iShineInMinistry

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

This scripture has been my life verse since I was 17 years old and I know that it always seems to bring me back to perspective when life feels as if it’s in disarray. The words have reminded me to keep my eyes, heart and mind where they need to be and to always look to the Lord and godly things when I feel at a loss. I know that when we serve in ministry we can feel at a loss when someone hurts us, says something untrue about us or decides that they do not agree with us and create drama or division as a result. These times are difficult to deal with in ministry; however, we need to recall the truth that the Lord is our defense in those moments and we do not have to delve into the drama and feed the unnecessary situation.

What is true? What is honest? What is just? Do you need to remind yourself about the truth when you are in the middle of a situation? Do you need to recall that even though people are not always just in the way they deal with conflict God is? Do you have to make sure you are being completely honest in this situation? Is your heart pure as you try to get through the issue? Are you thinking of the lovely way that God will even use this for good as He promises in Romans 8:28 because you are the called? Do you remember that you have a good report? Otherwise God would not have called you into full-time ministry to serve these ladies!

Recall this scripture and let God handle these hard moments. Please do not try to fight your own battles if God is clearly using this to allow you to trust Him to be your defense. Let Him do the moving on your behalf and let yourself recall this scripture and write it on the tablet of your heart, even when the things that are happening may be hurtful. God is the God who sees and He is going to be with you in the hard moments when ministry feels more like middle school drama than the body of Christ.

Psalm 59:9 (NKJV)

I will wait for You, O You his Strength;

For God is my defense.

We all know that people are not perfect; otherwise there would be no need for a Savior! Remember this as you walk through a difficult time in inter-personal relationships, remember God’s truths and let Him be your defense.

Psalm 27:14 NKJV

Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord

Ministry has ebbs and flows in every season where sometimes things look amazingly fruitful and other times it appears as if God may be at a standstill. We go through each of these moments and know that God is working whether or not we see it; but I wonder how many times we try to make something fit into a time-table or a “master plan” of our own rather than letting God do the entire work the way He intended and in the timing that He purposed. Do we sometimes force people into ‘holiness’ when that godly wisdom just doesn’t click in their heart and mind? Can we sometimes coerce a lady into going through the motions just so it looks like that particular work is occurring in their lives? Can we only spend time with the teen girls that ‘get it’ because in our mind keeping them on display allows people to see how “great we are at doing ministry”?

These are hard questions to ask ourselves, but the truth is we have to ask them…and often! God has placed us in areas of leadership and we need to make sure that we are humbly doing the calling that He has placed us in no matter what it looks like. Even if the lady we have been ministering to keeps having the same struggle and legitimately is struggling, we cannot just throw our hands in the air and say, “Can I get a better disciple that does what I tell them?” We have to check our hearts in those moments and make sure that what our heart isn’t really asking is, “Can’t I get someone that is all perfect and sweet and makes my ministry look amazing because only good things happen all the time?” This is two things –

1) Not realistic- We are human and we are sinners by nature. If this concept where feasible, there would be no need for a savior in the first place!

2) Not gracious- We need to remember that at a point in time (and probably still today) someone was also pouring into us, possibly thinking the same exact thing we are thinking about the ladies we minister to. Are we so glad that the lady that decided to take us by the hand did not just throw her hands in the air and walk away?

Jesus did not just throw His hands up in the air either. He willing let his hands (via wrists) be nailed to a cross, knowing that we would still blow it sometimes…even as ministry leaders! Let us all remember that God is the one doing the work in someone’s life so He gets to decide when that ‘light bulb’ is going to click on. We do not have to force God’s will for someone else’s life; He already has it under control!

James 1:4

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Please continue to pray for that young girl, young adult, widow, single woman, divorced woman, new mom or any other person that you are currently ministering to. Remember God knows what He is doing in their life and in their heart!

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Do you love the sound of children singing worship songs as they dance around a room? Is your idea of a great time cooking up your favorite dish in preparation for a potluck? Is decorating the chapel with your volunteer committee enough to make you boil over with excitement?

