Life-Ministry

Ministry... It has known various forms in my lifetime thus far. Youth ministry, women’s ministry, children’s ministry, writing ministry, Bible study leader, etc.

But aside from all the descriptive titles and positions held, isn’t LIFE just…ministry?

Life-ministry?

It’s all encompassing.

And it speaks truth more than words written or words spoken or name plaques sitting on desks.

Actions really do speak louder than words (Some clichés are worthy of repeating.)

This life-ministry of mine, of yours, has a message.

What is my life-message?

Is it the words I write, the words I speak, the words I live? Are they the same?

When I share Proverbs 15:1 with my children do my actions confirm my message?

Am I a friend who loves at all times?

When I encourage others to keep going when the job feels too big, do I take those words for myself?

When I write of putting our hope in God instead of other things, do I?

Do I live as though in all things God really does work for my good?

True belief birthed on the inside is lived on the outside.

At church.

At home.

In Wal-Mart.

This morning, Dennis Rainey shared great wisdom on the radio. "We cannot lie and then demand truth from our children (or anyone else). We cannot cheat and then discipline the cheater."

Ministry is not separate from life. It is life.

Christianity is not lived in the church. It is lived.

What is YOUR life message?

**********
Photo credit: Flickr creative commons - lhar

A Medley of Perfumed Mists or a Dirty Residue of Criticism?

Last week at church I was keenly aware of the various fragrances my friends were wearing. As each of them greeted and hugged me before the worship service, bits and pieces of their perfumes dove into the fibers of my clothing. By the time I got to my seat I was a medley of perfumed mists, a field of flowers, a department store mix of designer samples, a smorgasbord of scents.

I know for some (especially those with allergies) this could prove disastrous. But for me (who had only an empty bottle of perfume at home that morning) it was a gift. And with each breath I was reminded of one of my sweet, scented friends.

Instantly, Holy Spirit challenged me with the question, "What are you leaving behind?"

Beyond actual fragrances, I can leave a number of things with those I come in contact with every day.

Is the character of Christ being poured out through me in my words and actions? Or do selfishness and pride create a dirty residue left clinging to those I touch?

Are love, mercy and graced being poured out? Or are judgement, critical words and condemnation the gifts I offer?

Refine me, Oh God.

I pray that others might desire to know Christ because of Christ living in me. Let me be more mindful of what I'm leaving behind. I pray that those who are looking might find Him in me. As I pour my life out as an offering to Him, let others see His goodness, hear His invitation and smell the sweet aroma of Christ.

What are you leaving behind?

Linking today with Jen at Finding Heaven and Michelle at Graceful.

 

Believing, Speaking, Living

Another challenge I received this weekend while reading beautiful posts from friends around the blogosphere was to consider this question from Kyndra Steinmann:

"Does what is in my heart defile what I offer, or am I living the Gospel clearly and fully?"

In other words, am I giving action to the words I write and speak, or are they just lip service? Do I truly believe what I say and live what I post?

Are my actions toward those around me a confirmation of the words that come out of my mouth (and off my page)?

I must constantly check my motives and my heart (which is deceitful above all things - Jer. 17:9). It is easier to hold resentment than to forgive. It is easier to be prideful than to remain humble. It is easier to think about my own needs and neglect the needs of those in front of me. It is easier to be selfish than to be self-less. It is easier to say it than to live it.

I have encountered many "Christians" who weren't so Christ-like. And truthfully (and sadly), I have fit into that category more than once.

I pray that I not only speak and write words of truth, words reflecting Christ, Christ who is the Word...but that I live those same words. That people see Jesus when they see me.

I am completely imperfect and adorned with faults. My righteousness is as filthy rags (Is. 64:6). If left alone, I would be swallowed up by self, indulging my flesh and not giving thought to my actions. But...He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus) (2 Cor. 5:21).

He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me n a robe of His righteousness...Isaiah 61:10.

