Avoid the cage

Sometime last year a pastor highlighted this "cage." And it's so true that too many people are "titled" and trapped by their own titles. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about?

"Ministry Mis-spake"

Now and again I have to catch myself so I don't make a "mistake" or shall I say "Ministry Mis-spake". Several times last year I thinking about how close I was to "saying it as it is" - e.g. asking people who may not be "behaving" the way I/others expect: "What's wrong with you?"


I'll be surprised if I'm the only Mrs Pastor that feels that way...I know I'm not. I know because I shared my internal dilemma with one or 2 of my Mrs Pastor friends and they felt similar.


I know that there is a time to say such things - as a Reality Check for the individual - or maybe for myself and my expectations however, I also know that I must choose my words very carefully so I don't misspeak and end up with a "Ministry mis-spake". As we know, words have the power of life and death and once spoken, they are spoken. As far as I know, the only thing better than apologizing for saying the wrong thing, is not saying the wrong thing at all.


While still "speaking" about speaking (pun intended), another thing that can trap any Mrs Pastor is when people - including current, past or even non-members of the church - come to talk to you about someone else. Rather than listen and give sound Spiritual advice or shut down the "conversip" (my coinage of a conversation intertwined with gossip), she contributes to the conversation/conversip and even spreads it. We must be really careful that we are never a source or "fuel"; Proverbs 26:20 reminds us that:

Where there is no fuel a fire goes out; 

where there is no gossip arguments come to an end. (CEV)

I guess that the reason why God wanted me to share this is that as women we are really susceptible to "speaking." This is not to say that our husbands are not but I'm sure you know that Pastors have more "latitude" than Mrs Pastors when they say things; hence God wants us to avoid "Ministry mis-spakes" for our own good - and of course for the good of others.
Whatever you say and whenever you speak "Let your conversation be gracious as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone." (Colossians 4:6 - LB)

Cut yourself some slack

The first time I saw this picture, I had to save it for sharing

Rightly or wrongly - actually wrongly in some (if not in most) instances, we - Pastors and Mrs Pastors carry too much or let others "make" us take on too much upon ourselves.

It saddens me when I hear Mrs Pastors share that comments like "'This' or 'That' is happening because our Pastor (and/or his wife - or husband where the Pastor is a born-woman) are not praying (hard) enough" are directed at them.

Then seeing some Pastors and/or Mrs Pastors "sink into" depression over it is also "depressing."

As I've said in my first 2 posts this year in different words, God has called us to "serve our Gift(s)" - not to be God. Remember, He is God alone and He alone is God - so cut yourself some slack.

I'm not saying that we should be slack.* Far from it! We have been called and have the responsibility of living and showing others how to live right before God. However, you cannot live anyone's life for them!

Romans 12:1-2, a Scripture addressed to each individual, says: "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT, emphasis mine)

It is each individual's responsibility to allow God to transform them. On the flip side, it is our responsibility as Pastors to ensure that the (Water of the) Word we "feed" and lead others to is pure, not polluted so that people who drink and "wash" in it are transformed - not tainted.

Reference:

* Proverbs 4:13 - Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off; protect it, for it is your life. (CEB)



Do you Pastor or

Pester????

Hmm...was all I could say to myself when the topic came to mind. I've actually literally "sat" on this topic for months. Now I don't have a choice but to share this - as we start a new year. In fact, I better appreciate how Jeremiah felt when he wrote:

...Then my heart becomes a burning fire Shut up in my bones. And I am weary of enduring and holding it in; I cannot endure it [nor contain it any longer].

(Jeremiah 20:9 - AMP, emphasis mine)   

I tread on this topic very carefully because I can easily be misunderstood. As usual, I need the Holy Spirit to break this down for each of us - and I know He will. AMEN

Service required...

...from "servants" or from "Leaders"?

This passage is a very interesting and introspective one for this post...let's read it first:


²⁴ Now a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was regarded to be the greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ ²⁶ But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant. ²⁷ For who is the greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:24-27 - AMP, italics mine)


Jesus was very clear on what He expected from His disciples  - long before they received the Gift of the Holy Spirit, before they were called "Apostles" and before they became leaders in their time. Jesus' expectation of His disciple - you and I - has not changed. So I find it very interesting that we like to be referred to by our gifts and expect those around us to "serve."


Before we go forward, let's take a step back to read what Paul and Peter said about our "Gifts":


Ephesians 4:11 - And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], (AMP)

1 Peter 4:10 - Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]. (AMP, italics mine)

We have been given various gifts not for self-recognition rather for selfless service to God's people. This picture my friend and fellow Mrs Pastor sent to me puts it so well... God has given us various gifts and desires that we serve Him and serve others as His hand extended. His desire is that as our Master at the end of time He is able to say to us, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:23 - AMP)

As we step into this New Year,  I want to encourage us to focus on "Serving our Gift" versus expecting others to "Serve us because of our gifts" - and I'm sure we will hear "Well done, good and faithful SERVANT" each day of the year. Happy New Year! Welcome to the Year of Service.