…To Serve Others
Posted by Kristen on July 9th, 2009 . Filed under: Editor's Blog .“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10
I can hardly believe that the August issue of Exemplify Magazine will be our 8th publication of the year. After planning so long to launch something along these lines, it is almost unbelievable to be knee deep in it now!
It has been such a pleasure to rub elbows with so many women who feel called to minister online. One of the highlights of 2009 thus far for me was speaking at A Woman Inspired Conference and receiving awesome feedback from women who are just stepping out into ministry of all kinds!
Ladies, your servant hearts are beautiful and it moves me so to see you desiring to learn more and grow in your ministries. Whether it be through blogging on your personal blogs or running a website on strutting those feathers in your zesty nests!
For the past five or six months, the theme of ministry and servanthood has been something the Lord has been drilling home in my life. He has been stirring things up in me concerning our call to serve and calling for my attention.
You can imagine my surprise when I was asked to speak on this very topic sometime soon! {Details to come on that later.}
Today, I’m asking for a huge favor from you to help me better write my lesson.
Would you be willing to answer the following questions for me in the comment section? (or via email if you feel more comfortable!)
Please keep in mind that you do NOT have to feel called to serve in traditional ministry to answer these questions. Any form of serving others is welcome!
- Where do you feel called to serve? (Give me up to three arenas. And yes, your home counts! If you don’t feel called to serve anywhere, let me know that too.)
- What is the greatest obstacle you’ve found when serving in your aforementioned capacity?
- What tools would better help you do “whatever it is you do” with excellence?
I’ll go first.
If you were to ask me where I feel called to serve, I would answer:
- Through media resources online
- By teaching women
- By equipping those in leadership
Those are my strengths and the areas where I am most gifted. Those are the areas the Lord has been calling me to minister in recently and to begin stepping out in faith over.
The budgeting of my time is my greatest obstacle as I figure out how much time should be spent answering emails, networking and the like. I’m learning. Slowly but surely.
For me, personally, any tools that help those in leadership serve their team members with grace and humility are a huge blessing to me. And something I look for.
Okay, now you go.
Thank you!
July 9th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Hmmmmm… 1. I feel called to serve in my home, through blogs and faithwriters, and in my church.
. I’m guessing more prayer would certainly help as well.
2. My biggest issue is balance!
3. Not sure what exactly would help me. A personal organizer would be nice
July 9th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Let me just say first of all I think you are doing a fabulous job. I feel Exemplify online/magazine are wonderful sources of faith and friendship.
I would say I feel called to serve….
1. In my home and with my children – my husband and I want to lead our children by God’s word and through example.
2. On my blog – I felt that God called me to start a praise blog to help others see a multitude of ways to praise His name.
2. In my church – I love working with the youth. I am inspired by them and their desire to serve Him even when it is not easy.
My biggest issue is balance and giving my all to God in all that I do.
I think that I would be helped by more prayer and more of an attitude of devotion to each specific task. (sometimes I juggle so much that I feel I don’t do anything well because I was spread too thin)
Hope that helps!
Have a praise filled day!
Amy
July 9th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I feel called to serve in my home. To serve my husband and our children. To train and teach the little ones God has blessed us with. Raising and equipping them to love the Lord with all their heart. I truly feel to neglect this calling would be to neglect God’s plan for my life. The second calling would be encouraging other moms and wives, through my blog or personal relationships.
The biggest obstetrical for me when it comes to serving at home is self doubt, feeling overwhelmed and all alone.
One of the greatest tools is and continues to be great blogs of mothers being real, sharing their lives and their spiritual journeys.
July 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Feeling called to serve:
1. At home loving husband and children
2. At church leading group of youth girls
3. With my writing–blog, devotions, books, articles & essays
4. Encouraging women through speaking ministry
Greatest Obstacle–all of a sudden I suffer more in time management than I ever have before. That and continued letting go of self and filling up with God.
Tools: My mentors really help here. The Bible is another key tool. Reading books about ministry & Christian living and surrounding myself with encouraging, uplifting people.
Kristen, thanks for having me think on this today!
