Expandable Walls

     Okay so this is a topic that may not apply to everyone.  It is something I am quite passionate about.  As Christians it seems as if our boundaries always have limits.  Many have or do at this time put their good face on for church and the activities that may involve.

     I have reflected many times on the life I had in the past.  When I became a new Christian I was anxious and ready to talk to anyone and everyone.  Pretty much like most.  Most do not understand how to come across in a way in which we do not turn others away.  Generally, after some time, if it sticks we throw ourselves into our church where it is safe.  Some people dive a hundred and ten percent into everything they do in their church.  When my kids were little my ex was a Sunday school teacher of roughly fifty plus adults.  I was in charge of nursery, I led children's church, went to a ladies Bible study, a small group and led a teen girls study.  Also served on a few committees.  Insane I know!

     Why did I do all that!?!  Well, then I would have said I had to.  It was my duty and my responsibility as a church member.  Some may even say it is their calling and for some it may be.  I cannot tell you how many times I or someone else used the excuse that if I did not do it then it will not happen.  Quite frankly this is arrogant!  Another issue is that my motives even though I did not realize at the time were all wrong.  Looking back I believe I needed validation as a person and if I did all these things then people would notice me.  My validation was based on people and their views.

     What really transpired during this time was I did all those things and yes might have had some attention in the process, but my spiritual growth was zilch.  There were likely some good things that happened in that time and hopefully a seed was planted with someone.  Truth is I doubt it.  I thought I was doing all those things with the right intent, but I was not.  

     Another problem is when people do to much in their church they often reach a point of burn out.  After a while they are exhausted, drained and resentment sets in.  They could also be taking away another persons opportunity to step up to the plate.  Some churches have expectations of asking anyone and everyone to do this or that.  Many years ago I visited a church that had a great philosophy on this.  No one could serve until after a year and then their gifts were evaluated.  When the time was right and they were ready they served where their gift was.  I so love this concept!  That churches focus was growing their new believers and having them focus on their relationship with God.

     Okay now going back to the years of burn out.  After all that time, work and running to "serve" others we failed ourselves and we failed out children.  We spoke of what to do and how to do it, then we went home and well let's just say nothing.  No spiritual growth, no Godly relationships.  Our kids just saw us going through the motions and not backing up what we talked.  As I write this I feel a failure, I feel a disgust and a complete sadness.  

     The Bible teaches us to serve and to serve with joy.  Mark 16: 15 says  "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."  It does not say go into your church and serve there and there alone.  Go unto the world!  Now do not get me wrong I am not saying do not serve in your church, but expand those walls to everyone.  We all have a spiritual gift so find it and use it.  To be honest with you I could not or shall I say should not do some things others have the gift of doing. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit of utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit.

     There was a time I was one of those people when someone needed prayer and I said the words "I will pray for you," then forgot in no time and never did it.  About seven years ago around this time of year I found myself in lets just say the depths of despair.  Incredibly sad from the lose of a loved one and no where to turn...except to God.  It had been a rough time leading up to this anyway, but my grandmothers death was the last straw.  I remember being so devastated I could barely handle it and literally within a week of her death I was in an argument with someone who knew exactly how to hurt me.  I am not sure I will ever forget those words he said.  " You are only upset because you have no one and no one cares about you!"  Oh man those words cut like a knife.  At that time though I had no one (other than my kids) that were meaningful.  It was during this time I had to turn to God, humbly and painfully.  He was all I really had that could understand my pain.  So I talked to Him more and more.  While I will always feel the lose of her death, it was during this time He taught me to rely on Him and Him alone.  My prayers turned from myself and onto others.  Before I knew it I would pray walking down the hallway at work for anyone I saw who looked burdened.  I prayed for every old lady who wanted me to hold their hand and pray with them.  I prayed for those who never knew it.  Today, as crazy as this sounds I use Facebook as a prayer zone.  Every need, every sorrow and every death....I stop and pray.  That is my gift now and I love to do it for people.  Prayer does not have boundaries, it can go with you anywhere.

     1 Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.  (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil.  He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. 

     Wow that is quite the verse!  Can anyone live up to that?  That is a tall list of requirements to serve.  Some of these are easy for many.  I struggle with my own issues like all of us.  John 13:13-17 says it best, "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." 
     Okay so He is our example and we are to be Christ like in all we do.  Today I watched a wonderful video about a man who was drunk in a bar on a Saturday night and the next morning he realized he needed a change so he went to church.  He did not walk out feeling renewed, but walked out with no one speaking to him or reaching out or anything.  He went from a bar stool one night, to a pew the next morning and after leaving felt more love and acceptance from the bar.  In the book of Mark and Luke there are several examples of Jesus with sinners.  He did not limit forgiveness to those who believed in Him, He did not limit the ability to love, His walls went past the already believers and the church.  
     Doing what you are actually called to do rather than going through the motions is far more powerful than igniting a fire behind your tail that gets burned out quickly.   Feed the hungry, talk to those that feel lost, be real about who you are.  Reach out to everyone not just those in the church.  I am not saying not to serve in your church, but remember Jesus reached out to all people.  There is no limit on ministry!