July 15, 2015
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15 NIV
Family Time…that wonderful life-giving time, that refreshing time of relief, that long-awaited connection time, that time for peace-filled REST, and yes…it is possible!
Get Some REST-Part Three
Rest is defined as relaxation from exertion, relief, or refreshment, calm, a pause…I love this definition because of the word pause…a pause…from exertion…oh yes, relief and refreshment…Family time…Peace-filled REST! Is it possible?
The best way to REST is to look at these activities through the acronym REST…
R-Recreation…E-Entertainment…S-Service…T-Time
Last week, we examined edifying, encouraging, empowering Entertainment, which helps to create healthy, stress-free, memorable Family Time!
This week, we will consider our Lord’s mandate for His people to serve one another as we weigh the beauty, the blessing, and the value of service.
Service… The action of helping or doing work for someone; acts of service; a helping hand…to minister to someone’s need…
Family service…The Family action of ministering to needs…or of acting with “servant” hearts or helping hands!
One of our most valuable and challenging family experiences occurred through our commitment to serve, in multiple capacities, at a very small Christian school in Waco, Texas, during our children’s high school years and beyond. As I think back now and remember…the small, very humble institution was the catalyst for a myriad of service opportunities…life-changing opportunities… cleaning toilets…(many of them), cleaning flower beds, and planting flowers…painting walls…cleaning the gym, cleaning furniture and lockers…taking out trash…cleaning the lunch room…teaching classes…organizing and attending student activities, student retreats, coaching golf and swimming…serving as school board member and president and meeting and meeting and meeting..You get the picture. Our family members serving with and along side of other, very diverse families who were equally committed to sharing their gifts and resources, and to “doing life” with one another…United by the same goal, the same purpose, the same call…United in spirit through service and through prayer…families praying together…students praying together…faculty, staff, and board praying…sacrificing and serving together.
Feed My Sheep
“A third time he asked him, Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. “ John 21:17 NLT
Jesus led others only where He, himself, was willing to go…He came to serve…to minister to the needs of others…to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty…to heal the blind and the lame…to love the children…to set the captives free from bondage…to give life to the deceased…to give hope to those who despaired…to give eternity to those who were hopeless…and He redeemed and restored Peter, who in his denial of His Messiah, was isolated and estranged from family, from friends, from Jesus. He gave Peter an example to follow… “Peter, I washed your feet, and you should also wash one another’s feet… Feed, tend to, shepherd, protect, teach, and nourish My sheep…if you love ME…”
It is amazing…The God Almighty chose and modeled “Acts of Service” to be the proof…the evidence of mankind’s obedience and devotion to Him… “If you love Me…you will Feed My Sheep…”
The Benefits of Serving…Science says…
I just love how science proudly proclaims the results of research as though the conclusions were something new “under the sun”…The findings are published as though no one had ever before considered or concluded these possibilities…and yet, what we learn about our Almighty God and His Truth and His conclusions in His Word, trumps science, the studies, and the research…Oh yes…all of this was God’s idea…His plan!
According to the head of the Center for the Study of the Individual and Society, at the University of Minnesota, service and volunteerism improves self-esteem and psychological well-being. It also creates happiness and a sense of connection in participants…connection which every human craves.
One sociologist from the University of Wisconsin, reports that for teens and at-risk-children, there is a direct link between serving and volunteerism and their grades and their own self-concept.
The benefits of Service were reported in God’s Word, through His Truth, long before these studies were completed…
The Benefits…the Blessings…the Value…Family Service
Whitney Wiseman, the Missions Director at Lake Hills Church, ATX, shared her thoughts on the value of Family Service Time…
“I just love seeing when families serve together; I think that it is my favorite thing about my job. Serving together is the best form of multi-tasking because with one fell swoop, you are accomplishing so much…spending time together, exercising and acting on your faith, teaching and learning, gaining perspective, empowering kids, having fun together…and the list goes on…”
One of the most effective Family Serve opportunities occurs with the Mobile Loaves and Fishes Ministry which is a social mission providing service and sustenance on wheels and offers a variety of Family Service opportunities. Although the outreach is extensive and life-changing for the recipients…the benefits and the blessings are far-reaching and profound in the lives of those who serve…in the families who serve together.
Please God, give me someone I can minister to and help today.
These words appear on a small plague in our son and daughter-in-love’s kitchen. In fact, during their ten-year-marriage, I cannot recall a time when I have not seen this message very close to their kitchen sink…the place where their hands are busy…where their hearts are reminded to serve…to love…Adam and Claire serve…
Our daughter and son-in-love just returned from “Beach Week”, LHC’s summer youth camp. They served as sponsors…sponsors for young people, many of whom had life-changing encounters with their Creator God…where many stepped into a personal relationship with Jesus, and were baptized in the ocean. Christie and Barry have hearts to love…hearts to serve…
Bill and I can absolutely, unequivocally testify to the power and to the benefit and to the value of Family Serve Time…It was through the many wonderful opportunities that our family was given, that our children were able to reach out, and reach into lives of other human beings…we were given the privilege of connecting with and serving people in need of food and clothing, of housing…people who needed God, who needed to know the Hope that Jesus wanted to bring to them. We, as a family, were blessed to connect with families as we served one another and as we worked together to sustain a school whose mission statement was to “Raise up Servant-leaders for God’s glory.”
And, our family was forever changed…and now, our children are rearing their children, our grand-children to reach out…to reach into lives…and to serve…to serve as a family…Family Serve Time!
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25
Be Refreshed as you Serve…Family Serve Time…
No matter where you serve, whom you are serve, or what you do…when you are reaching into a life to meet needs…especially when they cannot help themselves…and when you are serving, and feeding, and tending to, and shepherding in the name of your Lord, Jesus, you are the one who will be changed…you will be refreshed…exhausted perhaps, but refreshed and fulfilled…
It All Begins at Home…
The willingness to serve can begin at home, the training ground for life…Children model what they see, what they experience and home is the ideal place to begin to teach how to serve, how to bless, how to reach into the lives of others…the ideal place to teach compassion…
Family Serve Time…
When your family is serving and feeding, and tending to, and shepherding in the name of your Lord Jesus, your family members are the ones who will be changed… your family will be refreshed…As your service speaks to the very heart of your Lord, Jesus Christ…as He whispers to you, “Do you love ME?”
And, He smiles…because He watches you and your family as you love…as you shepherd…as you serve…and, He knows your heart as you whisper back to Him, “Yes, Lord…we love You. We do this in Your name.”
I pray that this Summer time brings to your family opportunities to serve together in the name of your Lord…your Master…Jesus! Be refreshed! Family Serve Time!
Abundant Rest and Joy,
Next week, T-TAKE TIME!
