In His Service
Each year, my church sponsors an important event for a local therapeutic riding facility that serves children with disabilities, at no charge to their families. It’s “all hands on deck” as our church comes on board to work in His service. As we assist this facility in gathering the funds needed to help these children with their specific needs, we receive a blessing.
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua 22:5)
A major undertaking
The project requires months of planning, but the week of the event is intense. Our church hosts the fundraiser and we feed the several hundred people who attend. In advance, we publicize the event, order food, shop for supplies, give the church and kitchen an extra cleaning, set up the fellowship hall to feed the masses, and line up our worker’s schedules.
The day prior to the fundraiser we make our special sauce recipe, cook pork, and prepare the meat for bar-b-que. Big day tasks include cooking chicken, making slaw, preparing beans, brewing tea, serving and wrapping individual desserts, and setting up the kitchen assembly line to serve the attendees–in the most efficient way possible.
On the anticipated night, it all comes together as our kitchen team feeds the large crowd.
Many of our church family come together, working long, long hours in service to these special children, their families, and the many volunteers which operate the facility and provide therapy services.
Serving with our hearts
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)
We are exhausted during and after this mission project. But the joy on the faces of children and the gratefulness of parents lift our tired legs and battered spirits.
He equips us for the task. As we work in His service, our Father gives us the strength and energy to complete the task.
We serve with our hearts and receive showers of blessings in return.
In His Service
As you work for the Lord, are there particular experiences which bring both exhaustion and exhilaration?
How does blessing others through your service grant you blessings in return?
Wishing you joy and blessings, my friends.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful way to show God’s love. When we bless others, we are blessed. Amen. Have a wonderful week! 🙂
Thank you for your good wishes, Melissa. We were truly blessed by the opportunity to support this facility and their work to assist children with disabilities and their families. Wishing you a great week!
What a wonderful ministry, Katherine. I pray it blesses workers as well as children and their families.
Thank you for your prayers, Diana. They are much appreciated. I think we all were richly blessed by our weekend.
What a wonderful, ministry! God is doing big things at your church.
Yes! We were blessed. I’m thankful our church family was entrusted with this mission opportunity. Although I’m glad we’re not doing it again this weekend, it is an opportunity to serve our Father and His children that we are honored we can do.
God will fill you with his refreshing strength for having served him well.
You are absolutely right, Mary. He already has given us rest, renewal, and strength. Thank you for sharing kindness and encouragement.
A wonderful post, Katherine! I have a friend who works in a similar ministry bringing kids with special needs together with rescue horses. Amazing to see the gifts and talents God has given His Body to reach others for Him! To Him be the glory!
Blessings to you, my friend!
I love that thought, Kim, pairing rescue horses with children with special needs. I think horses have a special sense that makes them more caring and tender. It’s a gift from God, because I speak from experience that horses are not gifted with a great deal of intelligence. But they are sensitive to human emotions and kindness. Thank you for your encouraging response, Kim. Peace and blessings!
What a wonderful opportunity to serve in His name. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Karen! Thanks so much for visiting my blog this week and sharing encouragement. Praying for you as you focus on your writing goals. God calls us to write, but it’s often a challenging and difficult road with many bump, hurdles, and roadblocks (rejections). He is with you on that journey. Sending prayers and good wishes your way. May God grant you guidance, encouragement, and perseverance.
What a wonderful ministry! I enjoyed learning about it and your church’s partnership.
Thank you, Debbie, for your kind words and encouragement. Hope you’re having a great week!
Thanks for sharing one special service you and others provide. I ask God every day to help me do what He wants. Sometimes, it is for an event, but sometimes, it’s just a smile and a kind word. I’m grateful God lets me serve Him and helps me do what He wants.
I agree, Joni. I think sometimes the best thing I can do each day is to share a kind word or a smile. I’m thankful God provides those opportunities. And like you, I ask for His guidance in ways I can serve His people. Peace and blessings!
What an awesome event Katherine. Thank you to all those who helped and may it be an example to many.
I’m so grateful for your kind comment, Yvonne. I pray the facility can continue their role in blessing and helping families and children with special needs. We were truly blessed by our experience. Wishing you joy and sunshine!