My parents grew up in a farming community in rural North Dakota. One of the families who farmed near the Skorheim farm was the Rusvold family. On my visits to North Dakota I met one of the Rusvolds, a lady named Thelma. Thelma had several amazing distinctions:  to everyone’s amazement, Thelma was given a speeding ticket on the way to her 90 birthday party! One of my uncles later interceded, and the “charges” were dropped. Another striking element of Thelma’s life is that she was born, lived and died in the same community at age 101.
       But to me the most amazing distinction of Thelma’s life is that for 101 years, she was a member of the same church! Not only was she a member, but she was the organist at Hoff Lutheran Church for over 80 years!
       I would have liked to ask Thelma several questions about why she never changed churches. Didn’t she have any of the familiar issues on why people change churches?
       In 101 years was there not a Pastor with whom you did not really “click?”
       In 101 years did the church leaders never make a decision you did not like?
       In 101 years did a fellow member not “slight” you, and you just didn’t want to deal with it?
       In 101 years did the Ladies Missionary Society give money to a mission in Africa, and you thought it would be better used in Asia?
       In 101 years was the ladies restroom painted off-white, and you would have rather had egg shell white?
       In 101 years was there not “music issues” and you wanted to move to a church that had music you “really” liked?
       In 101 years was not too much attention paid to the youth, and the senior generation felt neglected?
       I don’t know if Thelma had a world’s record in church membership, but I’m sure it is close.
       I realize at times it is necessary to change churches, but often the reasons seem selfish, not Spirit-lead.
       Thelma obviously lived the following verses:
       1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.”
       Galatians 6:9: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”
      

 What is your attitude toward your church right now? Maybe we should all be a little more like Thelma!

Psalm 116:16: “O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”
Psalm 116:17: “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”
       Verse 16: “O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.”
       Ron Allen says: “Isn’t it touching to read in this psalm the reference to blessed Mary as well? ‘I [Y’shua] am your servant, the son of your maidservant [Mary].’ All of this points to the cross.  It points to the Savior hanging there. It points to his Father grieving there. It points to his mother in grief there as well. What a scene this is! The most amazing thing is that the words describing this scene were written as a hymn for Israel to sing, hundreds of years before the Savior would sing them with his disciples for their fullest meaning.”
       Henry Blackaby says: “As God’s obedient child, you are in a love relationship with him. He loves you and wants to involve you in his work. When he is ready, he will show you where he is working so you can join him.”
       Oswald Chambers said: “It is impossible to get exhausted in work for God. We get exhausted because we try to do God’s work in our own way.”
       Verse 17: “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”
 You will notice the number of “I will’s” in these verses: (1) verse 13—“I will lift up the cup of salvation”; (2) verse 13—“I will…call on the name of the Lord”; (3) verse 14—“I will fulfill my vows”; (4) verse 17—“I will sacrifice a thank offering to you”; and (5) verse 17—“I will…call on the name of the Lord.”
 

Our grandson, when he married, wanted to include in the wedding the washing of the bride’s feet. With the words of “Let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you.”
 Join me in singing that chorus of worship and commitment, “I Will Serve Thee”: “I will serve thee because I love Thee; You have given life to me. I was nothing before You found me; You have given life to me. Heartaches, broken pieces, Reuined lives are why You died on Calv’ry. Your touch was what I longed for; You have given life to me.”