The Ministry of Life

Yesterday as I typed an email to someone I told her that God had called me into full time women's ministry... I shuttered as I typed those words. Here's why: Last Saturday, after talking about dreams and what/who we have let hold us back I had someone ask me a question. She said, "I guess my dream would be to have a vineyard with my husband, but is that ok... you know that my dream isn't ministry." (ok that was paraphrasing it was a week ago and I'm sleep deprived.) Anyway, it was right before I had to get people ready for lunch so I quickly answered "Of course! Everything we do has an impact on the Kingdom."

For a week now I have been wishing I would have forgotten about the logistics of getting 45 women in the lunch line and taken the time to talk about this. Here's the thing.. wait for it... WE ARE ALL CALLED TO MINISTRY... YOU ARE CALLED TO MINISTRY... unbunch your panties while I explain.

We are all, in fact, called to women's ministry, to children's ministry, to men's ministry, to feeding the homeless and giving to the poor... BUT  guess what it's not called ministry it's called LIFE.  

Whether you're a lawyer, a stay at home mom, a nurse or a farmer.... WE ARE ALL CALLED to work for the good of the kingdom! We are NOT called to compartmentalize "work", "family", "friends"  and "God". Sometimes I think the label of "ministry" makes the masses feel justified in NOT living a life purposefully devoted to Kingdom work because "ministry" is meant for those with a special calling set apart from "real" life.

If you have decided to love Jesus... guess what???? YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY inducted into the MINISTRY OF LIFE... It's weird how words can unintentionally create barriers. If I don't label what I do as ministry, but rather as life, is it any less important? It feels less important, but that's called pride, and that's my own issue. When someone asks what I do what do I tell them??? "Well, I wipe butts and occasionally do dishes, oh and I love women..." How do I classify what God has called me to without the label of "ministry"... does it even matter? There's a bit of sexiness in the word ministry... somehow implying ministry is a program that I sacrifice to be a part of... something that only really spiritual people can lead. It can be a barrier... a divider... sometimes even an obstacle built on pride...

Not long ago I saw a friend from our pastoring days. Knowing that my hubby now works for a hospital system and no longer a church or official ministry he asked, "Does CJ miss being in ministry." I said "Not really, because our lives are ministry." I don't think this guy meant anything by his question, but it made my blood boil. Just a few weeks before CJ had been called to anoint a patient with oil and pray for healing because the chaplain was busy... this is life... is it less ministry because he works for a secular organization???!!!! As bosses and employees, as mothers and wives and daughters, as patrons at a restaurant or shoppers at Target... every second of everyday we are called to move the Kingdom forward and to love others by using the gifts God has given us... hmm hmm... M-I-N-I-S-T-R-Y!!

Paul was a tent maker by day and still managed to blaze as an apostle, preacher, teacher, and healer and lived ministry.  This is in NO WAY a dig to those in paid full time "ministry", we should as a community financially support our pastors! We should support the great organizations that spread the Gospel!!! The danger I am warning about is adopting an attitude of complacency in life because we don't bear an official label of "such and such" ministry. We are all called to work together... we are all a part of the body of Christ! When we no longer default to letting the "pros" handle the heart ache and ickiness of the world, when we can no longer hide behind the great excuse of being "unqualified", when we stop sitting back and expecting a chosen few do 99% of the work... and realize WE ARE THE WORKERS... WE ARE THE LEADERS... WE ARE THE MOUNTAIN MOVERS... HOLY CRAP people!!! the enemy will cower and the gates of Hell will be stormed... how glorious that day will be!

|FIGHTING WORDS|:

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (The Message)

12-13You can easily enough see how this kind of thing works by looking no further than your own body. Your body has many parts—limbs, organs, cells—but no matter how many parts you can name, you're still one body. It's exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. 


14-18I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it. 


19-24But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair? 


