Proverbs 31 v10-31's blog

Last night, a family member and I went through all the 'Kids Storage' at church. We cleaned, tidied and sorted. We used of all of the dozens of storage containers that we bought to make things easy to find and easy to pack away.

All in all, from sorting out creche toys, to books, to craft supplies, it took us around three hours before we were ready to pack up and go home. We moved quickly and with diligent hands I achieved what would normally take days in just hours. I am so thankful that I had willing assistance.

As we finished, so did an event in the Church's auditorium. As we packed the last bits away a Church Elder walked in. He is one of those people who notices everybody and everything and is a strong encourager. After observing our scurry to get finished before someone decided to lock-up the building he said, 'People should know what you do here, eh?"

I responded in the negative telling him that, "It just needed to be done and that if I want for the Children's Ministry leaders to be able to do their jobs effectively."

Of course, afterwards, I was asking myself why I didn't just come out and say that I liked to do things behind the scenes that no-one would normally notice. You see, what this Elder missed is that, at the end of the day, it does not matter who here knows what I do or don't do. It matters to the one person who sees everything - God.

I love to do things that make a difference to others. However, fanfare and hullabaloo about what people have done on any given day are not. For it is so easy to see what some (like Worship Teams) do and miss all the others who set up, pack up, prepare communion, vacuum the floors and clean the toilets. We don't pay anyone to do these things and someone does need to do them. The good news is that God sees those people who willingly volunteers and is made glad by their act of service to Him.

My Christmas wish for you is that in these festive times you can see past pain, hurts and troubles to reach out your hand. I pray that your hand will give hope to another as you reach out to help.

My Christmas wish for you is that all that you do, albeit the same as any other day, that it will be done with appreciation for all that you have that others may not. I pray that you are enveloped in joy as you serve others.

My Christmas wish for you is that you take the time to love someone else that you find hard to love. I pray that in doing so that you feel loved for just being yourself too.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can consider others with a higher regard than yourself. Then, when you arrive home safely after your celebrations, I pray that you can bring thanks to God that no one lost their life at your hands that same night.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can share the spirit of Christmas in special ways with those who see you in a faceted way. I pray that your life is a testimony of love to work colleagues and clients, to playgroup mums and to the barrista at your local coffee bar.

My Christmas wish for you is that as you contemplate the year ahead that your already laid plans clearly seen as wise or unwise. I pray that all fear, angst and stress be replaced with empowerment, encouragement and, above all, peace.

With love at Christmas

Okay, so I am passionate about our youth. Not the maintenance of perfect younger looking skin but, rather, the fact that we have millions of young people around the world who are trying to work out how to make good decisions as they face the cards that they have been dealt in life so far. Those decisions will, in turn, determine what cards will come next and how their game of life pans out.

Now, across our great country we have thousands of 'youth groups' be they church-based or as part of wider community outreach programs. Many parents I have spoken to have said that they will get involved when their children are that age. To this though I wonder, "Why do they wait?"

For a moment I want to think about these teenagers twenty years from now. They will be in their thirties and our children will be in their twenties. Now think about the people you spend time with now as an adult - people from their 20's and far beyond and the conversations that you have.

Yes, twenty years from now our children will be talking to these teenagers about their lifestyle and life choices. They will taking on the advice and opinions of these present-day teenagers about faith, career, family, relationships and using that information to make life decisions for themselves. Of course, it is unlikely at this point that we, as parents, will be their primary influence any more too.

So, maybe now you can see why I wonder why more parents of young children are not getting their hands dirty with our youth now! I am as passionate about young people now, if not more, than I have ever been before and I am happy to be there to support them in whatever form that needs to be to prepare them for making great decisions as young adults and well into adulthood.

Youth groups are great places to get beside young people and get to know them for who they are. Not just on a superficial level but what is dream for their future lays in their heart and how that dream has evolved from their childhood to today and how it can be given the chance for flight into the future.

A good youth group will always be a place where good decision making is fostered and where emerging adults can exercise both teamwork and autonomy in safe environment. It is a place where they can and will learn their own strengths and growth areas and how to use that in a team effort to achieve both personal and corporate goals.

If you are a parent of young children then I encourage you to think about the kind of people you want your children spending time with as young adults and then, ask yourself, "What can I do to give my child the best set of supporters for that time of their lives?" The answer will likely lie in how you investing in youth.

It seems of late that I have been in receipt of a load of compliments for the bits and pieces that I have been up to. In reflection, I do not understand why these compliments are coming in now because I do not believe that I have done anything more, of late, than any other time. Maybe it is just that people are actually noticing for the first time or maybe it is me actually hearing their compliments and taking them for what they are for the first time? I am not sure, either way.

Most of the things that I do are small and fall into insignificance. They are certainly not the feats that are used as testimonies of God's power at the pulpit. They are the small things like writing a roster, wiping down a table, giving a hug to someone who needs it and sharing conversation over a hot drink.

With this spate of compliments I have had to give thought as to how to respond beyond an appreciative,"Thank You". So, tonight I have drawn myself into the Word to look for how I can better articulate what I would like to say to others in response. The passage that brings words to my lips is in Isaiah.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

So, if you see me 'just getting on with the job' and are pleased, appreciative or even 'shocked' at how I fit it into my busy life I have something for you to do before paying me a compliment. That thing is to thank the Lord because it is through him that my strength comes and that I may be able to reach out and give with the abundance of life-giving, fresh flowing waters that fill my cup to overflowing. When I bring good to others, know that it is not me but He who lives in me that prompts me to live out His promises.

I know that I, too, give thanks to people regularly for things that they do and I always strive to thank the Lord for them. This week I am committing myself to thanking the Lord for people who make a difference in my days. I invite you to join along with me.

If you do not know how to start then use the words contained in the Word (NIV) to get you started:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because.. (as in Romans)

I always thank God for you because.. (as in 1 Corinthians)

Sometimes, though, we are not sure what to be thankful for because it is hard to pinpoint or encapsulate what someone has done for you or what they have done to benefit others. In this case, like me, you may find your self praying in the spirit of the words that are found in 1 Thessalonians:

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

In addition to this, it will be my fervent prayer this coming week that the promises in God's Word will be fulfilled in their life as it is in Phillipians also:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Phillipians 1:9-11 (ESV)

Please post a comment if you are committed to join with me in thanking the Lord for others this week so that they may be encouraged in their faith wanderings also.

With love
Proverbs Wife

I know that earlier this year I had my world rocked and I learned a lesson that I had not considered before. It was one that my husband had expressed many times before but I needed to put into context for myself.

I had always known that true joy was not in the receiving but rather the giving. However, there is more to it than that. You see, when you give there is more joy that comes afterwards when you see that the recipient has appreciated it when they look back it in the months and years that follow. I hope that any person who has ever bought us a meal, helped me tidy or cook for events, taught me something new or been there to share a DVD with tea and chocolate with me would know that I have always appreciated it.

I guess one lesson I have learned is that although you may give to others through time, acts of service, gifts, hugs and words of encouragement, this does not mean that they appreciate will appreciate it at the time and/or that they even know for themselves the joy that comes from passing on that joy to others stepping out themselves and giving to others too.

So, this past week have asked for a spirit of discernment to help me know where my effort will make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Where what I do will be appreciated not because 'I' have done it but because of the love of God who puts them on my heart and prompts me to do something out of love for them.