~ Wendy
July 9th, 2009 at 9:06 am
* Where do you feel called to serve?
Having just moved to my new hometown, we haven’t found a church yet, but are narrowing it down. We worked with our youth group (me for 18 years) and I stopped a year ago because we were in flux. Our 2 girls were gone, my husband’s job was on the line and our schedules had changed. But I think either high school group again, or maybe even college would be a blessing to work with. I wouldn’t rule out young couples either. We’ve been married 30 years, so I think we could shell out a little wisdom. Then there is choir or some sort of singing capacity.
I started my blog over a year ago and just this past year I finally started being more consistent. I would like to write a little more content on spiritual life. I write more about family and things I’m doing, but I do sprinkle in things I’m learning. Might add to that.
Believe it or not, Facebook…I have over 600 friends, but I’m thinking about writing notes through that to people everyday or maybe once or twice a week. Just little notes of encouragement. Everytime I see a face on the side, I think I should write to them and I hope to start that soon.
* What is the greatest obstacle you’ve found when serving in your aforementioned capacity?
Time management – I actually spend way too much time on the computer and I feel like I’m not really all that productive.
* What tools would better help you do “whatever it is you do” with excellence?
Meeting with God more consistently. Finding a church.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I’ll email you mine.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I’m so excited for you!!
My top three areas I feel called to serve would be:
1. at home
2. through my writing on my blog and where ever else He happens to open doors for me, ie. Exemplify, by encouraging women to be their true, authentic selves.
3. I usually serve in some form in children’s ministries in my church, too, but this year I actually felt led to take the year off.
My biggest obstacle is time management and setting my priorities, especially since I have just had yet another major shift in what I do during the day. Balance would be nice, too!
I’m am blessed in that what I need most I already get from my fabulous peers! (ie support and encouragement) That circle of support is very important to me, and I think such an important part of any ministry. It is too easy to get discouraged and want to give up when things get messy otherwise.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I’m gonna need to chew on this for a while. I’ll email you.
July 9th, 2009 at 11:19 am
You’ve got one beautiful baby at work for the Lord…Exemplify is a gift to so many, myself included! I can’t wait to hear all about your newest speaking gig! So exciting!
*I feel called to serve
1- at home in so many ways, especially since God brought up the whole homeschool thing…
2- on the page…whether it be a page in a book or a web page, it is clear that God wants me serving in written form
3- though I haven’t a clue in what arena, I feel a strong pull toward working with youth in some way…right now this is mainly with my own children, but I feel something bigger taking shape
*The greatest obstacle is always myself…my self-doubt, my self-centered moments, my self-control going berserk enough to convince me that waiting on my husband to be ready for church meant that I didn’t have to go either…
*I would greatly benefit from more time in the Word, being surrounded by more people in the Word, and more time in prayer…deep, silent, heart-wrenching prayer…the kind that breaks you anew in order for the Lord to build you back up in His image.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
This is good, but it makes my brain hurt!
Called to serve?
1 Because of my past experience, God has given me a call for Single Mothers and or Abused Women, encouraging self esteem and faith.
2 Kids too old for the system, that need a “mom” and home.
3 At my church, it’s new so what ever needs done is no problem with me.
4 Blogging is new to me, but I want to share the things He’s given me. If I don’t get the words out, how can He give me more? This one is challenging because I have to keep reminding myself I’m not blogging for popularity or fame or compliments I am blogging to share the Words He’s put in my heart.
The greatest obstacle is FEAR….I’m afraid to start, I don’t know how to start, I’m afraid I’ll come across like someone who’s trying to be something they aren’t. Me Me Me My fears are all about me not HIM
What would benefit me? Having encouragement from others, and knowledge. I know what to say I just don’t know how to get the word out. The AWI conference was a big help in getting me started blogging, but I don’t know where to go from there.
July 10th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Don’t know why I didn’t see this earlier, but let me think and then email you in just awhile.
July 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
I’ve attempted to answer this a few times and am still pondering… What great questions for self-evaluation and reflection! Especially during a time when I personally, and we as a family, are re-evaluating our ministry, calling and place to be.