert totally gets where I'm coming from.
DeleteAbsolutely!
What a wonderful way to meet new people as we are already invited in through the invitation to help! I can often think 'but I'm not good enough, or spiritual enough, or blah blah blah.." Haha!
ReplyDeleteI like where you're coming from. Serving others is a wonderful way to get to know some new faces with new stories.
DeleteNot that the old faces are bad, but still, this is a great way to look at this, Lynn!
Preach it girl! We all need to do more to serve Him in the ways He places before us throughout our days. Love this!
ReplyDeleteServing Him. Amen!
Delete