Public Service Announcement!

Those were the 3 words that dropped in my heart when I saw this picture my dear friend and fellow Mrs Pastor - to another Pastor of course - sent to me.

 

I know from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in the "Work of the Lord" and cut out spending time with the Lord of the Work and the Word of the Lord of the Work.

Today is the 37th day of this year - 10% of the year is already gone and a good time for a "Pulse-check". The question I have for myself and I'm generously extending to you is "How much time have you (i.e. me) spent in the Work of the Lord vs. with the Lord of the Work?"

A lot of times, we (at least I) feel a pull to be on the "go" doing the work of the Lord - in response to what I call a "Public Service Announcement" whereas maybe the Holy Spirit is simply tugging at my heart to slow down and spend more time with Him. The fact of the matter is if we want to do more for God we need to spend more time with Him. Without Him, we can do nothing* and it is only when we are with Him and He is with us that Acts 10:38 is replicated in our lives:

How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him. (AMPC) 

Reference:

* John 15:4 - Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. (AMPC)

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.

Don't be a Copy-cat church

There is so much talk in Ministry about Unity and it's sometimes misused. We can learn from the most usual things - in this case the date December 12 can teach us a thing or 2...



Even when 2 numbers in a date are the same they are only effective and meaningful when united in purpose e.g. today - 12-12-16...which stands for December 12th, 2016 or 12th December, 2016 - depending on the date format in your region. Imagine if the 12th day wanted to also be the month? We'd be "missing a day" - if that was ever possible. Now that is a simple example of complementing to complete versus competing...


Over the years I've watched with amazement how some churches have replicated programs they see other churches run successfully. I'm not saying that you should not learn from others - no not at all. However, who said that everyone has to have the same programs in order to win more souls for Christ?


Romans 12: 3- 8 - ³ Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. ⁴ Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, ⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. ⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (NLT, italics mine)


1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 - ⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ways to serve [ministries] but the same Lord to serve. ⁶ And there are different ways that God works through people [kinds of action; activities] but the same God works in all of us in everything we do [all things in all people]. ⁷ Something from the Spirit can be seen in [The manifestation/disclosure of the Spirit is given to] each person, for the common good. ⁸ The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom [message/word of wisdom], and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge [message/word of knowledge]. ⁹ The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. ¹⁰ The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles [works of power], to another the ability to prophesy [prophecy]. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil [discernment/distinguishing of] spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages [or ecstatic utterance; tongues] and to another the ability to interpret those languages [interpretation of tongues]. ¹¹ One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give [distributes just as he wishes to] each person. (EXB, italics mine)


Ephesians 4: 11 - 13 - 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], ¹² [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; (AMP, italics mine)


These 3 passages make it clear that it's God's desire that we have diversity of operation or shall I say, different Channels of Ministry as a local church and as a Corporate Church (i.e. all churches together). Just like each 12 in today's date has it's unique purpose and doesn't give up or lose it's uniqueness when combined with the rest of the date, we must each know our unique purpose and not be a "Copy-cat" church. We must find and develop that unique mandate God has given our church and complement to complete what other churches are doing for the benefit of the kingdom. We lose souls and even more when we compete.

7 Lies Ministry Wives Believe* - concluded

So we started on this 2 weeks ago - and I added a few comments in purple** - and will do same this time - and include a picture or 2 or more. 

Produce Plants and Pillars

This topic came to heart after I read Psalm 144: 12 - in various versions including:

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.

May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. (NLT)

 

May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace; (ESV)

 Let’s pray that our young sons will grow like strong plants and

that our daughters will be as lovely as columns in the corner of a palace. (CEV)

Our children start off as a gift from God to us... He expects that we raise them to be a gift not just back to us (especially in our old age) but to their generation and most importantly to Him.

My dear friend, Beryl and I have used this verse to pray for our children more than once. Each time the Holy Spirit reminds me that children turning out "right" and righteous is no piece of cake. In fact it could be a piece of cake if you consider the need to mix many ingredients together & bake it in a oven to get a pleasant outcome.

Plants need to be planted in the right soil, watered often, exposed to SONlight and of course pruned  and pruned now and again...otherwise they will end up wild, unproductive and worse yet a waste of space.* God forbid!!!

Talking about Pillars, they need to and have to be really fortified from within** and also have deep and solid foundations in order to support all the "weight" that will be placed on them. They also need to be stable in order to be stabilizers wherever they are.

And our daughters are not to be just any pillars - God expects them to be Pillars for the Palace.


I'm looking forward to celebrating our "plants" and "pillars" this coming weekend as part of International Children's Day...they will not depart from the House of the Lord. Amen!

References:

* Luke 13: 6-9 - ⁶ And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any].

⁷ So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?

⁸ But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil].  ⁹ Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out. (AMPC)

** Ephesians 3:16 - May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (AMPC) 

7 Lies Ministry Wives Believe*

Last weekend, I had the opportunity, pleasure and privilege of being with some amazing Mrs. Pastors and then on the last day of our Conference, my dear friend, a Mrs. Pastor herself, sent me this article written by another Mrs. Pastor by email...


The sheer similarity between this article and some of the things we discussed propelled me to share the full article - in 2 parts to give time for "digestion" and maybe even "passing out."