25-26The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

"Ladies....Calling the Ladies" -God

Jesus is coming back.  None of us know the date or time, but He's coming back.  I used to have the mindset that the world needed to go to hell in a handbasket and then He would come.  It was just going to get worse and then He'd come back and then Heaven bound.  My theology has since changed and I have realized that the Bible gives all kinds of things that we as God's people can do to either tarry His coming or to even speed it up.

This got me thinking...Am I helping the process or hurting the proces?  

I'm going to say that for most of my life I haven't been helping much, but over the last year or so I would have to say I have been much more active in my life with the Lord.  He gives us commands to go into all the world and preach the gospel...the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  What does that mean for my life as a woman?  Does that mean in my lifetime I must set my feet on the soil of every continent and preach the gospel?  Maybe....but what I really think is that I am to believe God for who He says I am, live a life that He's called me to and in the process I will do my part in the Great Commission.  As I walk in my calling I live a life that is an act of obedience but also a life of worship.  In my obedience, I am walking in the will of the Lord which has me doing ALL that He has created me for...to love him...to love His people.  I desire to live a life that points people to the goodness, the faithfulness, and the love of the Lord....PERIOD!

As women we must know our value, our calling, our ministry so that we live lives that point others to the redemption of the Cross.  I am reading a book written by two men called, "Why Not Women" A Biblical Study of Women in Missions, Ministry, and Leadership.  This book in written by Loren Cunningham (who just so happens to be coming to Medford next week) and David Hamilton.  I'm only in chapter one and have been struck to write.  I feel like I've had so many things to write about the past month or so but have just found it so hard....not this one!!!  It has made my heart hurt for the rampant injustice in the world for women...the statistics and truths are disturbing.  I find myself broken but also so grateful to be a woman whom God chose my birth place to be in America.

There is a section titled "Jesus Put Women in the Spotlight".  It is talking about the three greatest events in the life of Jesus (birth, death, and resurrection) women were placed in the spotlight.  I will not be going greatly in depth on the three.  I mostly just want to leave you with these truths to ponder and maybe even write about here at TFE!!!

Point #1:  The ancients believed that man was the seed of life and women were merely the soil.  There is an ancient thought that in the semen of a man contained tiny human beings.  The duty of the woman's womb was to merely be the soil in which the seed grew.  "God took the idea and stood it on its head having Jesus be born with only a woman as His earthly parent.  This about it!  Mary was the only human source for Jesus' DNA." -Loren Cunningham   Interesting thought eh?

Point #2: The death of Jesus was the central purpose to Him coming to this earth.  Jesus was anointed by Mary and a few days later, a woman entered His home and broke the entire alabaster jar filled with expensive oil over his head.  Jesus said because she had done this her act would be spoken of everywhere the Gospel was preached (Matthew 26:6-13).  These two women commissioned Jesus as He went to the cross.

Point #3: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene.  Women were the first to find His empty tomb and they were sent to tell the others He was alive.  They were the first to receive the command to go and tell.

You are important, do you see this? You are valuable, do you see this?  You are needed in this world.....DESPERATELY, do you see this?  You have a very important role to play in the lives of your family, friends, workplace, and PLANET!!!  He's coming back and I don't know about you but I am done sitting around waiting, I'm gonna get up and start doing the things He's asked me to do...like write this blog, read this book, create a retreat about fearlessness, freedom, and link it all up with fitness.

We've got roles to play ladies.  Let's start calling them out of one another and helping put one another in the spotlight just as Jesus did!!!!  I want to challenge you to find one woman and champion her this week in her callings!!!!  What happens when we begin to do this???  Let's just say this is a little sneak peek into Fearless and Fit coming this July!!!  Sign up if you haven't already done so.  Click the pic to register.

                                     

Just "Enough" Jesus

"'Christian Atheists' believe in God but live like he doesn't exist. - Craig Groschel

I was listening to a sermon from Craig Groschel this morning... author of Christian Atheist and the above quote about knocked me off my chair.

