When you think of Ministry...

[Blazin Bones]

When you think of ministry what usually comes to mind?

 

[lovely]

Serving my family as wife and mother come to my mind first, and then practicing hospitality, helping others when I can, visiting the sick and those in prison...at least writing them...serving older parents and widows, helping children through adoption, or just taking them into your home when you can in hospitality, helping a young mother in her home, especially if she is sick. Cooking meals for others who need them, cleaning the church building, and other such things. Helping the elderly with needs, transportation, cleaning, and so on. So many things, I guess, that meet practical and spiritual needs. I guess just speaking and living the Gospel.

 

[destiny]

Romans 15:18-19

"For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedienceâ€â€by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God..."

I was reading those verses today thinking how much they apply to our lives right now. We can really only speak with authority the things that God has accomplished in us. Without the wisdom of experience our knowledge can be empty and, at times, legalistic and lacking empathy or mercy.
When God allows us to walk through something, we then retain the experience he wants us to have in order to reach others who are in the same situation, or who might find themselves in that situation.
It's not always even about walking through a situation, it can just be Him revealing something to us that we otherwise wouldn't have known (the Holy Spirit teaches us in all things); All for the Glory of God.

 

[lovely]

What a blessing to read this today, Destiny, amen. It is so true.

 

[Ginger]

Serving my family as wife and mother come to my mind first, and then practicing hospitality, helping others when I can, visiting the sick and those in prison...at least writing them...serving older parents and widows, helping children through adoption, or just taking them into your home when you can in hospitality, helping a young mother in her home, especially if she is sick. Cooking meals for others who need them, cleaning the church building, and other such things. Helping the elderly with needs, transportation, cleaning, and so on. So many things, I guess, that meet practical and spiritual needs. I guess just speaking and living the Gospel.

AMEN :infinity:

Thank you for your words and your example. Its good to remind others that ministry is just where you are at that minute/situation you are in and allowing God to use you and to be aware of opportunities and to be open to them and not just our planned long time ministries (ie serving in church etc).

If you are handicapped or elderly and can't get out then you can pray and believe me I know in our last church with so many shut ins that that church wouldn't have grown in love and ministry without all those prayer warriors (I have an elderly aunt in my life and I can testify to miracles in my life due to her deligence in prayer).

I hope to always walk close to God so when he places opportunities in my path (witnessing, practical help, encouragement etc) I am ready and can see them and God will give me the words to say etc. Cause in the past there has been opportunities for witnessing and I missed it as I wasn't prepared or expected it then. May we all be open to the ministries God has planned for us.