“So then men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
It’s official. VBS 2008 has officially reached its end. I, for one, wouldn’t have missed it. I tried to. Tried to find an excuse to limit my participation, but no good one could be found. Thus, I strapped on my “yes” and dug in my heels for the doing. VBS is a doing I’ve been doing for over thirty years. And for the past nineteen years, it is what my children have been doing also.
For all of the reasons that I loved being a part of our church’s VBS this year, none was more special to me than having my entire family alongside.
My teenage sons (19 and 17) have unlimited options for their doing these days. They could have…
Hung with their friends.
Gone to the movies.
Cruised the mall for bargains.
Played the latest in XBOX.
Fed their sports’ addiction via the internet or ESPN.
Found their boring at home and abroad in a variety of ways.
They could have done all of these and more, but they didn’t. Instead, they spent these past five evenings at VBS, entertaining the children and adults through their limited acting abilities. They did it, in part, because they love their momma. Even more so, they did it because they love their God.
They understand that part of “doing” life with Jesus means doing it with others. A relationship with the Creator dictates a measure of relational output. A commitment to Christ is also a commitment…
To walk in community with the body of Christ.
To give back.
To shine forth.
To guard the good and sacred deposit.
To be faithful in the small and in the big.
To honor a parent’s leading.
To honor a Father’s grace.
My sons get it. Their faith journeys are ongoing and growing with an outward focus that exceeds selfish introspection. I don’t tell you this out of a mother’s pride. My flesh could easily make that leap, but in doing so, I would limit God’s hand in the matter, and when it comes to the sacred shaping of a family…his hands are everything! No, I tell you this tonight because I want you to know that raising kids to love Jesus is possible. In fact, it is likely and probable when “raising the faith of family” is priority number one in the hearts and minds of those doing the shaping.
It doesn’t always breathe so easy and right and perfect. Our life as a family certainly hasn’t. But if there is one thing that we have consistently embraced over the years, it is our firm commitment to live in Christian community.
To be church people even when our faith was weak. To stay entrenched in the life of the church even when our hearts were committed to worldly pursuits that didn’t match up. To attend services through the seemingly boring and the mundane, and to believe that, even in the “boring,” kingdom business was on the table.
God didn’t give us the mandate to “train up a child” with the idea that all was for naught. Raising Godly kids isn’t a high stakes game of chance. No, God gave us the responsibility because he knew that our “doing” of faith would be the seeding of theirs. Sacred shaping begins in the womb. It continues over the next ten, twenty…forty years and counting! What started as a hope in my parents’ hearts for my life continues to this day.
I began my life in the church. They made sure of it. It stuck. Jesus stuck. And now, forty-two years down the road, I see the process come full circle in the lives of my sons. I am so thankful for their faith, but even as I write my gratitude, I realize that…
it doesn’t always stick—this life with Jesus and the free will of a heart. I understand that there are many of you who’ve known the pain of a prodigal child. Who’ve lived the life of the prodigal, and even now, your eyes sting with the hurt of confusion over the matter. The wish I’d done it different’s and the what did I do wrong?‘s linger as bitter lament within your souls. You’ve done your best, and now you fear it may be too late.
It is never too late. As long as you have breath and time and a day called today, you have the gift of kingdom influence. You have been given the sacred trust to be the light and life of Jesus Christ to a people who hunger for reconciliation with their Father. They may not yet fully understand the yearning behind their hunger, but never be fooled into thinking that it no longer exists.
It is there. A deep, unsatisfied craving and crying out for relationship. For community. For life within a body that exceeds the flesh. All of us, every last one of us, yearn to belong to something bigger than ourselves. God designed us with a pulse that beats for life together. He intended for us to live as one—one church with One, and only One in charge. And until we get there…until those whom we love get there with us…we must keep to the road of this sacred journey.
We must keep to the church and to our attachment therein. We must love the church through our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service because, as believers in Jesus Christ, church is what we do. It’s who we are. It’s how we are to live, for we are the church of the first born, and our names are written on the membership rolls of heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24).
And this night, there are thousands upon thousands of angels who congregate in joyful assembly because “church” is what they do. Jesus is why they are doing it, and never is it boring. Never is it pointless, for they, unlike us, always understand that kingdom business is on the table. They know and have seen that with God, all things are possible. In fact, all things work in our high and holy favor when Jesus is added to the mix. And thus I pray…
Keep us to the things of you, Father. To your church and to your people until we all come to your throne as one. Make our commitment to the body of Christ a solid and firm foundation so that the shaking of the world leaves us rooted at your doorstep. Forgive us when we choose our preferences over the preferences of you. Let us not forsake meeting together, encouraging one another, and building up the body of Christ through our gifts and our teaching. Equip us for every good work within the community of faith, and raise our faith, along with the faith of our children, as we continue in our “doing” of church. I love your church, Lord, and I feel so privileged to have taken part in bringing your story to the stage this week. Humbly and in holy fear, I guard the sacred deposit you’ve given to me. Thank you for trusting me with your witness and your grace. Amen.
Copyright © August 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
What a blessed summer your family has had! How rewarding it must be to see your nearly-grown sons choosing to follow the Lord! One of my greatest fears about ministry life is that my kids will be among those who grow up resenting the church (and therefore God). It’s always reassuring to see other families making it! Thanks for being a glimpse of what can be.
“To stay entrenched in the life of the church even when. . .”
I needed to hear that today. Thanks for sharing that our faithfulness will reap a harvest.
You are a blessed woman.
What an encouraging post! I am so moved when I see the youth at our church take part in the service or work at VBS, and I pray that my children will “stick close” when they are teenagers.
