“In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first
day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth. And Noah
removed the covering of the ark and looked, and behold, the face of the
ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the
month, the earth had dried out. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out
from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with
you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all
flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth—that they may swarm on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on
the earth.” 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’
wives with him. 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird,
everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.” Genesis 8:13–19
There is an interesting choice of words in the last verse above: the people, and the animals, went out by families from the ark. Noah and his family, and every pair of animal are referred to as families. When we marry, have children or possibly grandchildren, we as individuals are no longer alone under God’s calling. True, we might have a unique gift of our own, be it speaking, service, writing, cooking… but these gifts are called in service within the context of family.
Is there something you feel called by God to do in His kingdom using your unique talents? One aspect of YOU which should be considered is the FAMILY into which you have been placed. The Spirit leads us along many roads, calling us not just as individuals, but a family.
Too often, however, familial commitments are way to say “no.” The kids have soccer practice; my husband works too many hours for us to commit; my wife is already overextended with school committees and her own full-time job; when we’re older; when the kids are older; when we, as a family, have more time.
There is another option, one I wish I’d focused on more when my adult children were younger. How can I incorporate my spouse, children, grandchildren into a calling God is leading me toward? He may be speaking to your skills or your gifts, but in His eyes you and your family are a team. They may not be able to help you write a devotional or minister to a friend who’s having a personal problem, but you can still explain to them what you are doing, show them the fruits of your “labor.”
There are also many times when everyone can be involved. Have you ever done a charitable project and found yourself closer to those with whom you served? Service together brings people together.
How much more
if your family goes to that food pantry together? How much more
intimate will the relationship with your husband or wife be if you work
together to serve the intimate needs of others? Children will learn the
joy of worship through service by participating in it. When you share
your calling with them, new roads open in their future when the time
comes for them to step out in faith from the ark of their childhood.
Family memories are ones that last a lifetime. How much more lasting
these would become when those memories were made serving God’s kingdom?
Prayer
Father, show me how to connect my family to the mission you are calling me to, to grow us all together as your family, and open new paths of service for them all to follow.
There is an interesting choice of words in the last verse above: the people, and the animals, went out by families from the ark. Noah and his family, and every pair of animal are referred to as families. When we marry, have children or possibly grandchildren, we as individuals are no longer alone under God’s calling. True, we might have a unique gift of our own, be it speaking, service, writing, cooking… but these gifts are called in service within the context of family.
Is there something you feel called by God to do in His kingdom using your unique talents? One aspect of YOU which should be considered is the FAMILY into which you have been placed. The Spirit leads us along many roads, calling us not just as individuals, but a family.
Too often, however, familial commitments are way to say “no.” The kids have soccer practice; my husband works too many hours for us to commit; my wife is already overextended with school committees and her own full-time job; when we’re older; when the kids are older; when we, as a family, have more time.
There is another option, one I wish I’d focused on more when my adult children were younger. How can I incorporate my spouse, children, grandchildren into a calling God is leading me toward? He may be speaking to your skills or your gifts, but in His eyes you and your family are a team. They may not be able to help you write a devotional or minister to a friend who’s having a personal problem, but you can still explain to them what you are doing, show them the fruits of your “labor.”
There are also many times when everyone can be involved. Have you ever done a charitable project and found yourself closer to those with whom you served? Service together brings people together.
Prayer
Father, show me how to connect my family to the mission you are calling me to, to grow us all together as your family, and open new paths of service for them all to follow.
Comments
Post a Comment