Deck Lessons

We have lived in our home for almost 12 years.  Along the backside of our house is a deck.  Simply put, it's huge; It runs the entire length of the house.  This is the year we've decided to truly make our deck functional.  Finally.  In the past we have purchased some inexpensive chairs so that we could sit on our deck and enjoy the evening breezes. We've held Bible studies on those chairs, but the deck was never what you would call "inviting." 

For a season we had a ping pong table on the deck.  That was fun!  Our original idea was that we would build benches that would slide under the table so that it could be covered with a large tablecloth and we could have picnics out there.  That plan never materialized and after several years, the table warped and it wasn't even much fun to play ping pong on.  We disassembled it and used the wood for other things…  like a deck protector under our grill. 

This year, we began to plan  and dream.  We began looking at outdoor furniture and realized it was way beyond what we wanted to invest.  Initially, I dreamt of a cushy area to recline with a book.  The more my husband and I talked though, we realized we first wanted a table and chairs so that we could eat outside and play games with friends.  Next on the list was a base of two comfortable chairs, one for each of us to recline outside with those books.  We had a plan and we began to search.  We shopped online, we hit thrift stores, and slowed down for all garage sales. Yesterday we hit pay dirt.

For the reasonable price of $25, we purchased a table.  For another sweet $25 we purchased 6 chairs.  The table is yet to be painted, and the chairs will receive cushions, but it's set up on our deck waiting for company.  I glanced at our new set up this morning out my kitchen window and I realized it had taken us 12 years to enjoy something God had given to us.  For twelve years, we had a blessing waiting to be used to bless others.  Granted, we used it some, but the full potential of what had been given to us was not realized.  It made my heart sad.  And it has made me wonder what else God has blessed me with that I have not truly embraced. Is there a gifting, a talent that I have not fully used to the potential God has given?  Is there a relationship that I have enjoyed, but have not taken full advantage of it's joys and camaraderie?  Is there a person in my life that has much to teach me and I've been too afraid to step into the challenge the person provides?  Does my family really know the treasure each one is in my life? Do I willingly share what has been given me for the glory of God? 

The table and chairs on my deck hold great promise. I anticipate the process of crafting a colorful place of welcome.  And I see beyond the table and chairs to blessings God has created in me so that I also may be a colorful place of welcome.

 

"All to Jesus I surrender; all to Him I freely give.  I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live… All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee.  Fill me with Thy love and power; let Thy blessing fall on me."

Serve Day, Lesson #1

This past Saturday was Serve Day in our community.  Various churches, businesses, organizations and individuals came together to give back.  Tasks ranged from painting picnic tables, playground equipment and buildings at the fairgrounds to helping elderly citizens with tasks like weeding and prepping their yards for spring and summer.
I signed up to participate with my church.  The week preceeding Serve Day was busy and full;  I had commitments and activities every day and every evening.  When Saturday morning rolled around my attitude was not stellar.  I was tired, the temperature was dropping from a cold front that had moved in, and  I basically wanted to sit in my chair, drink coffee and recoup from the week. 
I snuggled in my chair, coffee in hand, to spend some time with Jesus, before I was scheduled to leave the house. I read 2 Corinthians 8:1-8 which begins with this: "Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.  They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor.  But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.  For I can tesitfy that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.  And they did it of their own free will..."   Ouch.
My attitude when I first got up was trying to convince me that I had given enough already during the week.  I deserved a day off, a day to just relax, recoup and re-energize.  My attitude was chastised as I read about the churches in Macedonia.  It doesn't say in the passage what their troubles were, but as I read the scripture I knew I wasn't poor, I was well-fed,  and had been given a good night's rest in a big comfy bed. Add to that, my day was free to rest, relax and recoup once the activities of Serve Day were finished. I was definitely not approaching my circumstance with the same attitude as that of the Macedonian churches!
As I continued to look at the verses I was caught with the phrase "but they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity."  They had tough times that they were enduring.  I got the feeling that whatever the circumstance, it was something that would generally cause people to whine and bemoan their fate.  These Jesus followers weren't doing that, instead they were "also filled with abundant joy." They were choosing to not let their circumstance dictate their attitude AND they weren't denying that their situation was tough.  They were being tested, AND they also were filled with joy.  This group of people had joy so abundant that it overflowed.  God nudged me with that.  I began to wonder what was up with me!  Where was my joy?  Why wasn't I so aware of God's goodness and grace, that inspite of being a bit done in, I was eager to help others by serving in the name of Christ? Why wasn't I being able to say, "sure, I'm tired, and I really want to serve my community?"
Second Corinthians 8: 5 gives a clear picture of where the Macedonians' joy came from.  "...their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do." 
More God nudging.  Serve Day wasn't about giving to my community.  Serve Day was about giving myself to Christ, and then living out how Christ would live. The Macedonians understood that life wasn't about them, their comfort, their success, their ability to make a difference.  Real life was about what Christ had done for them; and being so overwhelmed with the truth of salvation and intimacy with God, that joy overflowed with the goal of helping others move one step closer toward the same blessed truth.
I enjoyed Serve Day tremendously on Saturday; working with my church community was fun! But greater than the laughter shared, and the sense of pride in a job well-done, was the awareness that I became obedient in my attitude as God transformed my mind with His truth.  The churches in Macedonia gave me the example to first of all dedicate myself to the Lord, whatever the activity before me, remembering all that Christ has done for me.  Abundant joy then becomes the attitude that bubbles forth and over, leading me to dedicate myself to give to others just as God would want me to. 
Lesson learned.  #servedaysuccess