Tag Archives: serving

Message In A Minute: See A Purpose

Recently, I’ve have been visiting a friend at a long-term care facility.

I’ve been quite a few times to see him, and often it’s a difficult experience. It’s not simply that my friend is progressing slowly but it’s that so many residents in the faculty are dealing with a variety of impairments. My heart goes out to them every time I’m there.

I am encouraged by the care that the residents receive, and my friend is usually in good spirits. The facility seems to be a very supportive environment. But, I look forward to the day my friend can be back to a more normal kind of life.

Every time I visit, there is a resident in a wheelchair waiting inside the double doors.

I’ve been there in the early morning and late afternoon, and he is faithfully at his post. He places himself right beside the automatic door button and he loves to be the one to let you in. He is basically the volunteer doorman.

He watches for people through the glass doors, and quickly reaches for the button. You can sense that he is dedicated and excited to offer his assistance in this small way. I imagine he can’t wait to get to his spot every morning.

I have explained to him how much I appreciate his help and he seems to be fulfilled in the effort. I have a strong sense that this man is doing God’s work. It could be described as a holy moment when the doors open.

For me and many others, it’s just a button on the wall that I’d have to push.

To this man, it’s everything.

It’s meaning, responsibility, and service.

In that place… 
Some see a prison, this man sees a purpose.
Some feel despair, this man finds dedication.
Some dream of healing, he is busy helping.
Some face adversity, he finds adventure.
Some are counting the days till they are out of there, this man counts the people he has served.

He is a wonderful welcomer.
He is a devoted doorman.
He is a sacred servant.

I don’t know his whole story, but I know he is playing an active role in his story.

I don’t know your whole story, but I do believe God wants to be involved in every moment of it.

And I pray that you and I can be as faithful in opening figurative doors for others, as the man who opens the physical doors for every visitor.

No matter your limitations, find a way to display God’s limitless love.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Through Me

On one of my favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith Show, Barney gets help from beyond.

The choir has a big show coming up and somehow Barney gets a solo. He can’t stay in tune, and the choir director doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. Andy comes up with a crazy idea that would never work anywhere but Mayberry.

Andy convinces Barney that a special microphone will be used for the performance. Andy explains that Barney has to sing so low that almost no sound comes out of his mouth. Barney seems confused but trusts Andy’s advice.

The hapless deputy stands alone in front of the crowd waiting for his cue. He doesn’t realize that his microphone is off. Another man from the choir slips behind the curtain to a live microphone and belts out a powerful solo. Barney moves His mouth and believes it’s his own voice.

You can watch Barney’s demeanor change after just a few notes. He goes from unsure to confident in an instant. Barney is filled with bravado, the crowd is in awe, and he never realizes the power came from a more qualified voice.

I feel like Barney sometimes.

It’s not a perfect analogy but it makes sense to me.

There have been times I had just the right words at just the right moment. Other times, I decided to do something for someone and it ended up being more meaningful than I imagined. A few have told me that my words or actions helped them get through a tough time.

I look back and realize it wasn’t really me, it was someone working through me. Like Barney, I was simply playing my part while God was behind the scenes directing and speaking through me.

I’ve seen this happen many more times through other people. God works through them to encourage, uplift, or inspire. I’ve seen God work through people you would least expect.

God promises to give us the right words, clear direction, and pure motivation, if we yield to His leading.

We all have gifts, some may be good singers, others may have a way with words, while others have the ability to help others through doing repairs to a home or vehicle.

Everyone has limitations as well. We can’t meet all the needs around us. Our attitude holds us back, our finite resources impede our benevolence, or we simply don’t know what to say.

But God has all the wisdom, all the strength, all the patience, all the resources, all the mercy, and all the love to impact others through you.

Trust God.

Ask Him to work in you and with you.
Ask Him to speak to you and through you.
Ask Him to reach into your heart and out through your hands.

The reality is, if God is with you, you will never be standing alone.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Find Your Calcutta

Our church has a ministry where we collect prom dresses to give to girls who can’t afford a new one.

