Volunteers
CHRISMATA
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10 (Today's NIV)
Welcome
Chrismata is a quarterly newsletter aimed to encourage and enlighten the volunteer staff of CBC. Without you, CBC would not be possible. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Connection
Unsure of your spiritual gifts? Get plugged into CBC's Connection series where you'll be able to discover your S.H.A.P.E. for ministry. More information can be found here.
Volunteer Testimonies
Each quarter we will bring you testimonies from people who have recently completed the Connection series. This quarter, Parker and Karyn Linekin shared with us.
Parker liked how "in-depth" the S.H.A.P.E. interview was "and how helpful they were in pinpointing my gifts." When asked if he would recommend that a family member or friend go through the S.H.A.P.E. interview process, Parker stated, "Yes. It helps a person know how to apply their gifts and they get to see the individual as opposed to the organizational part of our church."
And Karyn Linekin shared the following thoughts with us: "I wanted to connect more with the church I made my home and I believe that goal was furthered."
Replenishment
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16 (NIV)
Often we are so busy that we think we don't have time to pray. That is when we need to remember that even though throngs of people followed Jesus, asking him to perform all kinds of miracles.....even though Jesus used every possible opportunity to teach his disciples and the crowds about spiritual truths and their application in this world....even though Jesus knew His time on earth was short.....He took time to pray. Praying and working within our spiritual gifts are two key items to ensure we are in God's will for our lives.
Balance
Recently I read an article by Gary Thomas entitled "All Work and No Pray? Balancing ministry for God and intimacy with God," (The Discipleship Journal, January/February 2008, www.discipleshipjournal.com). It seemed to fit the theme for this quarter's Chrismata. The first paragraph, a quote from Elton Trueblood, sounded like a familiar chord in my life:
The man who is always available isn't worth much when he is available.
We can be so busy doing things for God that we don't take the time necessary to be intimate with God. Doesn't that remind you of the difference between Mary and Martha in Luke 10? Scripture says that Mary stayed by Jesus, hanging on every word He spoke, while Martha was consumed with all the things that needed to be done in the kitchen. When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her, He instead told Martha that Mary had chosen the "good portion," which would not be taken away from her.
Why is it important for us to maintain this balance between work and prayer? In the article, Gary Thomas explains why prayer and ministry must be balanced: "As we build intimacy with God in prayer, He shares His heart with us." Thus, "prayer feeds our sense of mission" and Christian work "reminds us of our need for God's strength, and so drives us further into prayer."
How can we know if we are in balance? According to the article, classic signs of being overworked and underprayed include pride, talking about oneself a lot, hoping for words of praise from others, irritability, self-reliance, and no peace. "We will grow weary in our task and lose our hearts for God's people. We will . . . start ministering out of our own strength."
What about the flip side of the coin-All prayer and no work? Gary Thomas states, "We can become so enamored with our prayer and devotional lives that we forget we're being fed to feed others. When this happens, our spiritual lives often turn inward, and we measure ourselves by narcissistic evaluations." When we err on this side, we might become self-absorbed, feel guilt or listlessness, and have very little, if any, joy.
How, then, do we maintain the right balance between work and prayer? As Gary Thomas suggests, we should remember the Garden of Gethsemane. Most of us think of it as the place to where Jesus retreated in prayer the night He was betrayed. But Luke 22:39 gives us a little more insight into the fact that going to the garden to pray was a common practice for our Lord: "Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives [where the Garden of Gethsemane was located]." And John 8:1-2 states, "Jesus had often met there with His disciples." Gary Thomas calls the Garden of Gethsemane "a sacred fountain of spiritual blessing" for Jesus.
If we are to remain effective in the use of our spiritual gifts and our ministries, then we must strive to cultivate our own "Gethsemane." Gary Thomas explains that Gethsemane can be a solitary retreat, a small group, a garden... wherever you can go to "experience prayer and intimacy with God." Just remember, "don' forget to leave Gethsemane so that you can accomplish the work God has assigned you. Spiritual health is found in the valley between these two hills."
From the Desk of Robyn Ross
I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your heart to serve here at CBC. I would personally like to thank Sherry Kaufman for designing this letter of appreciation and encouragement to all those who serve here. I am blessed to work with Sherry and appreciate all the hours that she has spent working on this new project and will continue to research new articles to share and uplift all of you.
I would like to share something that I read in my morning devotions. Do you know what BFF means? Did you have someone in High School that you could tell anything to, share with, or just spend time with that you cherished? Do you remember on your wedding day...who stood there as your Best Man or Maid of Honor? The phrase "Best Friends Forever" (BFF) should most appropriately apply to Jesus. We can always know where He is....He is right by our side daily! The bible describes Jesus as a friend who sticks closer to us than a brother does. He wants us to believe Him and to walk beside Him. Just as with any friendship, time must be spent to build an intimate relationship. Do you make time for Jesus in your day-to-day life? Do you deem Him your BFF?
"But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24b (NIV)
Please share with others what God has done for you as you are faithful to Him. If I can be of any assistance to you or your ministry, please do not hesitate to call me at the office. Again, thank you for your faithfulness and your heart to serve.
Photos from Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
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