Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
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Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2006

Grace Church of Burlington September 24, 2006 “Time is just the fringe of eternity.”             There’s an old saying, “If you want to get a job done, ask a busy person to do it.” This past week I asked a very busy person to take on a ministry and they jumped at it.             One of the amazing facts of ministry is that usually those who are the busiest are also the most involved in serving the Lord. They look for more opportunities to minister. They truly enjoy serving and do so with a glad heart. They don’t moan or groan. They don’t complain that others are not involved. If you ask them to even just consider a ministry, they nearly always jump at it. The truth is that you have to encourage them to not spread themselves too thin and to not always volunteer. Over the years, when we have had a ministry project there have been some folk, because they are always involved, that I’ve asked to please not come. This past week I asked someone who I knew was busy to consider a ministry opportunity. Now it was not easy for me because I know how full their plate is and sometimes as a pastor you feel like a beggar with a tin cup. But I felt that the Lord had laid them on my heart. I knew too that their particular gifts and ministry abilities fit this situation...and as I suspected, they jumped at it and did it gladly. So why is it that some who are obviously so very busy just love, really relish, being more involved and joyfully serve the Lord? Well, as I was thinking about that, I came up with the following observations.             a) Those who love serving, almost to overflowing, do it for an audience of One.They truly do it as service to the Lord. They don’t care if no one ever knows. They don’t complain because they see ministry as just another opportunity to serve the Lord Who died for them. They also see ministry, not as for the pastor or even for the church but as an offering to the Lord.             b) They see ministry as a direct deposit. Everything we do, how we work, how we parent, how we relate to our spouse...even cleaning the bathroom or taking out the garbage should be service to the Lord. God has entrusted every part of our lives to us. We are only managers of what He has entrusted to us. Thus, anything we do is service to the Lord. But when we serve in a capacity that is directly spiritual, it’s like a direct deposit into your savings account in Heaven.             Let me explain. Most of us have IRAs and Mutual Funds. We hope that they’ll do well and earn us more money, but sometimes there are major market downturns and we lose money. However, if you could take that same money that you are told you could potentially earn and have it as cash, as a sure thing, rather than a hope so...all of us would jump at it. That’s what ministry is – it’s spiritual cash. When someone serves  in the nursery,  makes a dessert for a newcomer,  gives generously, even just cleans the church – those are all direct deposits. There is no compensation outside of  Heaven  and  we  do it  solely  for  the Lord.  Our Heavenly Father is never going to be a debtor to us. In fact, His return is better than the best financial guru on Wall Street can even dream of. In our jobs and homes we should be wise stewards and serving the Lord but our motives are often mixed there. When we share the Gospel with a lost person, when we pray for a hurting friend or for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom, we are making a direct deposit.             c) They are so grateful, they just can’t seem to serve enough. Those who serve and give so generously know how much God has given for them. The reason that they can’t seem to serve enough is that they are so grateful that God gave His Son, rescued them from their sinfulness and Hell...that every act of service is an act of gratitude.             When Jane and I were first married, we had a car that was barely holding together. In act of total kindness and generosity, Jane’s Uncle – Uncle John, gave us a car. It was one of the kindest things that anyone has ever done for me. And there was not anything that I would not have done for Uncle John, I was just so astounded at his generosity.             In a much, much, much greater way – when we really realize that we deserve Hell but our Father gave us Heaven – well, we just can’t serve Him enough. And that’s why busy Christians look for opportunities to be even busier. They don’t think of themselves but truly are sacrificial just as the Lord they serve is. They truly have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).             My friend, if you’re not busy serving the Lord...you’re missing out!! Just ask someone who is!! They’ll quickly tell you that the rewards are out of this world!!