Did you say yes to any of these questions? I hope that one of the questions (or something similar) resonated with you as you serve in full-time ministry. There are so many different parts of working at a church that are completely different from any other job in the world. It is so much fun and a great way to spend your days. However, if you are a ‘lifer’ you may start to get into a place where this just seems like the ‘same old, same old’ with each passing year. You may even begin to dread some of the different things that make ministry such a blessing.

In those moments where you feel more drained than joyful, we need to really seek the Lord and ask Him to help us to see the situation clearly. We may get to a place where we are becoming perpetual Marthas and never choosing the better thing. We need to have the heart of both ladies, where we serve willingly, but also take the time to regroup and get refilled with Jesus. If we are not careful, nothing will feel joyful and everything will just feel like something that needs to be crossed off a ‘to-do’ list.

Make sure to take a heart inventory often to make sure that you are:

1) Serving joyfully and not in your own strength

2) Getting rest that is needed after you have been doing many things

3) Being ‘re-filled’ with God’s word through teaching, personal devotional time, prayer and attending worship services

We do not ever want to run the risk of being sorrowful as we are doing what God has called us to do. Let God show us what is needed as we serve Him so that we continue to be joyful.

Do you feel worn down as you serve? Are you joyful as the Lord shows you opportunities to serve? Are you a little of both? See if you are doing the three things listed above.

1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Ministry is such a blessing and working in full-time ministry, whether at a church, organization or as a missionary is full of joy and surprises. One of those surprises is the fun of working with multiple personalities on a project or outreach. We all have different ways that we process information, execute tasks and organize things. This is when we truly get to see the body working together for God’s glory. We do need to keep in mind to have hearts of grace and kindness as long hours and mixed personalities could potentially give the enemy an opportunity to get in the mix of plans; a guarded mind that is discerning of these things can help all aspects of ministry go seamless if we let them.

The scripture above gives us some insight as to what attributes we need to possess as we serve. We need to be of one mind, which means that we value each other and everyone’s ideas, rather than just wanting things our way. We need to be compassionate and courteous; you have a certain Spiritual Gift and someone else has another, so we can’t deem ourselves more valuable because we think our gifts are more functional than others. Each person in the ministry is needed and God placed each lady in that ministry for a reason.

When personalities begin to clash and a little ‘flesh’ starts to rear its ugly head, we need to not return catty comments to each other if someone starts being negative. We need to be the example of grace and help redirect attitudes that may be heading in the wrong direction. Remember, we are all called for such a time as this, for this ministry, for the purpose of serving others and we need to make that truth our main priority as we worship the Lord in this specific area of our lives.

We are called to ministry and we are called to be examples, to be lights and to be godly women. Let us always make sure that our hearts stay on track and that we serve in kindness, humility and selflessness. It is so much fun to do ministry together, so let us always remember how blessed we are for having this calling!

Esther 4:14- Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Are you bumping heads with someone that you serve with in ministry?  Are you exhibiting the characteristics listed in 1 Peter 3:8? Ask God to search your heart and then see what He shows you!

Nehemiah 8:10 …Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

‘Tis the season of fast-paced serving! As you enter into this fantastic time of ministry, please make sure to get rested up, filled up and prayed up. I am praying for you right now and hope that you are blessed as you get ready for all of the amazing things God will do over the next few months!

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have called us for such a time as this. We thank You for the amazing blessing of serving You and the gracious love that You pour out on us. Thank You for the honor of giving us Spiritual Gifts to use for Your glory. Thank You for this amazing time of outreaches and holidays that are underway, each pointing our hearts to love, thanksgiving, harvest, mercy, love, hope and peace.

I pray that You will help us to serve with gladness, have a heart of grace as minds get busy and frantic and allow each of us to be a blessing to each person we come into contact with. I pray for strength and wisdom for each of these ladies, as You give them vision for the ministries they oversee, as You give them words to speak to the ladies they counsel and as You give them endurance to do all unto Your glory. I pray for supernatural faith that will move mountains and save souls through each prayer prayed, each word spoken and each event that draws people to the saving knowledge of Your son. Please go before these ladies and prepare their hearts for all that You have in store. We love You, trust You and praise Your holy name…in Jesus’ name, Amen!

What are some of the outreaches coming up in your ministry that need to be lifted up in prayer?