September 2021 — Kelly Pollick
a letter from Liz —
Hi, AP Girlfriends,
I love to read social media posts that start out, “Warning: long post ahead.” I know those people are about to rant or, even better, share something important to their heart. So without too much more introduction—WARNING: personal post ahead! It’s going to get sappy this month. Call it a result of lessons learned from the pandemic or a phase of life I am in, but I’m going to do it anyway.
I sit back some days and think, I am a grandma now. I remember being the youngest worker on our field. I remember an elementary TCK asking me, “What are you doing here? Are you even married?” Here I am, almost five grandbabies later and in a different phase of ministry in Springfield, but still engaged in ministry as the Lord opens doors.
In the midst of our busy days of ministry, I can’t count how many guests we’ve had in our home or how many coworkers came through our town. We’ve spent days together sharing, laughing, and playing Rook or Catan. We’ve splurged on breakfasts, lunches, and American food; and a messy home of TCKs running wild was definitely part of the chaos.
This week my daughter Kelly Pollick and her family hosted a family from another part of the island, and she sent me a picture early in her morning. She said jokingly, “I feel like Mom today.” She had a full breakfast buffet set up for the guests where, on normal mornings, everyone fends for themselves. I chuckled and knew this was a result of life lessons and values that are deep in our home: Guests are always welcome, and coworkers and friends are important. The only way you move people from acquaintance to friend is through sacrifices of time, energy, and resources. Sacrifice your personal space, give generously, and spend time doing something besides programmed work events.
Now more than ever we have to be diligent about letting go of our personal spaces and defy the negative results of “social distancing.” If you struggle with this, try changing the phrase to “physical distancing.” Try to be social while limiting the “physical” part in some ways.
Today’s devotional from Kelly is titled, “He Doesn’t Waste Anything.” I say amen to that and smile as I see her serving friends and building her own legacy.
Never Alone,
Liz
from Kelly Pollick — He Doesn’t Waste Anything
For many of us, 2020 took us to a place we never thought we would be. Personally, I never thought I would have still been waiting in America for a visa to return to the mission field. And some days, when I was changing another dirty diaper or cooking yet another box of macaroni and cheese, I couldn’t help but ask, “Am I really doing Your work, Lord? Am I really living out my purpose through this box of mac and cheese?” (I just hope my prayers translated through my sarcasm.)
I know we are not all in the same season, and more often than not, we dream of the life we feel we need to live rather than focusing on the day in, day out. Honestly, when it comes to everyday life, things can get…mundane. Schedules, kids, routines, life circumstances, and pandemics can get in the way of what we think God has called us to do. It’s easy to get lost in the everyday and lose sight of what God has called us to do. When we feel this, we need to remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (NLT, emphasis added).
More than anything else I’ve learned throughout this new season, I’ve been reminded how God never wastes anything we go through. Whether we feel like we’re living the dream or couldn’t be further from it, the apostle Paul reminds us nothing we could do for the Lord is ever considered useless!
However, in the midst of God’s plan, we have been given a critical role to play. We have the responsibility to commit everything we do as an offering unto the Lord. In order to accept this responsibility, we need to completely trust the Lord and His plan for our lives. We need to let go of what we think our lives should look like (yes, even the mundane stuff) and surrender to the Lord. This means not losing sight of what God can do in your life and choosing to believe that what seems routine has purpose. We need to become strong and immovable women who work enthusiastically for the Lord, no matter what our season looks like.
If we accept this responsibility, we’ll receive the freedom to enjoy whatever season we’re in. Psalms 37:5 says, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you” (NLT). Committing everything we do to the Lord proves we truly trust Him and His plans for our life. In return, He promises to help us through every season and make them beautiful and greater than we first imagined. If there is one thing I know about the Lord, it’s this: He loves to prove His Word true over and over again. So why not let God do this in our lives? Let’s commit to committing everything, every season, and every day to the Lord. When we do, He will use us for His glory in even greater ways!
Kelly Pollick serves in Indonesia with her husband, Tim and their two daughters, Amelia (3) and Lizzie (1).
Recipe:
Recipe: Budget-Friendly Brownies
I love this recipe because it’s budget-friendly for those of us who live in countries where butter is super expensive. This is a great dessert that you can whip up quickly!
3/4 c cocoa powder
2/3 c oil (or 1 c melted coconut oil)
2 c sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
Optional: chocolate chips or nuts for the top
Preheat oven to 350℉ or 175℃.
Mix sugar and oil only until combined. Add eggs one by one.
In a separate bowl mix flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt.
Mix dry ingredients slowly into the wet ingredients. Don’t overmix.
Once everything is incorporated, put mixture in a greased 8” x 8” baking pan.
Top with nuts or chocolate chips for extra deliciousness.
Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few brownie crumbs.