iShineInMinistry

Romans 12:12 (ESV)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

While we may not have the opportunity to do some of the more tangible ministry that we have come to grow used to, we must not forget the ministry of prayer, the reminder to rejoice and bring hope and practice patience as God grows our character in this season.

There are so many needs that can be prayed for, and not just in the ministries where you serve. Let’s be mindful of the ways we can share hope with those in need, love our neighbors as ourselves and be constant in prayer during this time.

Blessings, Hearts and Hugs!

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I remember when teen girls and other friends used to talk to me about their desire to work in full-time ministry or how they felt certain they were meant to be a pastor’s wife. Now, as a person that has worked in full-time ministry and worked for a senior pastor…I must say, these starry eyed girls were often glamorizing the perception of what they thought these positions meant. Visions of marrying at age 20 and being seen as someone to look up to spiritually as well as being able to work at a church instead of in the world do sound so much easier…on paper. However, there are three very important things to consider here. First, ministry is a calling, not an opportunity to be a different type of influencer, sans the Instagram handle. Second, working in ministry at a church or para-church organization does not exempt you from having to walk through tough situations, because…well, church is made up of humans and humans have sin natures. Finally, and most importantly, everything that you do is an act of worship and a ministry if you are looking with the right eyes!

Prior to working at a church, I worked in the nonprofit sector and many of the people I interacted with were terminally ill or had terminally ill children. Talk about difficult things. Also, talk about an opportunity to minister. That was an incredible place to be the hands and feet of Jesus, let me tell you. Spending time with families and serving them. Making sure to work extra hard to meet your fundraising goal as you did all to the glory of God and also made money appear to help fund the purchase of wheelchairs and research. Being a shoulder to cry on as coworkers walked through uncertain circumstances that made them quite discouraged and letting them know you are praying for them. Inviting friends to church to see that many years later they are actually walking with the Lord after that altar call 10+ years ago. Sitting with a family that has lost their son before he made it to his 24th birthday. If this was not a ministry I do not know what is!

While we may not always be in the four walls of a chapel or in the offices of a para-church organization, we are all called to shine in ministry and bring glory to His name. So, as we are the ones that work in these specific places, let's remind those that we minister to and counsel that they too are in full-time ministry whether at work, in their homes or while sitting in traffic on the way home from a long day. We are all called in some way shape or form, let’s all walk in that calling and encourage those around us in theirs as we all shine for Jesus!

PS - this is especially important now with social distancing. We get to be creative as we minister through phone calls, texts, Gchat, Facetime, social media, snail mail and other avenues we can find ways to encourage and be a light during this uncertain time where people really need the love of Jesus!

...the old things have passed away...

2 Corinthians 5:17

Is there something that you are holding onto right now that you need to relinquish? Might you be in a season where you are so content with the routine that you are not allowing God to get a hold of you to do a new thing? I know that sometimes as we get used to the traditions that may come with certain aspect of prepping when you are in fulltime ministry may give you a heart of “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” but we need to always be ready and willing to let God prompt, lead and direct us to something new.

Are you so set in your ways that you are placing God in a ministry box? Might you be thinking that God ‘has to do it this way’ or it must not be of Him? Are you faithfully praying and surrendering your will to Him, using discernment as you are directed so that you know what you are hearing is truly from Him? I urge us all to take the time to have a seat, take some notes and look our routines. Find the places where we are simply going through the motions or in autopilot and ask God to place a fresh anointing on those areas.

Also, grab a friend and ask them to keep you in prayer too. We should always be growing in multiple ways…don’t get stuck as you serve Him. We need to be ready and filled in so many ways; when that happens we will faithfully serve with joy!

Have you taken the time to reflect on all the things God has done over the last 10 years? Maybe He moved you into full time ministry, or moved you out to do other things. Perhaps you were taken to a new ministry or just taken out of your comfort zone with the ministry where you serve. No matter the case, there is so much to celebrate and so much more to look forward to as we trust the Lord in 2020 and beyond. Might I encourage you with a few little reminders as you enter into this new season?

Keep your heart and mind on the Lord: While this is certainly not rocket science, this is still a very needed reminder as life gets chaotic and various projects and people race at you at 100 miles a minute. Spiritual warfare, fatigue and so many other things can distract us from the main thing, even when we seem to be doing “God things”. So take this to heart and get your focus fully on Him.

It’s okay to say no. We need to make our yes our yes and our no our no. Prayerfully consider the things that are placed before you and really take the time to hear from the Lord about the decisions you make. Then, when you say yes, keep that yes; furthermore, when you say no, get your little nose out of the details since they don’t pertain to you. We need to make sure all aspects of our lives are constant and consistent.

Be Genuine: It’s so easy to paste on a happy face when you are hurting so that you can “make God proud” as you serve and cope with things, but that is not the heart of ministry. People will appreciate your sincerity when they realize that you too are not perfect and also are a work in progress. While you should always use discretion and discernment with how much to share and with whom, it is great to let the people that you serve that you are human.

Happy New Year and Happy New Decade to you. I pray that as you go into this new chapter of serving God that you will shine for Him, bring Him glory and have the time of your life joyfully doing His will!

Psalm 4:7 (NET)

You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.

This time of year is ministry in full swing and sometimes we get so caught up in the meticulous details of blessing others and forget to enjoy this time of year ourselves. So, I suggest that we set aside a little time each and every day during this time of year starting from now until the New Year. If you need to, even set a little alarm that reminds you to take a few minutes at the same time each day to pray, reflect, relax and just sit down or even remind yourself to eat lunch (trust me, eating becomes a fleeting task during this time of year when you are in full-time ministry).

We all need to refocus from time to time, with all the shopping, events, planning for family and other elements of the season. However, when throwing in the part about logistics of Christmas programs, candles for services, tea cups for outreaches and every other thing in between when you are in the ministry and it may start to look a little daunting and overwhelming, rather than joyful and celebratory. Be a Mary and sit at the feet of Jesus so that your outlook on this time of year stays fully intact and filled with faith, hope and love…also, remember to order those extra candles so we can remind everyone to be lights in dark places during this time of year and every single day.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from iShine!