A Life of Servanthood
14 CommentsA few weeks ago, I gave a message called “The Poor and Needy.” Below is a testimony of how a member in our church is living out this message. We asked Sherly Giglio to share about how her husband, Peter, has given of his time and money to bless others over the years. I hope this story will be both encouraging and provoking.
When I was asked to share about my husband’s generosity and his heart for the lost and needy, it was easy to come up with a life time of examples. For the past 32 years, I have seen Peter give, give, and give even more. He humbly serves without looking for recognition or anything in return. This is seen in many ways, such as: providing rides to people in need, opening our home and giving people a place to live, visiting a wounded soldier, going on mission trips, and giving financially to our church and other ministries, as well as to those in need.
I’d like to share the most recent example of his selfless generosity. It is something that was close to his heart:
Back in August of this year, Peter had the privilege of serving with Drew Garfield to help plan a work day at the Laytonia community, located across the street from Covenant Life. Initially, he gave of his time by attending planning meetings and liaising with the Laytonia Homeowners Association Board to see how we, as a church, could help them. 
This was followed by numerous trips to Home Depot and time spent organizing materials. Finally, the big work day came. Volunteers from Covenant Life and Gracia Soberana labored alongside people from the Laytonia community. What a joy it was to see multiple races, rich and poor, Christian and non-Christian working side by side each other. Most importantly, the work day provided an open door to share the gospel!
Another way Peter demonstrates his heart for the needy is that his main focus in business is to provide excellent service and be able to give even more money and time to further God’s kingdom. Peter recently did a commercial advertising our company. In the commercial, he let people know that a portion of the sales would be given to Give Uganda Water.
Peter recently returned from a trip to Fabens, Tex., where a team led by Grant Layman built an apartment for Dean Adamek (who runs an orphanage in Mexico that our church has partnered with). This apartment will allow his family and staff to have a place in the U.S. to stay when circumstances make it difficult to cross the border.
I am reminded over and over again, through my husband’s heart and example, of how much he loves the Lord and gives of himself so that the gospel continues to go forward.
October 29 2009 at 7:14 am
A Generous Life
0 CommentsThe following is an e-mail I received from Rachel Robb after this Sunday’s message, “The Poor and Needy.” Thanks, Rachel, for honoring your dad and pointing to God’s grace in his life! (Pictured: Frank and Rachel, sharing a hat moment)
Hi Josh,
First of all, thank you SO much for the message that you preached today. It was very convicting and an excellent reminder. Personally, I was convicted of a few specific opportunities that God has given me to be supporting the poor. I also just wanted to share with you the amazing example that my father has set as someone who cares for the poor, the fatherless and the alien.
When he was first converted in South Africa, my dad would go out into the poor townships with a church group and teach the impoverished population how to grow vegetables. This was in a time when it was extremely dangerous for any white people to go into those areas.
Also, our home has always been a shelter for those who are needy. From visiting scientists from around the world, to PC families and people coming to conferences, my dad has led our family heroically and opened up our home generously and without hesitation. I literally cannot count how many people have stayed with us since I have been alive… Almost my entire life there has been at LEAST one visitor staying in our house. Many times, these people are from another country and in desperate need of friends and family. My dad has shown me what it means to love others selflessly.
Right now a missionary family from Israel is staying in our basement. They have been in Israel for the past six years, and when they were called to come back to the U.S. for a sabbatical-type-thing, my father graciously offered them our basement. He is generous to a ridiculous degree sometimes. When a charity is calling and they reach my mom, I will hear her telling them that Dad has already donated to their cause recently.
What’s even more amazing is that, when I encouraged Dad after the message and told him that he was the most generous and giving person that I knew, he was amazed and said that during the message he had been very convicted of his shortcomings in this area. That blew me away. He is the most humble man that I know.
I don’t really know why I wanted to share all that with you so badly, but I was so overwhelmed in the message at the amazing example of my dad in this area. I guess I just wanted to encourage you with the grace of God that is at work in our church!
May God bless you richly, Josh!
