Sharing Encouragement to Keep Serving

Yesterday evening, a group of people gathered for an appreciation dinner at my home church, FBC Rogers AR. The purpose of the gathering was to encourage and thank the volunteers who work at the River of Life Medical Clinic that is sponsored by FBCR. I was privileged to get to work with that group from the conception of the clinic in 2000 until the time that I moved to NYC.

It was heart-warming to think of all the people gathered in a relaxed setting and enjoying each other's company. That's not the atmosphere at the bi-monthly clinics, where it's so busy that fellow volunteers don't get much time to interact with each other.

As I thought about the dinner and fellowship time, I grew homesick for these people and wanted them to know that I was there with them in spirit. I sat down and wrote a letter of love and encouragement to them that was read at the dinner. I feel impressed by God to share this letter here, on my blog, in hopes that it is an encouragement to others. I pray that if you are currently serving others that you feel uplifted and energized. I pray that if you have not yet determined God's call on your life, that this may be nudge you need to start that dialogue with Him.


Dear Medical Clinic Family,

Oh, how I wish I was there tonight to visit with all of you and grab some much needed hugs! I’ll be praying for you all and I always think of you on Thursdays, whether it’s clinic night or not.

Thank you for being faithful to that wonderful ministry. I know it can be frustrating at times and tiring and draining. A lot of the ministry we do here is just like that and I know how easy it is to think about giving it up. But just when the wind is out of my sails, God brings a cool breeze through the encounter, no matter how brief, with someone thankful for my presence and participation in whatever ministry I’m helping with at the time. I pray that you receive that same blessing just when you need it most.

Life here in the city is hard, tiring, sweaty, dirty, overwhelming and expensive! I wonder sometimes what kind of an impact little ole me can make on a city this big and diverse. I remember feeling the same way at the clinic sometimes. There are so many people in need and just a handful there to help. It seems like a daunting task sometimes.

But when looking at it through God’s eyes, our service is just a small part of His overall plan for His people of the world. He has much more to keep up with than we do. He doesn’t expect us to handle it all. He just asks that we be obedient to the small part He is asking us to perform. And He equips us with everything we need to get through it. When we take the ‘me’ out of the situation, it leaves a lot more room for Him to fill in the love and energy that He is sending our way.

I pray that as you are all gathered tonight, you feel the common bond of your collective calling to help ‘even the least of these’ in your opportunity of service.

This past 16 months of serving in NYC has grown me so much in my walk with Him, and most of it has been hard lessons to learn. Every month I wonder if there will be enough money to pay the rent. Some weeks I can buy groceries, and other weeks I eat peanut butter and Hamburger Helper without the meat. But you know what? I still get fed and I still have the energy to get up every morning to walk 1 ½ miles to work. And I have never felt more blessed to be alive or more close to Him than now. Every day is not filled with joy. But every day is filled with looking to Him for everything. I’m thankful that I don’t have the financial security I sometimes long for, because then I would take it for granted. I’m glad that there is no time for a lot of extra curricular activities and demands on my time, because I would be distracted by all that. I look forward to the encounters He sends my way.

I’ve grown bolder in my walk with Him and in wanting to share these details of what He is to me with other people. I love the simplicity of my life right now. I pray that if God is calling you to simplify your lives in any way, that you heed that call. He deserves all the time we can give Him. Time is one of His gifts to us anyway. He deserves to tell us how to use it.

When interacting with the clients at the clinic, don’t just be aware of what they don’t have (medical insurance, money for doctors or medicine, financial security), please notice what many of them do have – a simple life, where the introduction to our God has room to fit in easily. Don’t miss those opportunities to share with them. And don’t miss the message God is laying on your heart at times like that.

Well, lately I’ve been praying for God to give me clarity of mind and heart to speak His words and I think my cup has just runneth over for today!

I send my love and blessings to you.
I keep you in my prayers. I ask for strength, energy, persistence, love, gratitude and a longing for His direction in your lives.

Thank you for being faithful to the River of Life Medical Clinic. How sweet that name is!

Have a good time tonight and know that I miss you all very much.

May God be pleased by all the works of our hands.
May He be glorified by the words from our mouths.
May His love be shared by the actions in our lives.

He is Love, He is worthy, He is God.

Love,
Vickie