by George | Jun 13, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
The Why
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Do you ever wonder why you do what you do? We all have a lot of things to do each day. It’s easy to get bogged down in all the details, and somehow lose the “why.” I think it’s helpful to remember why you do the things you do… Here’s my story and the “why” I do the chaplaincy thing…
In May of 2003, I was working as a restaurant manager. It was steady employment, but I was not satisfied. One Sunday, I expressed this feeling to the church I was attending. I asked them to help me pray that I would find a fulfilling career.
That afternoon, I looked in the paper and saw that a hospice in Cartersville was looking for a Chaplain.
I prayed earnestly and felt peace about applying. I asked friends to pray as well.
The Lord answered my prayer and allowed me to minister there for 5 years.
Around 2009, a friend of my wife’s noticed that there was an ad in the paper for United Hospice. (UH later became Pruitt Health Hospice.) They were looking for a Chaplain. I prayed about it and applied. The Lord answered that prayer, and by the grace of God, I’m still here.
The best part of what I do is not the “knowledge “ I impart to patients and families. Instead, it’s what they share with me. Hearing their stories. Getting to know these precious folks.
My “why” is the feeling of satisfaction I get from being there and providing comfort to patients with life-limiting illness and their loved ones.
What’s your story? Why do you do what you do? Take some time to get back to the core, the “why” of what you do.
Then, take Solomon’s words to heart and “do it with all your might.”
by George | Jun 8, 2022 | Community News, Newsletter
June Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
We generally only quote the verse “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” We forget about the context.
Jesus was very busy. He was
“… going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
As He saw the people, He had compassion on them. “…because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
At that point, He instructs His disciples to “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
As we minister to the precious folks we shepherd, let us have the compassion of Christ…
Please ask the Lord to send laborers for Community Church Ministry.
In July, we have the opportunity to do back-to-school events in several more places. We give away basic school supplies.
We need groups and individuals to go with us “into the harvest.”
Please pray for no rain and for resources.
Meanwhile, we are doing several community dinners in June.
June community dinner schedule.
6:30 pm starting time each night.
Thursday, June 2
Darlington MHP
Thursday, June 9
Dutch Gardens MHP
Monday, June 13
Callier Forest Apts
Tuesday, June 14
Graham Homes
Thursday, June 16
Pine Village MHP
Monday, June 20
Swan Lake MHP
by George | Jun 6, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Having Fun Getting It Done
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24
The late Harvey Palmer was a friend of mine. He was a Methodist minister and leader. I met him years ago when I worked at Chick-fil-A. He would come in for breakfast with a group of Methodist ministers.
One day I visited his office. He had a plaque that said:
“HAVING FUN GETTING IT DONE.”
We all have a lot to do in our jobs, but do we truly enjoy our vocation?
Sometimes we get bogged down in the details and the mundane tasks.
But what if we could look beyond the drudgery and find joy as we work?
Certainly, it helps to remember who we are working for. Not man, but God.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24
God hasn’t forgotten your work…
“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints.” Hebrews 6:10
I can truly say I enjoy the work I do as a chaplain and Pastor.
I think it helps to remember “why” you do what you do.
In your vocation, what aspects of the job do you enjoy? As a chaplain, I enjoy hearing the stories of the people I minister to. Sometimes they apologize for talking so long.
I tell them not to apologize, their stories are like gold…
What is the “gold” of your vocation?
Take time to look for it… It’s there!
Remember, your labor is not in vain!
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
