Journey with Jen: B-Team
Things are weird right now, right?
It isn’t just me?
Many of you have spent years and years fighting to get a good work-life balance and then just like that, you have more time at home than you would have ever considered acceptable to pray for. That same thing (although for drastically different reasons) happened to me almost 14 years ago when I fell ill. I wanted to be home with my kids more, but I was traveling out of state for work often. I felt as though I was missing so many milestones trying to build my career.
Then, with one sentence my life changed. I was home with my kids, but the reason behind it was illness and not like an amazing lottery win as I had hoped for. What is crazy to think about is how many other single sentences along the way have significantly altered my life in dramatic fashion.
The most recent was, “Your cancer is stage 3b.” It was not at all what I was expecting. These things never are, I suppose, but just like every other boulder thrown in my path, I am determined to make the best of what I have right now. I am determined to fight like crazy. I am also determined to serve in the midst of all this.
It is an odd time in my life to serve. It is an odd time in our world to serve. BUT... if I can find a way, so can you.
Servanthood looks very different than it did at the beginning of the year. Being the hands and feet may be something that has always been natural to you, when you could actually make use of those hands and feet. Having things change the scope of how you have always done things might actually open doors to new things. That is a lot of things, I know. But stick with me here.
We can ALL be doing something right now to help someone.
It may not look exactly the same as what you would have done pre-pandemic, but we are forging a brave new world here, friends. We are all being called to step out and serve creatively.
WE ARE THE CHURCH.
We are still the hands and feet. Maybe you have held off in the past at trying a new skill because you didn’t think you would be good at it and your energy might be better used elsewhere. Maybe you never had the time. Maybe you were just so busy you didn’t hear the call.
God does not call us to do something because we are the best at it. No. It is not about OUR ability. It is about our OBEDIENCE. He will equip those He calls. We just need to be willing. We have to be listening and we will be presented with our purpose, our fruit producing opportunity.
Are you producing fruit? Do you recognize your mission field? Are you waiting to have your ability or are you acting in obedience?
Jesus surrounding himself with all kinds of people- misfits, maidens, and those struck with all forms of malady. If his closest followers were an 80’s movie, they would be far more Goonies, Breakfast Club, or Bad News Bears than most of us would imagine or allow ourselves to consider. He does not expect us to be perfect, in fact if we were He would not have had to send His only son.
He can use each and every one of us.
He can use the woman who does not want to yell at her kids, but messed that up by 7:32AM today. The man who wants to be a leader at home and work, but feels unheard. The teen who knows that grades are important to their future, but never seems to prioritize their studying. The athlete in a rut. The friend who wants to be there for you, but has a heavy heart with her own things she is not yet ready to discuss. These are exactly the people God uses, time and time again. If you have a failing, who would you be most comfortable talking about that with- the one who has stumbled down that path and recovered or the one who never even considered that turn?
Friend, God does not need us to be perfect to be called. He just needs us to come, to listen, and then to allow our hearts, bodies, and minds to be WILLING. We do not have to be the cream of the crop or the A-Team material for God to use us. I am living proof of that with my broken and battered body and my strong and resilient spirit. That isn't me. That is all Him.
He equips the called and frankly, I have never been so excited to be a part of the B-Team. You likely have the time to try something new right now… let that something new be in service to others.
How can you help someone today?
How can YOU SERVE?