It's easy to rate sin or see other's sin as bigger than our own. But in Galatians 5:19-21 Paul lists sins like corrupt sexual impurity, witch craft and drunkenness right along side jealousy, divisiveness, anger and selfishness. It's interesting how we can see the blatant sin in the "world" but so many times we are unwilling to check ourselves as followers of Christ when it comes to things like envy, continuousness, or hate. We justify our soap boxes with just "enough" jesus... to make it feel "right"... even a little self righteous while making others feel condemned.

Ahhh I'm so tired of myself and I think the Annointed One must so tired of it as well. But there I go again... putting humanly characteristics on a God that can't possibly be contained by any rules or any box. A God whose love is so deep and grace is so pure we CANNOT fathom in our human minds how to even accept this real gift. Sure we say it... we spout off all of the right "christian" words and we take just "enough" of him to live safe lives that look shiny and clean on the outside. But I wonder what would happen if we bit off such a huge, undigestible chunk of him that if we take our focus off of him and his love and mercy for even a second we would be crushed by our own inadequacy in what we just signed up to do and how we said we would live... 

I have been in a funk for over a week from some hurtful words ... instead of focusing on all of the awesomeness God has filled my life with, I have been focusing on the disapproval of a couple of people... how the enemy must be rejoicing. But right now I call it out... right now, in the name of Jesus I reject the lies, right now in the name of Jesus I bind the enemy and proclaim God's truth... that HE IS LOVE... and grace and peace and joy... Today I don't want just a piece of that action... I want it all.

I'm tired of uttering empty prayers I don't believe... tired of making decisions based on fear and my own insecurities. I believe in a God who created me to be MIGHTY... to be COURAGEOUS. A God who calls me to say YES to him ... not just to take a corner of the robe of his grace and be satisfied. I want ALL of him... knowing I can't handle ALL of him in my own strength... Erwin McManus says that a lot of times "We dream better lives that we actually live." Life is so short... time with the people we love is uncertain... so why should any of us waste another second trying to figure out if we're good enough, smart enough, or brave enough to live the dreams HE has given us. 

YOU'RE AWESOME...OWN IT! YOU'RE STRONG... BURN THAT IN YOUR MIND! YOU'RE DESTINED TO DO GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS... NOW LIVE IT!

... let's not wast one more second focusing on the words of others... lets not waste one more day taking just "enough" of jesus to be socially accepted by our christian friends. LET'S BLOW DOORS off of life EVERY DAY!! No matter what. Let's say we believe in God and then live a life that screams it... without having to utter a word. 

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." - Romans 8:1-2

Dancing in the Minefields...

{Dancing in the minefields} That's the thought that keeps wafting through my mind as I'm trying to grip the reality of life. I (we) have a relationship with Minefields. I just didn't realize how close of a relationship it was. I found out it's where I live. Permanently. And so does everyone else. Somehow I had thought that the minefields of life were rare and possible to avoid, or that was the goal. And if you found yourself in one, you should just spastically run through it, darting this way and that, until you've made it out as unscathed as possible. Maybe for some souls life is that way. But, I think the reality for most of us, is that we are LIVING in the minefields. So waiting until we get out to dance, means we'll never dance at all.

Well... (I tell God) at least now in my "minefield life" I have learned how to shuffle around robotically. Working day and night maneuvering and outwitting foreseen negatives. I'm heavy-laden and lacking joy but, hey, at least I'm trying to get us outta here, right?. God's grace is patient, but His desire for my freedom is bigger. Surviving is not good enough for Him or me! I was created to dance. The real kind of dancing. Not awkward, forced movements we all do because.....well....we've been saved too long not to, plus, everyone's watching. But the free, effortless movements that come from a soul that is floating on the wings of a Saviour.

But how do I get that in me? How do I dance with that fluid expression of joy whilst things are blowing up around me. And worse yet, what if things get eerily quiet? What about then? There's still all those looming places I "think" should be blowing soon, so I'm obsessively watching and arranging my life around them. No peace. Ever.

