Smol tok nomo |
Smol tok nomo |
,I am not entirely sure what has me thinking of this today, but I am remembering a time of “forced” rest. I remember in the middle of it I felt like a dorky kid that was sitting on the bench perpetually waiting for my chance to get back in the game, or the angry fighter with a bloody nose yelling “let me back in the ring!” The truth is sometimes God in His wisdom forces us to rest. I am thinking of the Bible story where God caused David and his Army to go by the water and rest. There was still a battle to be fought, a battle for them to fight, but God saw it necessary to cause them to rest. The truth is sometimes we can be a little like third graders with sentiments like, “mmmm wonder what they/we did wrong, God has them/us sitting in time out.” We look at it as a door closed, or God saying “no” when a lot of times He is saying "rest". In my particular situation it seemed like ministry had come to a halt and I honestly did not feel like I needed to rest, I felt fine and ready to serve. The problem is we can’t see down the road like God does. He knows more about what we need to be resting up for when we can only look back to what we may need resting up from. So if God has you in a valley use that time to draw strength. You will be back in the battle soon enough. Maybe He is teaching you something? Maybe He just wants you to draw closer to Him, draw from His strength for the battles ahead. Remember obedience is better than sacrifice, if He has you on “forced rest” humble yourself under Him and trust he knows best - there will always be another battle to fight. After all, He has the whole world in His hands, its not in our hands (thankfully). Be ready if He needs you, even if He needs you to rest. His ways are not our ways, they are higher than ours.
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I am seeing pictures of dry golden grass replacing the lush green grass I remember. I see no flowers in the yards, and I think of the simple shack style houses with dirt floors usually surrounded by landscape you would imagine only for the wealthy. I am thinking of my beloved Vanuatu where they spend most of their time outside enjoying Gods creation - which up until this year has been tropical paradise. They take pride in their beautiful land and love sharing their beauty with the visitors who come from countries far more wealthy than their own. They may have outdoor camp fire style kitchens and out houses for toilets, but their humble homes were once clothed with beautiful hydrangeas and frangipani trees. Now there are no flowers, the grass is wilted, and the water is not. Vanuatu Drought. Not the happy faces I am used to seeing on the children. Far more tragic than simple scenery are the reports I am reading of death. I am hearing of malnourished babies and dying crops. I am seeing my friends in healthcare ministries arriving on the scene with well building projects, and I am wondering if water doesn’t come will their be any need for schools? Hyegiene is atrocious with lack of water, and diseases such as dysentary are on the rise. My heart is once again breaking for Vanuatu.
With plans to leave in a few weeks I am finding myself realizing God knew all these things when he called me, yet I wonder what life will be like for my family? How are we going to fit into God’s plans for Vanuatu? How are we going to be His hands and feet in this situation? I am guilt stricken as I type this. I hear thunder rolling outside my window, "God please send Vanuatu rain." Growing up in church I, like many others, have seen my share of ministry styles. I have seen those who thrive and those who walk away from ministry discouraged. I have seen others who go from a heart once desiring to minister to leaving the faith all together. Regardless of rather you are in inner city ministry, or the hoe down southern gospel singing type, or in a different culture on the other side of the world, here are some of my personal ministry observations: Ministry is not about self, it is not an opportunity to improve ones status or abuse power to suit ones own needs. Ministry is about others, it is about finding others and finding ways to minister to them. It is not about cliques or becoming an elite member of some group, it is about finding the one that is alone and going out of your way to include them. Ministry is not about the one in it, it is about the One it is done for. Ministry is about being willing to do the job no one wants, it is about using those less than perfect for the sake of their own growth and ability to be used. Ministry is inclusion of others and it is never about exclusion. Ministry is giving, and giving, and then giving some more. Ministry is humble, it has kind eyes, and is willing to listen to the thoughts and ideas of others. Ministry is not proud and finds its purpose in the growth of others. Above all ministry prays, it is supernatural and does not come easy in the flesh. It is taking the grace God has given us and giving it to others. Ministry is being sensitive to the Spirit of God and the needs of others. Not only does it notice the hurting it seeks them out and does what it can to help healing happen. Ministry is the act of being a vessel for the love of God to flow through. It does not compete with others and you will find ministry standing alone before allowing another to be outcast. In it’s simplest form it is preferring others, it is not political and many times goes unnoticed by the world or praise of man. Ministry isn’t expecting of others to notice all they do, it is not proud of its accomplishments, but knows God is responsible for anything good that comes out of it. Ministry is the last in this life and the first in the next life. Ministry doesn’t always have title or position. Ministry does not always happen in the four church walls. Ministry is a consistent way of life. It prays for and desires growth in the very ones who seek to destroy it. Ministry steps out of the way and lets God have His way. Ministry is not about building a church, school, or mission - it is about building people. Ministry has thick skin when it comes to its own feelings but is as sensitive as it needs to be when dealing with others. Ministry is sanctified, set apart unto God. It has long forgotten about itself or its own desires for gain or glory. Ministry can spend its whole life unnoticed as it gracefully guides others to Christ. Widows and Orphans. (photo credit Lisa Kent) Lord help us who lay claim to ministry to truly be your ministers. As we represent you, let us point others to you and not ourselves. Let us pray for fellow ministers and give them grace as You work in them and us. Above all let us show others your love, and not seek our own but be willing to be last so that others can see your love, and may that cause them to want more of you!
Lord help us to be in ministry in your eyes. |
AuthorWife, Mother, Missionary, Teacher, Friend ... just a few of the many titles I gladly wear. Never dreamed this is the journey God would take me on. Archives
July 2022
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