Rachel Robb
P.S. Also, thank you so much for honoring my mom. I love the fact that I, as her daughter, can heartily agree with everything you said about her being a faithful servant, and that I know that she is even more amazing and godly and self-sacrificing than anyone else (other than our family) will ever know.
October 9 2009 at 5:22 pm
More About Self-Control
0 CommentsHere are more responses I received when I e-mailed church members last week asking how they were being affected by our recent messages from Proverbs. People responded to three questions (names have been removed from the responses): 1) Where is God calling you to exercise self-control? What do you feel he’s calling you to say “no” to?
2) Express how God has been speaking to you. 3) What do you think he’s calling you to do instead with your time? Is there an attitude, activity or behavior you’d like to “put on”? (see Ephesians 4: 24)
Thanks to everyone who responded! I hope you’re encouraged (as I was) to see how God is at work.
1) My tongue and my reckless words!
2) Proverbs 12:18 was read and I was convicted of how my reckless words said in anger contributed to a conflict with my daughter.
3) Encourage my daughter with Scripture for where God is at work in her life and hold my tongue.1) Media. E-mail, Facebook, and text messaging I need to put down…
2) I believe that God has been reminding me that I have an eternal purpose. It is eye-opening to think how much I lose when I waste my time with media. I make God so small and not important and NOT the main focus in my heart.
3) I think he is calling me to spend time with people in person and pursue their hearts.1) Playing on the computer, sweets, doing my work, etc.
2) God has spoken to me about being a sluggard. Since my bout with Lyme’s disease, I’ve gotten used to being lazy. Now that I’m better, though, I need to start working.
3) I’d like to serve more.1) No to martha-isms - distractions of the home.
2) Conviction that my heart and mind are not fully engaged in my quiet times.
3) Be still.1) Show kindness in my interactions with my children and husband, and not be so quick to anger.
2) Show love, patience; enjoy time now because children grow up quickly.
3) Spend more time in prayer for my family, also, quality time in God’s Word.1) No to the busy schedules. Slow down and spend more time for the Lord.
2) God gave me a very specific command about a week a go: he said: “Worship me!” I have been, and the Holy Spirit has renewed my heart.
3) To praise him, to be humble before him, adore him for the wonders he does in our life. Soak in the Spirit.1) Food as an idol and web-surfing during my time at home with my kids during the day.
2) I am sensing that God wants to deepen my relationships with my children individually through my prayer time with HImself.
3) Praying for and with my children as their needs are brought to my attention.1) No to: negative thought patterns that lead to dissatisfaction with the life God has chosen for me.
2) Especially thru Ben Wikner’s class on The Book of Ruth (“He is actively plotting for my good”) and Charles Spurgeon’s books: The Suffering Lettersand The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith
(I’ve had severe, long-term health problems for almost 20 years).
3) Spend more time in His presence: the Word, worship, prayer, service to others and biblical fellowship1) With my thoughts, I have a tendency to let my mind run with too much concern, worry, lack of faith.
2) Self-control should apply to even how we use our mind.
3) Philippians 4:81) Less time wasted on the computer, be it editing pictures, checking e-mail, or watching movies.
2) I became aware of how I was wasting my time a few weeks ago, and Joshua Harris’ message helped confirm that I was not spending my time wisely. I have had the desire to spend my time better, but have lacked the motivation, even though I know every moment counts.
3) Open the Bible and read, work on cross-centered friendships, and involve others in all that I do.1) I’m a very aggressive and judgmental person. I need to show the same grace Christ has shown me to others.
2) Mainly God has been working on how I need to depend on him and “look before I leap,” so to say. Show compassion and grace for others before judgment. It may take some time, but I’m just going to keep coming before him in prayer and reading his Word.
3) Less “me” time and more time helping others who may need it more then I need my time to relax.1) Free time; spending more time with God rather than personal pleasure.
2) He’s been telling me to spend less time on the computer.
3) Rather than going on the computer for games, bring up the Bible on the computer to study.1) Self-control for me is connected to faith and humility.