I don't know how others feel, but I am exhausted. Exhausted from the avoidance patterns I run. Exhausted from the extreme molting I experience every time I am nearly hit. I CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS. Out of sheer weakness and misery I believe I am ready to face this demon. (Not the way I pictured heading into victory). Dear God, deliver me! And anyone else who has lived a life paralyzed by fear! What would it feel like if I did not fret about losing my life....or losing the life of of my children? AHHH!!! Does that state of peace exist? I think it does.

When my 2 yr old son went from a healthy boy to 2 days later laying in Portland's ICU with a chest tube.......I learned about the freedom God wanted to give me. I stared down at my baby boy's face for 7 days searching for any signs that these freakish, sudden complications of Pneumonia was not the way it was all gonna end. God revealed himself to me. It was not about the comfort that comes from believing in His promises to heal, although I knew He wanted to. He taught me about His Sovereinty. The same Sovereinty and Majesty I'd witnessed days before when looking out that small airplane window that transported my little boy. Amazing!! My life felt so overwhelming, yet His cosmic powers were holding this whole place together with just a word from His lips. There is peace in knowing our days are numbered. There is peace in knowing that even though I am called to be the best steward, I am still not responsible for how many breathes I take.

God could have prevented Lucas from ever getting sick. He could've healed him on Day 2 with antibiotics, or even Day 3 with the chest tube would have been nice. But on day 7 (of course) he swept in, wiped the effusions and infection from his lung and granted complete healing. Praise God!! It was only hours before that the xray had shown horrific damage that only a surgeon could reverse. Glory to God!! Praise Him!! He is powerful!!..........Phew! As we wipe the sweat from our brow....

But........wait.....what about next time, I ask? What about when the numbers on a life I love really are up? What about that pain? What about those goodbyes? What do we do then? God's answer was still the same......

I AM. TRUST ME. IT'S TIME TO DANCE.
I think I will.

I married in 2000, 4 months after meeting the love of my life. The next 11yrs proved to be amazing....filled with laughter and tears as God filled our home with 5 more. I am honored and humbled everyday I get to stay home with my kids. The task momma's face daily is daunting....and I shake my head in wonderment that I've been allowed to do it after all my failures! My children's ages are 10, 8, 7, 5, and 3
and without the love of my amazing man, I don't know where I'd be!

Doing the Fearless Thing...

Once we make the decision to to stand up and rebuke the enemy and really move in God's kingdom, everyday IS a fight... I get a little tired of fighting to be honest... there are days I let me guard down and the enemy pounces almost instantly... these are the days I forget I'm not fighting in my ouwn strength... this isn't my deal... it's God's thing... it's his place to strengthen me and fill me with a fearless reckless courage for HIS glory alone.

Being "fearless" isn't a state of mind... it's who we are and how we live. 

I want  this word to be my default... I want this word to define my existence... and someday it will. Right now though, I'm IN the fight, the journey from living for myself to living truly for Jesus and his kingdom. Not just in how I talk or pray but in the GUTS OF HOW I LIVE!!! It's a process, I'm trying... I'm more aware of when I'm not being who I need to be or when I'm being an annoying cow...  and I more aware of when I am trying to manipulate God to work for my purpose instead of the other way around.

I don't think being fearless is an over night decision... I think as we rebuke the enemy from our lives and thoughts and words and start to breakthrough from the strongholds keeping us from really experience God we just kinda morph into someone who has more courage to stand up for the kingdom. We transform in women who are secure in God's power and gifting... We grow into strong leaders and encouragers and spiritual warriors. And one day we will realize that moving forward in faith is just what we do... it's second nature... it will mark us and claim us and set us a part. I want this... not just for me, but for all of us together.

Can you imagine what damage we could do to the enemies camp with fearless faith that truly can shake the foundations of the earth??? Ahhhh, it's at our finger tips, it's deep inside us at our core, it's who God created us all to be, it's who we can be... if we choose to claim it!

Faith over Feelings... what a concept!

I will no longer allow my feeling and emotions dictate whether or not I say yes to God... here is why..

"How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By FAITH these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight."

- Hebrews 11:32-34 (NLT)

...because I want this kind of faith...