Archive for February 2011

Children's Ministry changed my Heart

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Over the past couple of months I've had the privilege of working at Mars Hill Church in the Children's Ministry department as the 9AM Service Lead. When I was asked by a Pastor to consider taking a position in Children's Ministry, I immediately responded no, knowing it would be very difficult for me to serve with children due to the difficulty Westin and I have had trying to conceive a child of our own. God spoke through leadership, telling me this was exactly where He wanted me to serve. God wanted to teach me to trust Him right in the midst of the pain and heartache of infertility.


When I began to serve I saw God's goodness and faithfulness immediately. I thought He was bringing me to serve in a place that would teach me patience, but His work has been much more than that.

Weekly God has broken me of my self-sufficiency. No matter how many times I plan and organize a smooth service of volunteers and leaders, God has allowed mess to happen. In the mess God quietly whispers, "Dorina, I am in control and I will see things through for my glory." That's just what He has done.

God has shown me so many miracles through Children's Ministry. I have met children from all walks of life. Some that now God and others that have never met the Savior. Parents have hugged me in thankfulness for a simple phone call of clarification. God has brought volunteers that heard the Holy Spirit calling them to serve kids that would have never done so in the past. Ever Sunday I get to feel little arms around me excited to see me and be at church. I will never be able to put into words the joy that I feel when a child's face lights up as they walk into church and run to hug me.

Today, God has truly change my heart. I no longer see serving in Children's Ministry as something hard to do. Even though Westin and I don't have a child of our own, we are honored to call many children ours for a couple of hours on Sundays. I realize now that God didn't put me in this job because I am organized and can lead people. He put me here to change my heart. You see, serving in the church is a gift. I pray the Holy Spirit would speak clearly to others to take the leap of faith to start serving somewhere. I know that I would not trade the joy God has given me these last few months.

I am humbled that God would choose me, a broken sinner to be part of His amazing plan.

http://westseattle.marshillchurch.org/cm/

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The Cross

Friday, February 4, 2011

This year I committed to reading the Bible completely. As you may know, usually you read some verses from Psalms about Wisdom, the Pentateuch for History, Chronicles/Prophets and the Gospels and Epistles. Today I read Luke 23, Jesus' death. I sat and imagined the horror and glory of that day. To get an even more detailed picture I watched the scene from The Passion of the Christ movie. I do that because I want to get a good picture in my head of the pain Jesus endured on the cross for me. I picture his blood dripping down his face while carrying all of our sin(s). Why would He love me so much to take all of my sin and give me all of His righteousness in exchange?

It's a beautiful picture, isn't it? I am convinced no one would go back after experiencing God's love and goodness. I have experienced that love and goodness because I have seen the depth of my sin(s). Most would say exposing sin is too hard and you need to hide it, not deal with it. Counselors teach us how to forget and move on from the pain. I have learned it's the exact opposite. It's in the pain and the hard truth that God is revealed. When we are living a life of repentance God's goodness shines. He didn't die for me when and because I was "good." He died because someone had to pay my random. Someone had to pay for all the sins of the world, including mine. As I continue to live a life seeking God I am convicted more and more of my sin. You can't be close to God and not see your sin. He is just too perfect! I am encouraged because as long as I see my sin, I see God's goodness.

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." Romans 5:10




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