I am pretty gung-ho about all the things going on this school year that I get to be involved with.
-Women's Bible study
-MOPS childcare
-Serving meals at women's shelter
-Kids of Character Club (after school program)
-My wonderful small group
-The foster support hub our church is starting up
-Missionary support
I'm excited to take on more than I did last year, pushing myself a little more as I continue to feel better.
But what do I do when I see these opportunities?
-[Person] needs people to sign up to bring meals because their family is going through a difficult time
-Donations needed for school supplies
-Donations needed for ministry on the Yakima reservation
-Helping the church out by giving regular offerings
-Women's events
-Prayer meetings
-Other childcare needs within the church
-Volunteering to help friends in the church with occasional needs (rides, meals, babysitting)
Outside of my current church I have a TON of girlfriends, and the list of people I want to get together with is very long. The conversations I want to have, the heartache I want to hear about. I have people who are here for me. I have people who need me to be here for them. I have people who want me to be here for them and I have so many other things going on that I just don't have the time or energy to get involved.
Then there are family ministries which are probably the most important. These don't all apply to me, but they might some day:
-Caring for a household
-Working
-Caring for children
-Caring for aging parents
There's more. There are things I am good at that I want to help with, but I know I might have too much on my plate already.
-Office volunteering.
-Web development.
-Recruiting others for ministry or fundraising.
-Writing.
-I want to give a lot more money than my husband and I have agreed upon. (He jokes I'd give all of our money if I could. And I probably would.)
-I want to buy a house and rent it out to those in need.
-I want our house to be a short-term residence for those in need.
-I want to foster. Respite. Emergency. Short term. Long term. Support other foster families. Possibly adopt.
-I want to visit and pray with shut-ins, the disabled in the community and church, and those who are ill, those who are in the hospital.
It never stops. How do I prioritize? I don't want to say "no" to anything, so how do I figure out what to say "no" to? Each person in charge of outside-my-family ministries needs help. And I'm one of the few people that has such a flexible schedule that I can do more outside ministry than those who have to work or have kids. (And you probably know I want kids too.)
How do I choose? I'm asking for help here. I'm not looking for answers like "It depends on your health" because I know that ;) Pretend like you are talking to a completely healthy person. Give me a spiritual perspective please. I see gaps in ministry that are not filled and I want to fill them.
-Women's Bible study
-MOPS childcare
-Serving meals at women's shelter
-Kids of Character Club (after school program)
-My wonderful small group
-The foster support hub our church is starting up
-Missionary support
I'm excited to take on more than I did last year, pushing myself a little more as I continue to feel better.
But what do I do when I see these opportunities?
-[Person] needs people to sign up to bring meals because their family is going through a difficult time
-Donations needed for school supplies
-Donations needed for ministry on the Yakima reservation
-Helping the church out by giving regular offerings
-Women's events
-Prayer meetings
-Other childcare needs within the church
-Volunteering to help friends in the church with occasional needs (rides, meals, babysitting)
Outside of my current church I have a TON of girlfriends, and the list of people I want to get together with is very long. The conversations I want to have, the heartache I want to hear about. I have people who are here for me. I have people who need me to be here for them. I have people who want me to be here for them and I have so many other things going on that I just don't have the time or energy to get involved.
Then there are family ministries which are probably the most important. These don't all apply to me, but they might some day:
-Caring for a household
-Working
-Caring for children
-Caring for aging parents
There's more. There are things I am good at that I want to help with, but I know I might have too much on my plate already.
-Office volunteering.
-Web development.
-Recruiting others for ministry or fundraising.
-Writing.
-I want to give a lot more money than my husband and I have agreed upon. (He jokes I'd give all of our money if I could. And I probably would.)
-I want to buy a house and rent it out to those in need.
-I want our house to be a short-term residence for those in need.
-I want to foster. Respite. Emergency. Short term. Long term. Support other foster families. Possibly adopt.
-I want to visit and pray with shut-ins, the disabled in the community and church, and those who are ill, those who are in the hospital.
It never stops. How do I prioritize? I don't want to say "no" to anything, so how do I figure out what to say "no" to? Each person in charge of outside-my-family ministries needs help. And I'm one of the few people that has such a flexible schedule that I can do more outside ministry than those who have to work or have kids. (And you probably know I want kids too.)
How do I choose? I'm asking for help here. I'm not looking for answers like "It depends on your health" because I know that ;) Pretend like you are talking to a completely healthy person. Give me a spiritual perspective please. I see gaps in ministry that are not filled and I want to fill them.
This runs the risk of sounding completely non-spiritual. But one thing I'd suggest is begin prioritizing ministries that most "feed" your soul, focusing not on where the gaps are but rather where you fit most naturally. I'm finding that the more "selfish" I am with prioritizing helping out where I most want to, where it feels easy and rewarding to me, the more I notice that other people who said "yes" to things I said "no" to find their role just as rewarding as mine. Like that passage about the different parts of the body having different functions, I'm learning to look at "hey, what ministries really fuel me?" As God's direction for how he's designed me to function best. E.g. Hands can feel around to somewhat bridge the gap of loss of eyesight, but far better that an eye comes along and does the job that comes so naturally to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Heidi! It doesn't sound selfish at all. It's hard because I seriously feel like everything I mentioned "fuels" me!
DeleteIf you had to choose just one ministry that would help you become more like Jesus and help others do the same which would you choose? That one should become primary. You have a great open heart and are multi-talented which is a sword that cuts both ways. One guiding quote: "Sometimes the way we do God's work destroys the work of God in us."
ReplyDeleteI know the answer to that one. I'll be honest, it's not my favorite ministry. It doesn't always "fuel" me like my sister mentioned in the comment above. It's mundane, boring, sometimes lonely, sometimes unappreciated.
DeleteServing my husband. By caring for the home, cooking, showing love by listening and sympathizing and all the little things that only I know he appreciates. And often simply keeping my mouth shut. Did you know that sometimes NOT talking is a ministry? Haha.
Wise words from a wise man. Thanks Aaron, it makes perfect sense. Chris said he's going to respond to this too so perhaps he'll have some insight about how to prioritize other "outside" ministries.
Maybe making others aware of the needs can be part of your ministry, as opposed to doing all of them yourself. Do what you can do. Focus on your simple routines: God, taking care of you, the house/hubby. Set a small spiritual goal for devotions.
ReplyDelete