Do the work at hand

In 5 months, we hope to be zipping our suitcases for a long trip across the Pacific. Before we go, there's work to be done.

The meeting before the meeting: friends visiting
and catching up on Christmas events

W's begun his final semester at the university, so this was a busy week of preparation. The class syllabi and websites are done; he's ready to teach on Monday morning. Meanwhile we're hosting guests twice a week and itinerating on the weekends.

Today we're spoke at a seniors lunch before heading across Snoqualmie Pass. The torrential rain and occasional snow were foul but the roads were only slushy for a few miles. God answered Jean's petition for safe travels, gripping my hands in prayer before we left Creekside Church.

Tomorrow we preach together in the Sunday morning adult class and service in Kennewick. W and I have notes on many scripture passages. Integrating what we have and what we're learning together is a lively process. Back and forth. Writing notes, deleting extra material, talking it through. What a privilege to do God's work together.

What is the work God is calling you to do? 

Seniors with a great sense of humor and pragmatic thinking:
why exhaust friends before Christmas when
you can keep celebrating into the New Year?

Here are a few questions that help me evaluate work, confirming that we're not filling time with things that don't matter:

• Do we sense God's approval on this opportunity? "Would Jesus be comfortable doing this?"
• Does this work need doing? Sometimes we're assigned things that are diversions or someone's hobby horse. Sometimes we're the only ones within hand's reach of an onerous task that is important but not desirable. "Just do it!"
• If it needs doing, are we the best person to do it? Is there someone else who would learn from/ enjoy/ thrive on doing this? However, we can't just shove a chore to someone else because it's menial or "beneath us." After all, Jesus served in low and high tasks.
• How can we best serve God and others in completing this? What spiritual gifts (serving, helping, teaching, etc.) could help us do a good job?
  
  The outcome might include benefits to us: developing spiritual discipline, good character, or skills. Maybe we need God's grace to do something with a good attitude or light heart. Some things may be easy, while others may take great effort. "Whatever you do, do it with all your might as serving the Lord."

The next time you are handed an opportunity or are asked to undertake something, pause to think about the wonder of God at work in the world - through you and me.

Read more:
*As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. Psalm 103:13 NEV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17 NKJV

*In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10 ESV

Moravian Prayer: What a wonderful and awesome God we serve! You sacrificed your pure and sinless son for the sake of the world. We cannot thank you enough. Accept our praise, love, devotion, and worship for we can never, ever repay this debt. Glory and honor to you, Lord. Amen.

Great expectations

From Real Simple Daily Thought

Wouldn't it be nice to have the ideal job?

• You wake without an alarm and bounce out of bed in anticipation.
• The family cooperates to make the morning easy and the commute is light.
• When you check in, the boss (or coworkers) greet you with a smile and wish you a great day.
• You work hard at your calling but it feels like play. The day flies by. Before you know it, it's time to go wrap up.
• You're refreshed and your heart is singing. You don't even notice the homeward commute.
• Your family is happy to see you - it's been another great day, and you can't wait for tomorrow!

Most of us don't have THAT kind of job all the time. I had a job like that for two years. I couldn't wait to tackle the tasks, to meet my contacts, and to facilitate services for the company and its clients. When the dynamics changed, work became...

well, work. It felt more like "By the sweat of your brow you shall labor," than "You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace."

No matter how ideal the vocation and no matter what our great expectations, parts of what we do will be hard, perhaps even distasteful. They may feel like boring chores.

• Programmers have to show up at meetings with managers who ramble on about their own agenda. 
• Faculty members have to serve on committees and grade papers. 
• Landscapers have to scrape the mud off their shovels and strip off dirty overalls.

It's the part that feeds our soul that makes work fun.

• Are you a communicator? Maybe the meetings and the group presentations ring all kinds of bells for you. 
• Are you a gifted teacher? Seeing students grasp new concepts thrills you. 
• Do you have the gift of hospitality? You forget the mess in the kitchen because people are enjoying the meal. 
• Are you a caregiver? Easing the burden of others brings you joy.

What makes it all worthwhile is aligning our calling, gifting, education, and experience. What about your work makes you happy you're there?

Read more:
*The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib; but my people do not understand. Isaiah 1:3 NLT

*Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17 NLT

Moravian Prayer: You made us in your image, God, and appointed us stewards of your creation. Yet we do not acknowledge your greatness or your will for our lives. Teach us humility, that we may know you as our Creator. Amen.