7-a-bench

A few days ago I posted this photo of the row in front of me in chapel on EBS's instagram account with the caption, 

"Seven-a-bench means we’ve got workers, praise the Lord, for the harvest is plentiful, and there is work to do!!"

Five on a pew is comfortable and six is full.  Seven on a bench means several people can't sit back, and it only happens when we are FULL...praise the Lord!

A few days later we were in church at Granny's and I was translating for our English speakers while Matt was preaching. The girls were coloring as they listened, and thankful for busy ladies and a happy baby and a good sermon to chew on, I snapped this picture. 

Later on the way home, looking through photos from the day, I realized that we really had an impressive number of humans on that rickety school bench and counted...seven.

Seven-a-bench means we've got workers, praise the Lord, for the harvest is plentiful, and there is work to do immediately ran through my mind.  

What a strong reminder for this mama, worshipping one day in chapel in heels with our students and worshiping another with babies and books in my lap...full benches BOTH mean God has richly blessed us with workers to disciple, that God has given us charge of many for His kingdom, that many more might come to know Him.

The students are our daily ministry, and so are these precious kiddos, and so are the men and women from around the world God's bringing alongside.  It's all precious ministry, each one His children, each moment an opportunity He's given me to love Him well by loving Them well.

Some moments, life looks and feels like ministry. Some moments, it looks and feels a lot more like messy monotony. Some moments, that bench is glory hallelujah and others it is tight and hot and uncomfortable. 

But it all is ministry, opportunities to live and give and grow Jesus in the lives of those on our bench. I'm talking to you, do you hear me? 

Whoever's in your bench, there's your mission field, family.

Praise the Lord, and Jesus, help us.

He does and will.