I can live the words I write. We can live in this world, this temporary place, and be separate. We don't have to give in to selfish desires and lusts of the flesh.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...Romans 12:2a.

I pray that this life I live, this life that is quickly passing, would bring glory to my Father in heaven now, in this moment, whether in church, in the grocery store or in the privacy of my home. I pray that others would find Christ not only in the words He chooses to speak through me, but the life I live in Him.

Let us be mindful of our words and actions. Are what I say and how I live a reflection of the very nature of Christ in me?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Soon of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

***************


Continuing to count my gifts with Ann Voskamp

#46-55 of

46 an old aluminum boat and a homemade raft tied to a tree on the river bank at the back of our property

47 smooth, shiny river rocks colored with the fingertips of God

48 sweet ice tea

49 tangerine shower gel that smells good enough to eat

50 parents who live next door

51 my computer running slow, but running

52 an unexpected card in the mail

53 new school supplies

54 the sweet innocence of a certain six year old

55 triple word tiles in words with friends

and linking with...

Confession #2: An Airbrushed Photo & Self-Promoting

It seems I've opened a can of worms with this confession thing.  Unthinkingly naming my last post Confession #1, I have distinctly implied that there must be a #2.  And I know you've been anxiously awaiting  (A girl can humor herself...especially at 5:30 am okay?).

Here goes...

In preparation for She Speaks, I read many articles, several of which said it would be good to have business cards with a photo on them to hand out to publishers, agents, women's ministry leaders, etc. so they could put a face to the name (if they were interested).  So, I solicited help from my personal photographer, my sister.  She's good....reeaall gooood. Did you know you could erase wrinkles in Photoshop? Lucky for me.  Or unlucky?  What happens when I meet the girls at the conference and they are expecting the airbrushed photo?  Sorry girls.  I'm preparing you for reality.

Also, I've had a really hard time ordering the business cards with my picture on them.  Just like every time I post my writer page on facebook asking people to "like" me.  I'm getting a little weary of seeing my own face so much (even if it is wrinkle free). This self-promotion thing is for the birds.  But I am slowly learning...and I am hoping for wings.

One last thing...I am learning to live beyond fear.  Speaking of birds and wings, I told my mom a few weeks ago that I felt like God was pushing me out of the nest.  She reminded me of a book we studied a while back with the Bloom Book Club (Strong Women, Soft Hearts by Paula Rinehart) and I thought I'd share some quotes in case anyone else heading to the conference is a little ...well...you know.

And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom. ~Anais Nin

Fear is truly the enemy of passion and a roadblock to the wisdom God would give us. ~Paula Rinehart

Because real risking in faith can occur only in those areas of life where we feel most impoverished and vulnerable, it never becomes something we are really comfortable with. For each layer that builds up, another, more challenging risk is offered. True faith choices, therefore, always feel like risks; they just go on, involving deeper and deeper levels of our being. Each choice remains difficult, what really becomes conditioned in this process is simply our willingness and readiness to take the risks of faith.  They never stop feeling like risks.~Paula Rinehart

So this thing we are doing, whether we are doing it confidently or doing it afraid, we must do it.  I am willing to take this risk, this thing that feels like I'm losing my footing, this unknown, this vulnerable, hard, exciting place.  God is surely leading me, and it truly is more painful to stay where I am than to go.  He is my strong tower, my refuge.  In Him will I trust.

Are you facing a real faith risk? Is God requiring something new and challenging of you?

Time of Progression - Part 1

I'm finding a familiar theme in my writing these last few weeks. Somewhat hidden among paragraphs and sentences, I've discovered a word and/or phrase that I believe will hold true for much of the body of Christ this year, if they so choose.


The word that keeps appearing on my blank pages and resounding in my ears is progression. Whether forward progress, moving forward, forward movement, or taking a step forward, it's all the same.  The words began to fit together for me like a jigsaw puzzle. 


I feel like this is going to be a Time of Progression.


