Raw

Over the years, I have planned and hosted a number of wedding and baby showers. Some of them have been legendary. My friend Linda and I have come up with many theme showers, and spent weeks working on the color scheme, centerpieces, table coverings, searching for the perfect napkin, making memorable favors for the guests.....then of course a menu! The planning goes on and on. I don't believe we ever gave a shower without also preparing a devotion for the event.....a Scripture and word of encouragement for the bride or mother-to-be. Perhaps that is the most redeeming thing about all of these showers. Giving showers was a type of ministry for us.
When we were in Honduras in February, Linda and I held an impromptu baby shower for a pregnant Central American friend. It was a blast. The element of surprise and no planning made it all the more fun. No time to think of the perfect napkin, NO FOOD AT ALL, just a knock on the door and the presentation of a deluxe stroller tied with pink and blue ribbons. The mother-to-be was delighted.
This got me thinking of ministry at home. We plan and plan....toil and spin.....why not try raw ministry here as well?
I have put my idea to the test these past two weeks. Last week two friends and I dropped in on a couple to visit. This couple has children in a ministry program we run. We decided to bridge the gap between the kids and their parents by stopping in for a chat. We brought cookies and flowers. It was a delightful time! We talked a little about the church but did not present the full gospel message. I trust God is laying the groundwork for when we can do just that. Tonight, I took another parent to dinner and got to know her on a different level. It was not planned in advance. I left a message on her phone an hour before I picked her up. Luckily, she was available and ready. We had a marvelous chat, and she filled me in on happenings in her living complex. I also got a chance to find out where she is in her walk with the Lord.
This experiment has been a lot of fun so far!