YOU have been chosen…now what?

Yesterday we sang one of my favorite songs at church.  As we began, I leaned over and whispered to my daughter, "I love this one!"  Keeping things honest, I loved it because of the tune.  It is not difficult, but it has a little more "meat" than some of the other hymns.  Dotted quarters, octave jumps, syncopated rhythms.  I just really like it!

Of course, when I have my eyes closed is when God chooses to reveal himself.  Halfway into the first verse, I started actually listening to the words I was singing.

                                           Church of God, elect and glorious

                                           Holy Nation, chosen race;

                                           called as God's own special people

                                           Royal priests and heirs of grace:

                                           Know the purpose of your calling

                                           show to all His mighty deeds;

                                           Tell of love that knows no limits

                                           Grace that meets all human needs.

I looked around at the faces of my congregation as they sang this hymn, and at my daughter as she sang in her glorious nine-year-old voice.  I felt the enormous gift that God has given us; this calling that He has given this family.  Together, we are His church.  We are "elect and glorious, a Holy Nation, a chosen race, Royal priests and heirs of grace."  This struck me as so powerful!  What an enormously powerful gift, and here it is…laid at our feet…BEGGING to be utilized!

It then goes on to beg us, "Know the purpose of your calling, show to all His mighty deeds.  Tell of love that knows no limits, grace that meets all human needs." 

We are asked to do three things: KNOW, SHOW and TELL.  

How do we KNOW what the "purpose of our calling" is? What does God ask us to do? What is the great commission?  "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Matthew 28:19-20  

How do we SHOW?  I remember an old song I used to sing as a child…"and they will know we are Christians by our love."  Above all else, love others to Christ.  Show His mercy by being merciful.  Show his grace by being gracious.  Show His forgiveness by forgiving.  You get the gist.

How do we TELL?  I'm pretty sure that most every person in the sanctuary with me yesterday morning has a story to tell, about how God has blessed them.  I'm confident that they all can tell of how His love has showed no limits within their families, and how they have experienced His grace that has quite perfectly met their needs.  The catch here is…go and TELL about it!  If other people are like me (and I have a sneaky suspicion that many people are), this is hard.  I can KNOW it and SHOW it, but I fail when it comes time to TELL it.  

This hymn is meant to give us confidence!!  God promises us that we are equipped and capable of doing all this "TELLING."  

He said it.  He chose us.  He empowered us.  We can do it!  We are not alone, because part of His gift to us is His church.  We can do it together!  We have each other to lean on, to give council, to pray with, to encourage and to join together in our calling!  I hope and pray that every member of our church (and beyond into our school families) feels this power.  We are a gift from God to each other.  

Thank you God, for this wonderful family.  Help us all to be strong in faith and to be the people You intend.  Help us to give our lives in joyful service to You.  Amen. 

Church of God, Elect and Glorious; Lutheran Service Book, 646

1 Peter 2:9-109 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

Ephesians 2:19-2219 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Revelation 5:1010 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign[a] on the earth.”

The "S" word…Stewardship!

What exactly is "good stewardship?" Sometimes it is a subject that ruffles a few feathers.  I could copy and paste the exact Merriam Webster definition of the term, but I really think that only scratches the surface.  Or, worse, takes something away from what I believe it truly encompasses: a unique relationship with our savior and creator.

Let me begin my explanation here: my church is one of the biggest blessings in my life.  My love for my church is right up there with my love for my husband and children.  Let me take you back in time a few years...

During my college days, I attended church on campus at my Lutheran University.  But…it never felt like "home" to me.  It was college, after all.  Sometimes, I am ashamed to admit, I let other things get in the way of my church going. Even though I was studying Lutheran Education, my campus church didn't always occupy a place of high priority in my mind.

Then, I received a call to teach at my current Church and School.  From the MOMENT I walked into the doors for my first initial interview I felt God calling me.  Calling me to Him, to serve Him, and to be a part of His family.  It was like I found that last puzzle piece to complete the beginning of the rest of my life. I felt surrounded by a new family.  I felt God's love living in the members of this congregation. But most of all, I plainly saw how He placed me there.  I truly felt how He had guided me back into His fold.

Over the years, I have grown along with my congregation.  I have taught, served, and brought my own children into its family. My church has in turn taught me, encouraged me, and baptized and welcomed countless new believers into its family.  It is such an integral part of my life.  I do not want to live without this family.

I love my husband and children.  I give them just about every part of myself, every day.  I could never dream of having the type of relationship with them where I sit back and expect them to serve me all the time.  It is a JOY to give them whatever I have.  It brings me JOY to see them nourished on the food I make, growing strong and healthy.  It brings me JOY to serve them.  I never want this relationship of serving them to end.

It is the same with my church.  It brings me joy to give what I have to my church family.  If I'm good at bulletin boards…I decorate bulletin boards.  If I'm good with children…I teach bible school or Sunday school.  If I'm good with music…I sing in the choir.  I just really want to do all these things because IT MAKES ME HAPPY.  I know that when I am serving others, I am serving my savior.  God gave every one of us different talents.  When we take all those unique gifts and abilities and give them back to the church…IT FLOURISHES.

My relationship with my family at home is not about how they can serve me.  Neither is it that way with my church.  I love my church so much, my question is, "how can I serve today?"

I did not stumble into this church family accidentally.  It is one of my most precious gifts given to me by my Heavenly Father.  I am thankful for it every day.  I never want to see it hurting, struggling or in despair.  I will fight for it, defend it and and give it everything I can.

THAT, my friends, is what stewardship means to me.