Progression: 


*Definition- the act of progressing; forward or onward movement; advancement


*Synonyms - advancement, boost, break, breakthrough, development, evolution, forward march, going forward, giant strides, growth, headway, improvement, promotion, step forward


Let me just say, I get excited when I study words.  And this list of synonyms is reason for a little shouting!


On a hunch, (aka....slight nudge from Holy Spirit) I took one of the synonyms...evolution...and expanded a little more.  Are you ready for this?  You're not driving and reading are you?  If so, you might want to pull over.


*change, enlargement, expansion, flowering, growth, increase, maturation, transformation, unfolding


My. Oh. My.


Can you feel it?  God is wanting to do something big in and through His people this year.  And He's wanting His people to do something big in Him this year. 


Of course, there are pre-requisites.  We'll get to those a little later.


And just to make sure you understand, I thought I'd let you in on something else I found.


Since we got excited over a few synonyms, it's only fair that we give equal time to some antonyms.


*blockage, hesitation, withdrawal, decrease, halt, stoppage


So, basically, the opposite of progression , or moving forward (enlargement, expansion, growth, maturation, transformation), would be blockage, hesitation, withdrawal, decrease, halt, stoppage.


Makes perfect sense.


In Exodus 14, God had delivered the children of Israel out of Egypt, but at the first sign of trouble, they became very afraid and began to cry out to Moses..."Have you taken us out here to die?  Why?! We would have been better serving the Egyptians!" 


I can hear it today...


"Why, God?  Why did you bring me here if I was just going to get hurt?  Why is it so hard?  Can't you see the enemy trying to attack me?  I would've been better off staying where I was."

V.15 - And the Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me?  Tell the children of Israel to go forward." (emphasis mine).

**The Hebrew word for forward in this verse is Naca, which means to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart, lead out, cause to spring up.


They had been delivered from bondage, but they couldn't stop.  Action was required.  They had to depart from where they were, and move forward in order to step into what was next for them.


There are many scriptures in the Bible where God had already given the victory, but the armies of the Lord had to take action, and go forth, go forward, advance in order for the victory to become reality.  In other words, God had a plan and made a way, but He didn't just do it for them.


So God has a plan and has made a way for me, for you...our victory is certain, unless we stay where we are.  This will have a different meaning for each of us.  He wants to mature us, enlarge us, expand us, grow us, increase us, transform us.  What instruction is God giving you?  Where is He telling you to go?  What is He telling you to do, to get rid of, to repent of, to speak, to pray, to teach, to write, to apologize, to ___________?   What is the action He is requiring of you?  Only you know.


This year will be a time of Progression for many.


A year of Progression for those who say yes.


A year of Progression for those who push through their fears.


A year of Progression for those who aren't afraid of change.


A year of Progression for those who will hear God, and obey.


A year of Progression for those who turn a deaf ear to man's opinions.


A year of Progression for those willing and obedient.


A year of Progression for those who allow God to transform the ruins in their lives.


A year of Progression for those who find their place near God.


A year of Progression for those who do more than talk about what God has told them to do.


The choice is yours.  You can move forward.  I heard in my bible study this week from Beth Moore that we are the greatest obstacle we will face.  Sad, but true.  Don't be the reason you miss your destiny.

Jeremiah 7:24 - "But they would not listen to and obey me or bend their ear (to Me), but followed the counsels and the stubborn promptings of their own evil hearts and minds, and they turned their back and went in reverse instead of forward."

Help me, God, to hear you and obey and move forward with you.


To be concluded.....Stay tuned for Part 2: Arise and Go Over!.....coming soon....


*from dictionary.com
**from biblestudytools.com

Challenged

I just posted our chat for Let's Talk! Tuesday, but felt like I should repost this from earlier this year as well.  It is for me, if no one else :)  ......

Lately (as you can tell by several of my posts) God has been speaking to me through a single word.  He is always speaking to us, and there is usually a spiritual lesson to be learned and applied in our every day adventure (aka....our life), we must train ourselves to recognize His voice, listen to His instructions, and follow His leading.


