First Church of God

(One more picture of our Christmas Tree!)

Tomorrow night all of the staff and advisory council, their spouses, and children are coming to our house for finger foods and desserts.  We look forward to this time every year.  But, I never feel like I am quite ready.  I feel like I rush, rush, rush until the first person walks through the door.  Does anyone else feel this way when you entertain?  I don't know if it is just the nature of the holidays or if it is my personality. 

So, I had planned on doing all of my baking yesterday, but you know how it goes when you try to plan ahead...especially if you have children!  Jacob had a project due today at school, and he had said that it would just take about an hour to finish.  Well, I sat down with him to finish it, and....let's just say it took longer than an hour.  I think I handled it pretty well, I just broke out in a cold sweat, wiped my forehead and settled in for a long evening of research on the computer, gluing, drawing, and ultimately a pretty cool brochure on Peru for his Social Studies class! Then there was a science test to study for, which I very "kindly" said..."Its Dad's turn to help"!  Oh, and let's not forget that I had told the boys their rooms must be cleaned before they went to bed, and so they thought they would work ahead of schedule and do it ten minutes before bedtime!!!!  When we all rolled out of bed this morning I headed to the kitchen to get the boys breakfast, and there on the refrigerator was the reminder I had posted for myself that cookies and/or brownies and juice were due this morning at the Middle School for their blood drive.  Let me tell you, I have been working in overdrive this morning and I still haven't started on the party!  But, ready or not they are coming tomorrow night. 

Now before all of this happened on Sunday we had been to church, of course!  And as I stood at the church watching our staff at work, talking with people, laughing, leading worship, rushing from place to place, making sure ministry happened it made me a little emotional.  What they do on a weekly basis along with hundreds of volunteers is really a picture of Jesus.  The word says in 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."  They labor for the greater purpose of loving others into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and most of the time they do so with no grandeur or recognition.  As I watched them I breathed a silent prayer of Thanksgiving for them.  We are so blessed with the staff we have, and the volunteers that work with them are faithful, silent partners that serve unselfishly week after week! 

So, as I prepare to have some of these people in my home tomorrow night I am feeling very privileged to be in their company.  This morning the Lord has calmed my spirit as He has reminded me why David and I feel so strongly about doing this every year.  Tomorrow night is about giving thanks for the gifts He has given us in each one of them. Tomorrow night, is not about whether my house is perfect, the food is store-bought or homemade, or whether or not the dust bunnies are gone from the bookcase.  Tomorrow night, ready or not, is about letting those leaders know that they are loved, appreciated, and valued not only by us but the Lord! 

Take some time this Christmas to tell the staff and volunteers at your church how much you appreciate what they do!  Now, I am not saying this just because my husband is a pastor, I am telling you this because I am a layperson that appreciates the staff and volunteers that minister not only to me, but also to my children and my husband.  You see, even though David is a pastor, we too need to be ministered to, supported, and loved within a church body by leaders, by the congregation, and by volunteers.  And, we feel blessed to serve alongside many beautiful people called by a Holy God to do ministry! 

There is no way that we could possibly have everyone that volunteers at the church in our home.   But, I hope that all of you, that serve know how very much you are loved and appreciated for all that you do.  The Bride of Christ, the church, is a glorious thing because of people like you .  Thank you for ministering to our family!  Blessings to you during this Christmas season.  May His love surround you, His face shine upon you, and the beauty in the gift of His son give you peace in the upcoming year!  You are loved! 

Ready or not, Christmas is here!  Be sure to keep the focus on the main thing, and give a little love to someone that means the world to you!  Feel free to use the comment section below to say Thank you to someone you appreciate, your Mom, a friend, a volunteer, a staff person...anyone that you would like to say something special to!  Have a great day, I am off to the grocery!  (I will try to post some pictures from the party on Wednesday!)