2) It takes faith to let go of those not-obviously-sinful impulses to do things which often seem much less interesting.
3) It takes humility to let go of my own ideas and desires because of my overrated view of myself.1) Not eating unhealthy foods or over eating, and having the self-control to exercise.
2) As I pray the Lord’s prayer every day, the Lord has been speaking to me about having “no other Gods before him” and “do not fear.” When I am afraid, I often get a snack. I do not exercise self-control nor trust in the Lord in my eating.
3) I need to be aware of my eating response and pray and/or exercise when I’m aware of my fear.1) Self-control in how I manage to spend my time. God is calling me to say “no” to laziness.
2) God has been speaking to me to take more initiative in planning.
3) Put on more of a servant’s heart to care for everyone I interact with in my life.
October 8 2009 at 3:17 pm
Growing in Self-Control
0 CommentsOn Sunday we asked several church members to share how God has been speaking to them about self-control. This came as a follow-up to some of our recent sermons from Proverbs, especially “Self Control in a Wired World” and “The Sluggard.”
The video includes testimonies from the second service only. Tomorrow we’ll post a clip with testimonies from the first.
August 21 2009 at 11:23 am
Loving Your Neighbor
0 CommentsI received the following letter from Carol Nelson in response to the Love Your Neighbor series. Let’s all be encouraged by her example!
Dear Josh,
Thank you for the series that you led our church through on “loving your neighbor.” These messages really inspired our family, and gave us courage to take additional steps to get to know and love our neighbors.
After your messages, my husband and I talked and prayed. To some degree, we are limited as a family. My husband works long hours, I homeschool, we have a child with special needs, and we try to be involved in care group and church events. So it’s easy to be “practical,” stick with the routine, and shuttle into our homes with our to-do lists in mind and hand.
However, we are grateful for constant reminders to love and consider those around us … and especially those who do not know the Lord. For us, any food event that we attend or host has special challenges because we have to consider not only food, but also food surfaces (since we have had 911 visits when our daughter has touched or been touched by the wrong foods).
So, my husband and I agreed to a ladies tea. Limited food (we provided it) and a group of folks who would be able to understand limitations are a good fit for us. I hand wrote invitations and went door-to-door to invite neighbors … to my surprise, I found that most of the neighbors were touched. Some immediately told me about their schedules (vacations, limitations, or that they hoped to come).
When I had the tea, it was small. Two ladies from Covenant Life came, one of whom I had not met previously. Three other neighbors came … I listened carefully, and I got to know these neighbors better. I hope that I loved them a little better by giving them homemade banana bread and fresh fruit, and of course, tea … It’s a start, and I am praying I will love my neighbors better and better, and that the Lord will help our family work out all the details.
By God’s grace we may have another ladies tea or other event that we can manage. But, it’s not lost on me that this isn’t something I would have done without the gospel. I would have been happy (or at least preoccupied) with my own friends and my own life, and I wouldn’t have been thinking about loving neighbors I don’t know.
Thanks for the messages, and thanks for inspiring us to take action.With sincere appreciation,
Carol Nelson
P.S. Since the tea, two other neighbors have written to thank me for the invitation and say to keep them on the list for the next one!
July 29 2009 at 12:45 pm
Gecko Voice: Brit or Aussie?
4 Comments
Got the e-mail below from Matt Halsey on Sunday night. He references the GEICO Gecko, one of several characters I mentioned on Sunday in the course of explaining the way the book of Proverbs personifies wisdom and folly. I said I wasn’t sure if the gecko’s accent was British or Australian. Now I know! I won’t mention that a certain member named Theresa (last name withheld for her privacy) was the person who was so adamant that the Gecko was Australian. It’s okay, Miss Wheeler (first name withheld). I forgive you.
Josh,
I’m sure you’ve had several e-mails already, but GEICO’s Gecko is spoken by Jake Wood, an English actor who stars in the British soap opera, “Eastenders.” As Brits ourselves we can tell a Cockney accent when we hear one, guv’nor. :-)
Regards,
Matt and Amanda Halsey