So yesterday, as I was reviewing pages in my journal and contemplating what I was going to write for the day, I found myself mulling over a particular phrase that I sometimes use: "Today, I was challenged......or God challenged me to......"


As I considered this word "challenged," I began to ask myself the following question:


Why do I sometimes feel challenged when God speaks to me, gives me instruction, or corrects me?


Immediately, I knew the answer.


Flesh vs. Spirit  (The war within us)

Dictionary.com defines the word challenged as:

• something that by nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc
• a call to fight, as a battle, duel, etc

When Holy Spirit speaks something to me, it sometimes challenges my flesh.   There is a call to fight, as a battle, a duel!  Why?  Because my flesh is all about self.  My flesh concerns itself with what others think, the spirit is all about what God thinks and how He sees things.  My flesh is concerned with the outward, the spirit is all about the inward, our heart and motives. It takes special effort to make our flesh line up with our spirit!


Walking in the flesh can even become very religious.  (Gasp!) For example, concerning ourselves with the attendance at church, the size of our building or how great our programs are rather than how many people were healed, saved or set free.  Or concerning ourselves with performance rather than quality. 

When my flesh wants to hate or hold a grudge, my spirit says to love and forgive.

When my flesh wants to indulge, my spirit encourages me to practice self control.

When my flesh wants to close myself off from people, eliminating the chance of getting hurt or wounded, my spirit pushes me forward into relationships, risks and vulnerability.

In the natural (flesh), the spirit sometimes just doesn't make sense!

But we are not to live according to the flesh......

And it's about more than just moral behavior.


Our flesh looks at things completely differently than the spirit, handles things differently, tries to solve problems according to our own ability rather than allowing God to handle things, etc. Living and walking according to the spirit or flesh involves our thought patterns, our motives, our innermost being.  Our transformation from flesh to spirit must take place from the inside out.  Our mind has to be renewed according to the Word of God, our thinking has to change.

So when God speaks to me and I am challenged, my flesh is sometimes screaming, "No!"  or doubting, trying to rationalize and "make sense" of things,  while my Spirit is simply saying "Yes, Lord!"  For example, when God asks us to get outside of our self and put someone else's need above our own, it can be a challenge to our selfish flesh (especially if we are in need ourself).  Or when we are sick in our body, but God says we are healed, it can be a challenge to get our thoughts to line up with His word!  Or when there is no money in the bank, but our desk is piled full of bills, and God says "Trust Me...", it can be a challenge to keep our peace and not worry!  Or when God says on a Sunday morning to stop in the middle of a church service and worship or pray, setting all programs and agendas aside, it can be a challenge to our flesh who wants to control everything and make everything "pleasant and acceptable" to our visitors.

Romans 8:5 says that those who live according to the flesh keep their minds set on the things of the flesh. It also says that those who live according to the spirit, do the opposite - they set their minds on things of the spirit.   What are we setting our minds on?

Jesus, in Mark 14:38 says to His disciples, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."

The word "watch" in this verse means to be sleepless, keep awake, be attentive, be ready!  Jesus knew that His disciples, apart from Him, were weak and would not make good choices.  He instructed them, as He does us.....Watch and pray!  Don't allow your spirit to sleep, be attentive, be ready!   When we spend time in His presence, praying, worshipping, studying, etc., our spirit is built up.  When we neglect these things, our flesh begins to take over, ruling our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions, eventually causing us to doubt God's word.

As we continue seeking, searching, and drawing closer to our heavenly Father, it will become less and less challenging to listen and obey.  It should be our flesh that is met with a challenge when giving counsel or prompting us to do something contrary to the word of God!

Be encouraged today to walk according to the spirit, not the flesh!  Set your mind on things above. Spend time in His presence, building yourself up. Keep awake, be ready!  Fight the temptation to do it your way, and allow God to have His way in your life!  Choose to believe His word for your life today!!

Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.