There is a light snow falling this morning as we wait for the year to run out the clock and we are ushered into a new year and decade.
What thoughts come to your mind as you consider the year past and where we go from here?
Here are some musings from someone who has had a nice two-week break from most of my usual activities:
1. Seek the Lord - Deut. 4:29 "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and will all your soul."
We can be gazing heavenward even as we work and toil on this earth. Our charge is to seek Him first and all these things will be added...
2. Trust in the Lord - This is the time to remember that all good things come from the hands of an always good God who has our best interests in mind.
3. Try to see our ministry as only one small part of the Kingdom work - While what we and our ministries do is vitality important for the community and beyond, God is not constrained by our shortcomings; nor is He more potent if we are experiencing growth and greater impact.
4. Reflect Jesus - every meeting or interaction is an opportunity to represent the One who sends us. Remember His kindness and compassion and His desire to see the fullness of what He has to offer.
5. Go deeper - In a world characterized by thin and temporal relationships, make every effort to have meaningful interactions so that others will be valued. We, too, have a greater sense of satisfaction when we can think of one or two really great conversations.
6. Seek the "bi-lateral" blessing of matching a donor's desires with the ministry needs. It may mean a non-cash opportunity, but God Himself will release the funds at the right time and in the right amount.
7. Expect the unexpected - these are not "normal" times in the non-profit world. Look for new approaches and partnerships that can yield even greater impact - it may mean that we don't control everything.
8. Make connections with peers - if we have ever needed the support and encouragement from each other it is now. Set aside time each week or month to connect with a peer who can encourage you and who you can do the same for.
9. Laugh at yourself - We can take our work seriously, but let us not take ourselves to seriously. Our Lord who reigns in heaven must look down on our (often) clumsy efforts and smile at our attempts to be successful.
10. Can't think of one more - drop me a line and finish the list, please....
God Bless!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Stewardship - The Heart of the Matter
I Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
When you are not "on the clock" what kinds of things do you think about and discuss with others?
Here are a couple of approaches - neither describes anyone exactly, but they represent two tendencies or orientations.
"I'm a fundraiser or administrator all day long. I want to have some downtime with people and not have them see me as one-dimensional."
"Every day that God gives me I will proclaim His glory to anyone and everyone who gives me the opportunity to share the Good News and to encourage others to walk in the way."
As I grow older I realize that my interactions with people will not continue forever. This includes family, friends and strangers.
We stewardship officers have an obligation to be good stewards of our own time, talent and treasure. For many, we may have more time and talent than treasure. So, how will we spend these?
Are we still supposed to witness and encourage others in their "gift deployment" when we are on vacation? Is it presumptuous to believe that relatives and strangers want to discuss what is on our minds?
Here is a question that I have to ask myself to help me make the right decision, "If today was the last day I ever see this person, what do I want them to remember from our recent conversation?"
I think we have a special obligation to be "on call" everyday, ready to give the reason for our hope in Christ and why we do not fear the grave.
That does not necessarily mean that we are advocating for our school at every turn, but it does mean that we care enough for others that we want them to experience the grace of our Lord Jesus.
And, yes, you may be the bearer of that good news!
Go, be blessed, and be a blessing!
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
When you are not "on the clock" what kinds of things do you think about and discuss with others?
Here are a couple of approaches - neither describes anyone exactly, but they represent two tendencies or orientations.
"I'm a fundraiser or administrator all day long. I want to have some downtime with people and not have them see me as one-dimensional."
"Every day that God gives me I will proclaim His glory to anyone and everyone who gives me the opportunity to share the Good News and to encourage others to walk in the way."
As I grow older I realize that my interactions with people will not continue forever. This includes family, friends and strangers.
We stewardship officers have an obligation to be good stewards of our own time, talent and treasure. For many, we may have more time and talent than treasure. So, how will we spend these?
Are we still supposed to witness and encourage others in their "gift deployment" when we are on vacation? Is it presumptuous to believe that relatives and strangers want to discuss what is on our minds?
Here is a question that I have to ask myself to help me make the right decision, "If today was the last day I ever see this person, what do I want them to remember from our recent conversation?"
I think we have a special obligation to be "on call" everyday, ready to give the reason for our hope in Christ and why we do not fear the grave.
That does not necessarily mean that we are advocating for our school at every turn, but it does mean that we care enough for others that we want them to experience the grace of our Lord Jesus.
And, yes, you may be the bearer of that good news!
Go, be blessed, and be a blessing!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Matching up Gifts and Opportunities
Our role as stewardship officers is to encourage people to release their God-given gifts into Kingdom opportunities. We do this by helping people see how blessed they are and by reminding them of the biblical principle of generosity, that of joyous giving.
We can be of further assistance if we help them find just the right place for their gifts. In this way, the donor has a better connection to the help they are providing. It also shows that we are listening to and caring about the donor as individuals, not just lumping them into the giving "pot".
Here is an example that might help spur some new thought.
Tall Oaks has a Science Fair this week and the science teacher needs many judges so that every project is evaluated by three sets of eyes and ears. I saw this as a wonderful stewardship opportunity for my friends that have science and/or engineering backgrounds to come and share their talent with us. In doing so, they have a chance to see the school up close. We will welcome them with refreshments and collateral material about the school that they can take home.
Most of these have never seen the school; this will be their first exposure. Afterwards, I will call each friend to see how they viewed the experience and to see if there is any other interest in being involved.
Do you have art or music programs that can use the gifts of friends? In general we love to be seen as experts in our field and we can carve out some time to help a friend and support the next generation.
The same concept works for the library, information technology, sports, drama. The list goes on and on.
The blessing to the donor is that they get to extend themselves, working on something larger than he or she. These can be wonderful connections to lead people into greater service.
This week, we had a volunteer make a substantial financial commitment to the school. The volunteer had served the school for several years in a special area and now the Holy Spirit moved this couple to have their monetary wealth follow their wealth of talent.
If we can see our work as larger than (only) the raising of funds we are operating in the theater of whole life stewardship.
God, give us grace to see the big picture.
We can be of further assistance if we help them find just the right place for their gifts. In this way, the donor has a better connection to the help they are providing. It also shows that we are listening to and caring about the donor as individuals, not just lumping them into the giving "pot".
Here is an example that might help spur some new thought.
Tall Oaks has a Science Fair this week and the science teacher needs many judges so that every project is evaluated by three sets of eyes and ears. I saw this as a wonderful stewardship opportunity for my friends that have science and/or engineering backgrounds to come and share their talent with us. In doing so, they have a chance to see the school up close. We will welcome them with refreshments and collateral material about the school that they can take home.
Most of these have never seen the school; this will be their first exposure. Afterwards, I will call each friend to see how they viewed the experience and to see if there is any other interest in being involved.
Do you have art or music programs that can use the gifts of friends? In general we love to be seen as experts in our field and we can carve out some time to help a friend and support the next generation.
The same concept works for the library, information technology, sports, drama. The list goes on and on.
The blessing to the donor is that they get to extend themselves, working on something larger than he or she. These can be wonderful connections to lead people into greater service.
This week, we had a volunteer make a substantial financial commitment to the school. The volunteer had served the school for several years in a special area and now the Holy Spirit moved this couple to have their monetary wealth follow their wealth of talent.
If we can see our work as larger than (only) the raising of funds we are operating in the theater of whole life stewardship.
God, give us grace to see the big picture.
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