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!

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…

This week during the ladies’ bible study that I attend, we talked about how God was willing to be vulnerable and come into the world humble and as a baby to save the world. We discussed His amazing love and what His love should reveal to us and provoke us to as followers of Jesus. I remember thinking in response to Christ’s love, we should love fully, freely, fearlessly, unconditionally and sincerely. God sent Jesus to save the world that He loved and He knew the following things even as His love compelled Him do to this:

1) Some would reject His love and say they did not want Him

2) Some would be completely flighty in their love and it would be conditional based on their present circumstance

3) We all would mess us up often, which would not reflect the same kind of perfect love He showed to us

I know that I get so upset and frustrated when I show someone love and they decide they want nothing to do with me. I wonder if I would still do kind actions even if I knew the outcome would be rejection, rather than appreciation or thankfulness. Sometimes, people do not show their love in a way that makes me feel like they truly love me. I know that my love language is ‘acts of service’. I think about the times people have shown me love through ‘words of encouragement’ and wonder if I was annoyed that their love was not shown in a way that I prefer…

When people wrong us, break promises, lie or do horrific things over and over again, do we still show that same love? This is the kind of love Jesus shows us…ALL THE TIME! When I get annoyed because I do not have a job yet, I am not showing Him love. When I decide I would rather online shop than read His word and I am flighty, He still loves me. When I say something snotty (again), He is still there with kind, loving arms, ready to redirect me to the place that I need to be spiritually. He never decides that He is just done with me because I am not worth it. His perfect love is not only based on if I am “being cooperative” or a “good girl”, He always loves, even when I do not show that love in a selfless way that does not have ulterior motives. I wonder how many times our unloving actions have trampled on the cross of Jesus’ perfect love. I wonder if we realize how incredibly perfect God’s love truly is; He takes us back every single time. I hope that our hearts will choose to love as fully as our Lord’s, even if it means being vulnerable, rejected or ignored sometimes.

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

I want to challenge all of us for one week to try and love totally unconditionally, even if the love is rejected, we are treated unkindly or if someone continues to make the same mistake over and over again. Record how it makes you feel, then pray to the Lord for a heart that loves Him fully, completely and with total devotion.

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 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another…

Have you ever read a devotional or a book that just jump-started your heart for some new kind of ministry (or a modification of the current ministry where you serve)? Do you get all excited and edge of your seat jumpy when you think about the amazing things God can do through this 'new thing' He has revealed to you? Do you start making a game plan, praying continuously and also putting all those Spiritual Gifts in motion to use for His glory? When someone else approaches you and says some new amazing thing has captured their heart (quite in the same way your new thing has captured yours), do you encourage them and come alongside them in the new, amazing thing God has shown them?

I know that in ministry we always get the opportunity to encourage someone in the new, fun things that God is revealing to them, while also making sure to help steer them in the right direction biblically and help them to sort through all of the new ideas and thoughts coming their way. We need to be so very careful in these times too. As we mean well in being a help, we may sometimes become critical or give not so pleasant exhortations about how to proceed. We want to make sure to help the person be discerning and really understand what God is showing them, yet at the same time admonish them with kind words, scripture and prayer too…especially prayer!

The blessing of being in ministry is getting to see someone raised up through discipleship to do the things that God has placed in their heart. We as servants sometimes get to be part of God's plan in this. Let us all make sure to be those women that come alongside in love and also remember those wonderful women that came alongside us when we first began in ministry. How kind, gentle, gracious and honest they were with us...let us all make sure to be that type of woman to those ladies who are being stirred for ministry. 2

Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,

Is there someone that you are discipling that has a vision for a new ministry? How are you being an encouragement?