Daily Devotion for May 1, 2006

They That Wait upon The Lord

 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.    Isaiah 40:30-31

 

I remember when I was working in youth ministry each summer we would send youth and adults on a servant project with the Appalachian Service Project. We would send a group of high-schoolers and adults to spend a week in Appalachia helping to fix up the homes of the poor. It was a week of hard labor: shingling roofs, installing insulation (a very itchy business), painting, etc. In addition, the kids (and adults) did without the creature comforts that we have come to regard as necessities: no TV, computer games or Nintendo; and no privacy, since their living quarters were typically the gym of the local high school. There were no bright lights or malls to help pass the evenings -- a 20-mile excursion down mountain roads to the local Hardees was the equivalent of a trip to the big city. Given these conditions, one would expect that recruiting for the Appalachian Service Project was a hard sell as the kids came back with their stories of hard work and grim conditions. Yet, just opposite was the case. 

 

Even more amazing was the reaction of the participants. Far from complaining about their experiences they positively glowed as they recounted their stories of new friends made, a sense of having accomplished something worthwhile, and a greater appreciation of just how well off they were. Above all, they came back having grown in faith. They had discovered what faith made whole by actions could accomplish, not just in repairing houses, but in repairing lives by showing others that they are not alone or forgotten.

 

It was hard to believe that these youth who would tote bundles of shingles or crawl under houses to install insulation on a hot July day were the same youth who were moping about the malls and complaining they were bored and had nothing to do. What a difference doing the Lord's work can make. Truly, when we wait upon the Lord, we do find a new strength and joy, and a satisfaction that comes from serving others that is missing in our lives when we concentrate only upon ourselves.

 

Prayer:
Gracious Lord, fill our hearts with your Spirit and let him guide us in your service, so that by serving you we may grow in faith. Amen.

 

FYI
Lutheran Church Charities helps coordinate servant events.  We are sending crews down to help with Katrina in the Gulf States and also coordinating youth servant events in Chicago.  If you are interested please contact me at TimHetzner@LutheranChurchCharities.org

 

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Tim Hetzner - President - Lutheran Church Charities
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