According to the spiritual gifts test I took, the gift of shepherding looks like this: "As a gifted shepherd, you have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by overseeing, training, and caring for the needs. You are often authoritative, more a leader than a follower, and expressive, composed, and sensitive. Your pleasing personality draws people to you. You have a burden to see others learn and grow and are protective of those under your care. You are a peace-maker and diplomat - very tolerant of people's weaknesses. You tend to remember people's names and faces. You are more concerned with doing for others than others doing for you. You are faithful and devoted."
While I have my four girls coming to the house everyday, I also welcomed into my home more neighbor kids. On any given day I had anywhere from seven to fifteen children in my home age ranging from 4-12. These children were welcomed into the home with the warning that they had to obey the house rules which are posted on the living room wall. I warned them because, I am not their parent I couldn't really give them consequences for not following our rules. However, I did tell them that if they should disobey the rules they would get a warning, if their actions continued I would then "ground" them from my house for a week. To this day no one has had to have a warning. These children have had family dinners with us, participated in family movie nights etc.
I have lifted these children up in prayer both privately and with my Cg group. Our Community Group was talking one evening about ministering God's love to our community and work place. I had asked how I could do that with me being a stay at home mom and no other adults around. I had also asked how I could do this when I rarely get out of the house and have up to 15 children in my home almost everyday. Needless to say by the time I finished my statement they were stunned at the number of children, and at the fact that I was all ready doing it and didn't realize it. By allowing these children to come over, be in a safe environment, seeing God's love in our family and scripture posted all over the house I was ministering to them everyday. Our Cg tries to do one Serving project each quarter, with one coming up we were discussing what we would do. One of our Cg members decided that we should serve our neighborhood children. We all agreed on hosting a BBQ for children and their parents. It went off with a success. We had 20 children, plus our Cg attendance of 14. We provided dinner, games and good old fashioned family time.
With the recent passing of two of my girls mothers, I wanted to reach out to my girls in more ways. One of my girls (B) her grandmother did not have the funds to file for temporary custody. I asked our Cg and Church to help out with this. With the love of our church and Cg we were able to raise $400.00 to help her with court fees. Her Grandmother was so touched that she was in tears and did not except it. I told her it was a gift, and to accept it. I would not give the money back! She then said something I have never heard her say she said, "God is good, and there are still good people out there." What a day! To hear her say that after such a loss to see God's love, and love of others pouring out over them. With (D's) mom passing we were able to give her a good Christmas. I know this doesn't make up for the deep loss of her mom, but it did help her realize that she was not alone and that others had her heart in their interest.
In this Present day God has still provided funds to feed all these mouths, funds to provide for other needs, energy and the desire for these children to be in our home everyday. In fact on days where no one comes over I tend to feel lonely and bored. If my house is not busy with children something is wrong!
I don't know what lead me to look up my spiritual gifts other than calling it "God's will". But, the morning I looked it up I almost felt like God was telling me; "This is who you are and this is where I want you right now." I was so excited to about these gifts and understanding myself a bit more and what God is designed me for me that, that Sunday I asked the pastor how I could use these gifts in the church. He laughed and said "T" your all ready doing it. It starts with your Cg in which you are sharing your mercy, love and friendship. You are doing it in your community at home. I then laughed and said "No" its not enough I want to do more (I don't want to sound like I'm holier than anyone I'm not.), I just have trouble seeing it as using my gifts. With all this said, I had to share with all of you, how using the gifts God provides you can look like normal activities. It's not necessarily going out on a limb to serve somewhere. Its just sharing your heart with others in different ways.
Stay tuned for relying on God in impossible situations.
While I have my four girls coming to the house everyday, I also welcomed into my home more neighbor kids. On any given day I had anywhere from seven to fifteen children in my home age ranging from 4-12. These children were welcomed into the home with the warning that they had to obey the house rules which are posted on the living room wall. I warned them because, I am not their parent I couldn't really give them consequences for not following our rules. However, I did tell them that if they should disobey the rules they would get a warning, if their actions continued I would then "ground" them from my house for a week. To this day no one has had to have a warning. These children have had family dinners with us, participated in family movie nights etc.
I have lifted these children up in prayer both privately and with my Cg group. Our Community Group was talking one evening about ministering God's love to our community and work place. I had asked how I could do that with me being a stay at home mom and no other adults around. I had also asked how I could do this when I rarely get out of the house and have up to 15 children in my home almost everyday. Needless to say by the time I finished my statement they were stunned at the number of children, and at the fact that I was all ready doing it and didn't realize it. By allowing these children to come over, be in a safe environment, seeing God's love in our family and scripture posted all over the house I was ministering to them everyday. Our Cg tries to do one Serving project each quarter, with one coming up we were discussing what we would do. One of our Cg members decided that we should serve our neighborhood children. We all agreed on hosting a BBQ for children and their parents. It went off with a success. We had 20 children, plus our Cg attendance of 14. We provided dinner, games and good old fashioned family time.
With the recent passing of two of my girls mothers, I wanted to reach out to my girls in more ways. One of my girls (B) her grandmother did not have the funds to file for temporary custody. I asked our Cg and Church to help out with this. With the love of our church and Cg we were able to raise $400.00 to help her with court fees. Her Grandmother was so touched that she was in tears and did not except it. I told her it was a gift, and to accept it. I would not give the money back! She then said something I have never heard her say she said, "God is good, and there are still good people out there." What a day! To hear her say that after such a loss to see God's love, and love of others pouring out over them. With (D's) mom passing we were able to give her a good Christmas. I know this doesn't make up for the deep loss of her mom, but it did help her realize that she was not alone and that others had her heart in their interest.
In this Present day God has still provided funds to feed all these mouths, funds to provide for other needs, energy and the desire for these children to be in our home everyday. In fact on days where no one comes over I tend to feel lonely and bored. If my house is not busy with children something is wrong!
I don't know what lead me to look up my spiritual gifts other than calling it "God's will". But, the morning I looked it up I almost felt like God was telling me; "This is who you are and this is where I want you right now." I was so excited to about these gifts and understanding myself a bit more and what God is designed me for me that, that Sunday I asked the pastor how I could use these gifts in the church. He laughed and said "T" your all ready doing it. It starts with your Cg in which you are sharing your mercy, love and friendship. You are doing it in your community at home. I then laughed and said "No" its not enough I want to do more (I don't want to sound like I'm holier than anyone I'm not.), I just have trouble seeing it as using my gifts. With all this said, I had to share with all of you, how using the gifts God provides you can look like normal activities. It's not necessarily going out on a limb to serve somewhere. Its just sharing your heart with others in different ways.
Stay tuned for relying on God in impossible situations.
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