The truth about ministry

"Ministry"...what is it and why do we do it?

Ministry is one thing - an outpouring of our passion and love for the Lord. It is the fruit of a life lived for Him. As a result of single minded devotion, we serve Him wherever He places us. Large or small, the job is irrelevant. What matters is that service is our way of saying "thank you" for His sacrifice in our lives.

Unfortunately, all too often the ministry ceases to be about Him and the focus shifts to our needs. What are we getting out of it? Of course this is a heart issue, one seen only by God. Others will see us serving tirelessly and be none the wiser. Truth be told, we may fail to even recognize it in ourselves. I believe most of us do it unintentionally, choosing instead to believe our motives are pure. We mean well, but we have failed to take a good hard look at our heart issues and underlying motivations. Ministry makes us feel...needed? Valued? Validated? You fill in the blank. If we're not careful, the ministry itself becomes the god. We are no longer working for HIS glory, but to fill a need (perceived or not) in our own lives.

I've been guilty of it - becoming so focused on the ministry, that I am no longer serving Him, but my own interests. It's at that point I am relying on my own strength to get the job done. I am no longer His vessel. He is not working through me because I am in the way. My passion and love for Him has taken a backseat to my own needs. I'm sure He shakes His head at me and steps back..."OK, you think you can do it. Have at it. When you finally figure out you can't, I'll be here and we'll start over." His grace truly is amazing.

Ministry is NOT about me...or you. It's about passionately loving God and allowing that passion to spill out on everything we do. THAT is ministry at its finest.

9 completely random Friday thoughts

1. Quickest way to ruin a perfectly good day? Swimsuit shopping. Yep. Does it ever time.

2. Not being the most coordinated person in the world, I tend to shy away from step aerobics classes. Showed up this morning at 5:30 for a step class. Now, had I KNOWN it was a step class I would have kept my uncoordinated self tucked nicely in bed. No harm done and I did get a good workout...it just wasn't very pretty.

3. Check out my little sister Ashley's interview with CBN News. It's awesome!

4. The temp today is only suppose to hit the low 90's...yes people, that's a cold front!

5. I was blessed yesterday to have two different coffee dates with neat Christian ladies. God is so good to encourage us.

6. Just got my writing curriculum for the next four years on e-bay for a steal. That rates right up there with iced coffee...well, maybe not THAT good, but close.

7. Grocery shopping this morning or the pool? Hmmm...

8. My oldest son is officially as tall as me, but my hair is taller so I still win!

9. The Lord is rejoicing over me this morning with a song. Zephaniah 3:17

To plan or not to plan...

...that is certainly the question running through the minds of most homeschool moms this time of year. What sort of plan do I need for the coming year? How much detail? Yearly? Quarterly? Weekly? Little color coded boxes? What do they need to study and how will I ever get it all in?

Honestly, the very idea of planning out the entire year gives me hives and sends me running for the iced coffee. Bet you didn't know iced coffee is a remedy for hives did you? Seriously, iced coffee is a remedy for everything...but I digress.

Given what was going on in our lives during the last school year, it is nothing short of God's amazing grace that we got any school done, but low and behold the kids actually learned. That, coupled with the fact that our oldest has hit the Jr. High mark makes me put a bit more (OK, a lot more) thought into this year's planning. Having been a teacher in the past, I can churn out lesson plans with the best of them. What I've learned through the years of homeschooling however is that traditional lesson plans don't work for us. Teaching in a regular classroom I never had to deal with an array of curriculum choices, multiple teaching levels, teething babies, potty training toddlers, laundry or phone calls. In homeschooling, my best laid plans often get laid to rest before ever seeing the light of day.

So what does that mean? Do we just fly by the seat of our pants every day and hope for the best? If you dropped in on us, you might think that's the case, but there is a method to our madness. I've spent the last few weeks coming up with goals for the kids and listing out each area we'll be working on. What you will not find is a planner with all the little color coded boxes neatly filled out for each student, each day. What happens if we only finish part of our work for one day...what happens to all those neat little boxes on the next day? Can you feel the stress level rising? There are not enough erasers in the world to keep our family running on that sort of schedule. It just won't work for us.

But we have a plan. Some days we'll probably not get it all done. Some days we just might get more done than I had planned. We'll pray over each day and go with the flow. It's all good.

18 years and counting!

18 years ago today I walked the aisle to become a Mrs. to my favorite Mister. Couple that with the five years we dated and it's been...awhile. In case you're trying to do the math before your coffee's had a chance to kick in, we started dating when I was in Kindergarten.

It's been a wild ride at times. Life's funny that way. The twists, turns and stomach lurching drops combined with the slow, lazy, catch-your-breath sort of spots have made for an amazing trip. The scenery has changed over the years...some is prettier than others, some a bit rougher, but we've learned to appreciate it all just the same.

I couldn't have chosen a more amazing partner to sit beside me on this crazy ride. Thanks hon. ILYWTPOAMBHS!

Continue On - Encouragement for the journey of Motherhood

Continue On

by Roy Lessin

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.
She feared she was wasting her potential being a devoted wife and mother.
She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference.
At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.
"Is it worth it?" she often wondered. "Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?"

It was during one of these moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart.
You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be.
Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye.
But I notice.
Most of what you give is done without remuneration.
But I am your reward.
Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support.
Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know.
I bless him through your service and honor him through your love.
Your children are precious to Me.
Even more precious than they are to you.
I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me.
What you invest in them is an offering to Me.
You may never be in the public spotlight.
But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me.
Continue on.
Remember you are my servant.
Do all to please me.

America IS a Christian nation

"The Bible is the rock on which our Republic rests." Andrew Jackson

"Millions will be on their knees at once before their Great Creator, imploring his forgiveness and blessings; His smiles on American councils and arms." John Adams (speaking of the national day of fasting and prayer called at the beginning of each session of Congress)

Did you know the first law beginning and governing our public school system, the "Old Deluder Satan Act", was enacted in order that our enemy Satan would not steal or dilute Scripture, but that all children would hide God's Word in their heart as a guide for living? Did you get that? Our public school system was established as a means of advancing Christianity. Ironic isn't it?

Or that Congress printed the first English Bible in America for use in the newly created public school system?

Did you know that of our Founding Fathers, 29 of the 56 had theology degrees? Wait a minute. Haven't we been taught in our public school history classes that the majority of these men were atheists? Of the 56 signers only two, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, considered themselves "not particularly religious." Despite what our own Supreme Court and the president himself are saying, our country was founded as a result of the spiritual truths these men held dear.

Hamburgers, watermelon and fireworks are a great way to celebrate our nation's birthday today, but let's not forget WHY we're celebrating. Take a few minutes to watch this short sermon by David Barton, founder and president of Wallbuilders. You will learn more about our decidedly Christian heritage in 20 minutes than I learned in 12 years of history class.

Happy Fourth of July and may God continue to bless our great Nation.