Five times in Paul's letters to the church at Thessalonica we see the word encourage. Here are a few:
1 Thessalonians 3:2
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
2 Thessalonians 2:1617
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Someone you know needs a to hear a good word from you today. Not just a saccharine greeting, but a specific, "this is what I appreciate about you."
Look out the window and think about a donor or a colleague that would be blessed with your thoughtfulness and care. Then, call or write - don't put it off.
With the work we are called to do, even (especially?) the workers could use some words of encouragement.
While you're at it, drop me a line at hnaylor@tca-pa.org and tell me how the blog is hitting you. I want to be sure these "hits and missives" are hitting the mark.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Harold
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Celebrate the non-cash gifts
Romans 12:4-8
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
God has blessed our schools with "quiet angels", those saints who volunteer and do work that is rarely recognized. Most of these folks don't want recognition; they do what they do for the Lord and to bless the school that they love.
I suggest that you take some time out of your schedule to thank and celebrate the good gifts that are being used for the Kingdom building at your school. This is an important stewardship effort even if it is difficult to value in dollars.
As you are having these discussions, why not ask a few questions? In your own words, of course.
1. How or why did you come to volunteer?
2. What is it about the school that keeps you coming back? This is especially true of the volunteers who no longer have children in the school.
3. Are we utilizing your gifts as you would like for us to?
4. Are there other areas of the school in which you would like to participate?
5. Are we grateful receivers of your generous giving?
And, praise the Lord with them that He has moved in the hearts of His people to steward this portion of their gifts.
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
God has blessed our schools with "quiet angels", those saints who volunteer and do work that is rarely recognized. Most of these folks don't want recognition; they do what they do for the Lord and to bless the school that they love.
I suggest that you take some time out of your schedule to thank and celebrate the good gifts that are being used for the Kingdom building at your school. This is an important stewardship effort even if it is difficult to value in dollars.
As you are having these discussions, why not ask a few questions? In your own words, of course.
1. How or why did you come to volunteer?
2. What is it about the school that keeps you coming back? This is especially true of the volunteers who no longer have children in the school.
3. Are we utilizing your gifts as you would like for us to?
4. Are there other areas of the school in which you would like to participate?
5. Are we grateful receivers of your generous giving?
And, praise the Lord with them that He has moved in the hearts of His people to steward this portion of their gifts.
Monday, March 9, 2009
"Teacher, be teachable"
Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom."
Ph. 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
One of the problems that I have observed is that many of us operate as Lone Rangers in the fund raising world. We reason that:
"I'm paid to do this, so it's my job"
"No one else knows how the development function works (in my unique situation), so there is no one who can really help."
"I have volunteers who help with mailings and things - isn't this asking?"
It seems that we administrators have a strange sense of pride when it comes to asking for real help and wisdom. Some of us have the need to "go it alone" in our work believing this is our calling or burden. Or, maybe we are already overloaded. I have been told that "I don't have time for advice; I can't get everything done as it is!"
The foolish person does not know what they do not know and, hence, plunges ahead without the benefit of wisdom from others.
The wise person knows what they don't know and and he or she has great respect for the wisdom and insight of others.
Are you known for being teachable? Do you seek advice from others? A wise friend once reminded me that Jesus taught in parables or stories and that our communications should include stories of how God has blessed families through our school. That was great advice; ever since we try to tell stories of the consequences of a Christian education and to dwell less on our particular need. Our donors, like us, relate to stories.
Whether you seek advice from someone within the school, or a donor, or a peer, make sure you are doing so with a humble heart and that you are earnestly seeking advice, not just using the conversation as a pretense for some other objective. God knows and sees the condition of our hearts.
As we teach others about stewardship we need to be seeking the Lord's wisdom in every aspect of our work. It may mean putting down the mailing and picking up the phone.
Ph. 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
One of the problems that I have observed is that many of us operate as Lone Rangers in the fund raising world. We reason that:
"I'm paid to do this, so it's my job"
"No one else knows how the development function works (in my unique situation), so there is no one who can really help."
"I have volunteers who help with mailings and things - isn't this asking?"
It seems that we administrators have a strange sense of pride when it comes to asking for real help and wisdom. Some of us have the need to "go it alone" in our work believing this is our calling or burden. Or, maybe we are already overloaded. I have been told that "I don't have time for advice; I can't get everything done as it is!"
The foolish person does not know what they do not know and, hence, plunges ahead without the benefit of wisdom from others.
The wise person knows what they don't know and and he or she has great respect for the wisdom and insight of others.
Are you known for being teachable? Do you seek advice from others? A wise friend once reminded me that Jesus taught in parables or stories and that our communications should include stories of how God has blessed families through our school. That was great advice; ever since we try to tell stories of the consequences of a Christian education and to dwell less on our particular need. Our donors, like us, relate to stories.
Whether you seek advice from someone within the school, or a donor, or a peer, make sure you are doing so with a humble heart and that you are earnestly seeking advice, not just using the conversation as a pretense for some other objective. God knows and sees the condition of our hearts.
As we teach others about stewardship we need to be seeking the Lord's wisdom in every aspect of our work. It may mean putting down the mailing and picking up the phone.
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