Sweet Ministry
The other week at church, as I was sitting with a small group of ladies, they were having a conversation about serving God. One was concerned that she is just a maebaan, she just cooks and cleans. She said that she enjoys cooking, but was worried that she was not serving God.
The lady who was asking this question regularly makes lunch for the church, serving many with her talents.
How does one serve God?
“And what ever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men” Col 3:23
Up to this point, I had merely been listening, fairly confident I was understanding what they were saying. But then they turned to me and asked me what I thought. I told them that Peter’s mother served our Lord by providing food and accomodations. I said that anyone who loves the Lord can serve by doing their work for Him. (At least I am pretty sure I said that!) 
I think this is one of the great things about our God. He does not ask us to do anything else other than what He puts in front of us each day, and calls it service to Him. We have a dear friend who is a mailman. He sees his job as an avenue daily into the lives of others and uses each opportunity presented to Him to glorify the Lord and make Him known. His ministry is not one that would come to the minds of most people when they think about what ministry options are available, but it is a vibrant one none the less.
As we are here studying Thai, sometimes we get frustrated that we are not ‘ministering’ in the way we would like. We are not teaching Sunday School, leading Bible studies, discipling new believers. Our language is not up to that yet.
Our Gracious God, using what gifts He has given us, readily presents us with chances to serve Him and minister.
In a land where many people do not have ovens, my love of baking has given many chances to minister. Our neighbors have come for several baking lessons, giving us chances to talk and share why we are here. And this past Sunday I made a birthday cake for the family that ran the small house church we were attending.
My first attempt at lettering a cake in Thai!
Sometimes, when we struggle to find words to build a relationship or chit chat to make friendly conversation, a gift of cookies or brownies goes a long way!
At my friend Kathy’s blog, she talked of her husband’s blend ministry. He enoys making blends and giving them away, thereby spreading joy and brain freezes. He tongue in cheek calls it ministry, but I do in sincerity. When you are able to let the joy of Lord flow out of you, whether through a Smoothie 2000 machine or a chocolate cake, and it gives those around you a chance to see the love of the Lord, your service is sweet both to the Lord and others!
August 10th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Tina - what a lovely post! I like the way you weave the sweetness of chocolate and smoothies into a reflection of the sweetness the Lord sees in our ministry to others.
You are wonderful!! Fantastic cake in Thai. How interesting that God opens doors to reach to others through baking. Wow.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:29 am
Wonderful post, Tina! I enjoy your blog and look forward to your updates.
Lovely way of looking at service to the Lord. I think I often forget that my motherhood is a service to Him!
August 13th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
This puts me in mind of a story told in several of the gospels:
This woman apparently did not speak, and does not even appear by name in this account, but her love for Jesus expressed in a simple act of service will be remembered, as promised by Jesus Himself, around the world forever. I think that those who serve their Lord behind the scenes will be among the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.