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Being Available.

Pastor preached yesterday on being available to God for Him to use. And it stuck in my thoughts all the day long. I mulled it over, I chewed on it and I prayed and thought some more.
I believe many people need to be prodded to be available because of the shortage of volunteers that I see all around me. Few are doing the work of many and so much more needs to be done . . . . So we put out the call for others to step up and step in.
But what does it mean to me to be available? Rarely do I turn people down when help is needed- I’ve filled in the gaps at church in more places than I care to think. Some worked, some didn’t. But I felt I had to stick to the adage “See a need, fill a need.” I can’t think of how many times I’ve sighed in resignation and said, “Oh alright, if no one else is going to do it I guess I will.”
What kind of an attitude is that?
So I ask again what does it mean to me to be available?
My thoughts are running in an entirely different direction. I have kept myself so busy- doing what I thought was needed and necessary that I now find . . . . .
I haven’t been available.
I’ve been too busing DOING to be available.
Being Available is not synonymous with “Do, Do, Do”.
I got that part wrong.
God is calling me to Be Available.
To be free from other burdensome jobs/ministries/etc. in order to hear Him calling me.
I heard Him call me in the quiet yesterday afternoon.
He called me to
REST.
Simply rest.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30]
I’ve been going about it all wrong and it took hitting the wall at warp speed and spending a few days trying to summon the energy to crawl out for me to begin to hear.
God isn’t always calling us to “do” something, sometimes He calls us to be quiet so He can speak to our hearts, so He can help heal.
I believe God calls people to times of rest.
I believe because I know He is calling me to such a time.
I’ve become dysfunctional.
I’ve become what I dreaded may happen when I began over seven years ago . . . .
All about the business and busyness and becoming lost to the quiet in the secret places.
Becoming a world-class “do-er” isn’t God’s design for me.
Super-woman-wife-mom-youth director-and-whatever-else-I-can-tack-on-to-show-the-world-that-I’ve-got-it-all-going-on is not the title God has in mind for me.
He just calls me to be His servant.
And He is calling this servant to a time of Rest.
Rest.
Restore.
Renew.
Revitalize.
Rebuild.
Refresh.
Rekindle.
Recharge.
God’s got a plan for me- and I now know it starts with stopping.
Be Available.

Being Available

4:10 PM, 2009-Jan-5 .. Posted by April in RI

Oh, how your words and current situation speak to me!
I have been feeling the pull to step back for so long. What has stopped me?

Sometimes it has been pride - prideful thoughts that only I can do what I am doing at work. There has also been fear - if I stop doing this, what will I be? Will I be less important without this role outside my home? There has also been anxiety - after I leave, will I find myself unhappy and unfulfilled for different reasons? If I do, what then? Once I've quit my job, will I want to quit "my life" too? I hope not. I think not ... but still.
I am praying for these answers.
I pray for you to find peace and rest.

Blessings,
April

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4:29 PM, 2009-Jan-5 .. Posted by Schatzi

What a beautiful post and so true. A reminder of what is truly important in life and always being in the presence of the Lord so he can speak to us and also willing to be silent so we can hear the still small voice of the Lord.

Happy New Year!
Connie

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4:31 PM, 2009-Jan-5 .. Posted by Lynne

Amy,
I hope everything works out with your decision. You are giving your church a very generous amount of notice time for them to find a replacement.

What very true words

7:34 PM, 2009-Jan-5 .. Posted by everfaithful

You are so very very right ; I totally agree with you. Perhaps there are people out there that "do. do , do" I know I am not one of them and I am sure sometimes it is thought that I do not help out enough. I give you lots of credit for listening to God. You will be blessed as you follow His will for your life and ministry.

Blessings

ONCE AGAIN...

1:05 PM, 2009-Jan-6 .. Posted by wannabeone

...another awesome, meaningful post!! Yep, many times I've said the ol', "If no one else will..." - you're right, that's NOT that right attitude.

We just left the wonderful church we've attended for 12-1/2 years (it's a 70-mile round trip and we felt we needed to start ministering in our own area), and unfortunately, it has started to pass the 80/20 rule and has gone into 90/10 -- 10% of the people doing 90% of the work and ministry. Sad but true. Our last day was Dec. 28th and the pastor did a GREAT sermon on Producers/Consumers/Sleepers - obviously he sees the burn-out creeping into those of us to do/did so much and is trying to light a little fire underneath some of the others.

ALWAYS good to visit w/you, Amy.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><