A Mama’s Cry for Help
I recently received this email from a gal living a long way from me – but whom I’ve mentored through the years. Can anybody out there relate to her dilemma?
My small church recently put me in charge of leading our church Prayer Ministry. It’s sad, but these guys have been surviving on life support prayers for SO long!
Don’t get me wrong but it is amazing what God can do with just ONE obedient person! I can comfortably say we have at least SEVEN!
It’s ok to LO – I’m only slightly exaggerating. I have been using what God has given me these 17+ years since I was radically saved to hopefully infuse this little church with the breathe of heaven. It’s been very encouraging and exciting to watch the team grow and people get excited about prayer again.
The most difficult thing for me has been trying to balance ministry with matrimony. I just get so carried away in what I’m desiring to do and the administration aspects that my poor husband feels like a single parent and the house is falling down around me.
HOW, OH HOW, DO YOU DEAL WITH THIS?
With Anticipation,
Vicky
You keep it in balance sweetie – you keep it in balance. I know what you mean about ministry demands sometimes interfering with family time and responsibilities. But one thing is different between me and you – the SEASON we are living in. I don’t have little ones at home anymore!
I’m very proud of you for taking on a ministry opportunity in a new church….and prayer is the absolute best place to start. I also know what you mean about not seeing many ALIVE ones in the church. (Which is one reason so many churches remain so little)? That is one of my greatest frustrations as I travel around the way I do. Sometimes I feel like some want me there just to ‘entertain’ them and that’s NOT my heart! I go for one purpose – to see FRUIT for the Kingdom. Sometimes that Fruit looks like Salvation – sometimes it looks like discipleship. But as long as there is fruit that’s all that counts.
Are you seeing fruit? My caution to you is this: remember they have the same Bible you do – hear the same messages you do – have the same Holy Spirit you do – provided they are saved. Remember – don’t do for other people what God wants them to do for themselves. If you do – then what happens in the process is your time and life gets out of balance and they don’t grow.
Never give away to another what God wants you to give to your family. Now, make no mistake about it the Lord DOES want you to be involved in ministry – He DOES want you to pass along what He has taught you and all who don’t do that will answer to Him for it! Some women use family as an excuse for not being involved in ministry forgetting that God can remove our excuses.
We must just keep it in BALANCE. When we don’t fulfill those 9 Zoo Principles in our own life first, then we won’t experience fruit in the ministry He has called us to. We must be careful to LIVE our own lives in obedience to His Word. Put first things first. That’s where Martha went wrong that one time that Jesus corrected her. She was involved in ministry to a point she was getting out of balance. That’s all Jesus was telling her.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tell us “Come unto me all you who labor and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my way is easy and my burden is light.” A wise friend once shared that verse with me when I was in the pit of frustration of trying to balance ministry with family. Let God do His work THROUGH you, no by you. That’s when you get all burdened down with the weight of “doing” ministry. In the end it is God alone who changes hearts to hear His call for a changed life, church or ministry. Let Him do His work, you do yours in His balanced way, and in the end Success with reign!
I SINCERELY HOPE THIS HELPS – LET ME KNOW. I’m honored that you would seek my thoughts on this.
Love you sweet thing.
Brenda Lancaster