What a wonderful influence you’ve had on your sons!
Oh, Elaine. This is so encouraging and such a blessing to me this morning. Thank you for the encouragement.
Maybe one of the best ones ever, Elaine. I thoroughly enjoyed it.I only wish my whole family could be involved in the church. But my time is not God’s time so I continue to pray and involve my boys even when their dad is not. Thanks for the encouragement. It is alot easier when we are rooted in Christ at an early age. It does make a difference. But I know God knows my heart and my prayer is that we all attend church as a family just as yours do. Blessings!
I needed this encouragement about “sticking it out” through the mundane at church….We are struggling with that right now.
And it looks to me like you have your family’s Christmas card picture for this year.:)
God Bless,
Amy:)
Your family makes me smile and I sure God is smiling at your faithful work as well. I pray many children were touched and changed through the week of VBS.
Blessings to you all!
Nancy
Elaine, this post again is beautiful. We do need to be “embracing” our church. Not just spectators, but participants. Not just receiving, but releasing. Not just getting, but giving.
When I was a child there would be the odd Sunday evening when my parents would suggest we stay home of an evening because we had been going strong all day ministering and serving others. My sister and I would be so disappointed – even crying – that my parents would turn around, and back to church we would go for the evening service. I know often our longing at that young age came from wanting to see our friends, but God gave us a delight to be in His house, with His people.
Praying my son will continue to embrace this delight and privilege.
Love,
Joy
You’ve been one busy lady! And an actress to boot!
What a beautiful family too, by the way.
Kathleen
PS. Forgot to say how much I loved seeing the pictures of your family!!!!
YOU amaze me. I looks like everyone had a great time—such a good picture!
I HAD to come check on you! AND wow —what a blessing I have recieved 🙂
I love to read your writings….how is the book????
wifeforthejourney:
It is a joy to have such an excellent partner to share my life with. Thank you for sharing your many gifts and graces with me, our children, and the church. Your committment to Christ colors everything you do!
Love,
Billy
Elaine,
I’m catching up with you! My computer has been out of commission for a few days (the power cord a victim of overzealous boys abusing it in my little “office area” on this end of the couch), and won’t be back up until I receive the part we’ve ordered…
so I’ve commandeered their laptop for a few minutes!
I must say, yes…I believe we share a common disappointment! Writing is such a journey, is it not? I can’t not do it, yet sometimes, I forget the true reasons I am on this road. He calls me to it. I will pray for your writing, my friend. Yours is a gift that must be shared with the world! And I love your pictures from VBS. What a beautiful blessing to have your entire family helping, side-by-side. My boys are still young enough to be participants. I always leave my VBS week re-energized. It’s sucha high to see so many young ones on fire for God and His word. I think it benefits the adults as much as the kids to be involved in such a ministry!
You are a blessing!
VBS is the best. Love doing it every year. It always blesses me. This year I got to work with my 13 yr old. So much fun.
If you get a chance, come over to my blog on Monday. I have something for you.
Have a blessed weekend.
Me again,
Thanks for stopping by. As for the question about the site. I got the background from http://www.TheCutestBlogontheBlock.com and I made the header in Jasc Paint Shop Pro. Mostly by cutting and pasting. I’m a novice at best, but I got the scale graphic at Dreamstime and thought it went well with the whole weight loss them and the More God = Less Me theme. Thanks again for stopping by and I’ll be looking forward to you coming over on Monday. (wink)
you are just a great supermom… and your blessings abound you somewhere for being the VBS leader…
I have missed the last several… VAcation you know!!!
this really was a precious post…
thank you
Connie
Elaine I thank God for all those who are willing and even excited to work at VBS. I love teenagers and you could put me with a thousand of them and I’d be fine. But put me with three little ones and I’m in a dead panic! Oh I do ok with my grandchildren but a group of little ones…they’re like herding ants! So thank you for loving them and caring enough to share your talent. Blessings, marlene
We have a prodigal right now. One who was raised in the church and raised by Godly but not perfect parents.
It is a hard journey….would have never thought I would be here. But God is teaching me so much about Himself through this time.
And thanks for speaking about church. Since we no longer have a church home it has been really hard to motivate ourselves to find one. But I blog with so many women who are not in church….it really hurts my heart. They really dont know what they are missing. I know from experience that serving God in a church can be a rough experience…but it can also be an awesome blessing to have a family at church.
Thanks again….time to go to church again.
Loved the picture of your family and also the one taken in VBS. I’m sure that you do realize this is a special time in your life and to have your family working together in Christian work. But I think you will treasure it even more in the years to come.
It is wonderful to see the “faith of our fathers” passed to the next generation and may it continue until the coming of the Lord!
mary
You know, the church and my involvement in it provided much of the thread of the fabric of my life and some of my fondest and most formative memories. VBS was a highlight of every summer and recently, back home for a funeral, I got to tell my old VBS music leader that I still remembered every song she taught!
For all the work involved, that work is kingdom work. And the basic exercise of going to church builds a kingdom outlook.
Thanks, friend, for that reminder (and for your sweet comment on my last post-you’ll probably be hearing from me soon. 🙂
Love to you this day,
Melinda
Most Christians are familiar with Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
I pray more would become familiar with Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Thanks for sharing the TRUTH, sister!
This is great encouragement for me, having very small children. To see “almost-grown” children loving and following the Lord is wonderful. Thanks for sharing
Wow! What joy for a Momma’s heart! There is such truth to the verse “I have no greater joy than to know my children walk in truth.” It’s no small commitment helping with VBS…how awesome you could all take part as a family!
(Great photo!)
Blessings,
Tracy