My wife started the ministry a few years ago. It went from a few dresses and a girl or two, to hundreds of dresses and multiple girls stopping by almost weekly to select a dress for a school dance or event. We now have jewelry, shoes, and make up for them also.

Many of the ladies in the church eagerly wait to help the girls who come in when we have a publicized give away event. And some ladies agree to meet girls mid-week so they can try to find the right dress.

A few weeks back, I was in the church library working on my sermon. I could hear my wife and another lady helping a couple girls and their families. These particular girls were going to a special needs prom and accommodations had to be made to assist the girls in trying on the dresses. I was on the second floor and they were on the third.

I’m telling you, I could hear the joy and excitement in each voice. Not just from the girls getting dresses but from the two that volunteered to help the girls. The servants were enjoying it as much as those receiving the service.

It is said, “Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life.” There is a lot of truth to that. But in a deeper way, we can lose ourselves in serving others and find blessings we never knew were possible. Each of us should find a way to serve others, it gives perspective, it energizes our soul, and most of all, it makes an impact in the lives we serve.

The dress ministry has opened the door for us to help the girls in other ways. It’s amazing the difference our ladies have made in young lives by simply meeting a need. Many of the families couldn’t afford the dresses any other way, a few of the families need way more than just a dress.

Mother Theresa spent most of her life serving the poor in Calcutta, India. She ministered to those who were terminally ill with HIV/AIDS, Leprosy, and Tuberculosis. Her ministry included soup kitchens, dispensaries, family counseling programs, and orphanages.

When Mother Theresa was asked if more people should abandon their lives and move to Calcutta to help, she famously replied something like this. “Your Calcutta is every heart you touch, find your Calcutta.”

God may ask you to do big things in life, be willing if He leads. But more than likely, He will ask you to do smaller things motivated by love. Most of those acts will go under the radar. No fan-fair, no applause, no reward here on earth.

You may cross the world to help the poor, you may only have to cross the street. You may encourage crowds of people, you may encourage one at a time. You may serve in a bright spotlight, or in the shadows.

The most important thing is this, find your unique way of serving others. Your talents, your experiences, your passions, are yours for a reason. And that reason goes way beyond your own benefit.

We were designed to receive God’s love and share God’s love.
We were made to find joy in lifting others up.
We were created to reach the least, the last, and the lost.

Find a way to impact those in need, one person at a time.

Find your Calcutta.

-Tom Wise

Message In A Minute: Compassion With Hands and Feet

When my daughter was in elementary school, she was in a musical program.

Her best friend had a solo part in a popular song. When it came time for the solo, my daughter’s friend sang the wrong part. She sang it well, it was just the wrong lyrics.

Only people who knew the song lyrics or were following extremely closely noticed.

The young girl was embarrassed and began to cry. My daughter immediately put her hand on the girl’s shoulder, consoled and encouraged her.

My daughter is like that, she empathizes with others, she sees they are hurting, and she is motivated to do something. She doesn’t just talk it, she walks it.

My wife and I watched her that night take care of her friend and it brought us to tears. I want to have a heart like that, a heart that doesn’t just feel but also fuels action.

Many of us can sense a need. Some of us even talk about doing something. But what speaks louder and longer is actually doing something. People often need more than words or warnings, they need to see the light demonstrated.

Love in action, empathy in motion, compassion with hands and feet.

Sound travels at 761 miles per hour.
Light travels at 670,616,629 miles per hour.
Being the light is far more efficient than lecturing others about the darkness.

Be the light for others, demonstrate compassion, take action.

And pray that I will be more like my daughter.

-Tom Wise

28 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE GOD | #22: EMPTY

28 WaysThe cross is the most recognized symbol of the Christian faith. I don’t think it should be.

I think the empty tomb should be.

The cross is important in revolutionary ways, but the tomb… it’s empty.

The reason the tomb is so powerful is because there is no one there, the grave didn’t win, death lost.

Continue reading →