Category: The Ministry

Vacation, A Gift of Rest from the Ministry

Ahhh! We have been on vacation for several days now and feeling a littled wired from late night visits and early morning departures but our spirits have been encouraged from our time with family and time to talk to each other.

We are away from church responsibilities which has enabled us to focus on our family responsibilities. We have chosen some family activities, spiritual activities, and encouraging activities. We have chosen to spend the bulk of our time with another ministry family to see their ministry and encourage them, which will probably mean they will be encouraging us.

We are finding that the more stressed we are with church activities the more we need to use our Mondays and vacation time to put aside the stress and take up the relationship with each other and invest in our family. It has meant that some Mondays, my husband’s day off, we do not clean like I would like, but we get out and away even from the house where we homeschool during the week. The times we have gone out, even for a cheap picnic, have left us with happy family memories and helped us train our children in a public setting without the stress of people we know watching.

I encourage you all to take advantage of family vacation time even if it means some monetary sacrifice to enjoy life beyond the church. It does not mean we are setting God to the side or abandoning our call to serve God’s people. Rest is godly because God rested after the work of creating and being busy about His work of Creation.

Vacations that do not involve always going to see relatives are also good for you. You can go do something you have never done or see something again that you enjoy as a family. Make your vacation yours by planning ahead and having fun!

So in summary, get away! It’s good for you and the family! So if you’re feeling obligated to stay and postpone your vacation plans, don’t do it!!!! Go, it will do a body, a spirit, and a family good.

How to Help the Fatherless Child on Father’s Day

How to Help the Fatherless

How many fatherless children do you know? Fatherless children come from married homes, unmarried homes, single homes, they’re orphans, and almost anything in between. Men can father children easier than they can truly be a father. It’s a part of our society and a problem in our society that the Bible addresses very clearly.

One fatherless child may not have ever met his father. Another fatherless child may have had many bad experiences with their father in the past. And another fatherless child may only see their father when he wants something from them. Yet another fatherless child may live at home with his father every day but not have the love and attention he needs or deserves because of his father’s preoccupation with other matters in his life. The scenarios are limitless.

A child living without their father is greater than those that live without their mother. Gasp! I am sure that some of you may not agree with statement. The Bible does not address a child being without a mother as much as he does children being fatherless. There is something about the male leadership and spiritual role that is needed in a person’s life. When the father is not there to be the authority, protector, and provider, God steps in and gives Biblical instructions for God’s people to help them and plead their cause. (See Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 10:17-18, 24:17,18, Proverbs 23:10,11)

Fatherless children tend to have heartache and problems on Father’s Day. Their hearts hurt and yearn for a father that will love them and care for them and listen to them. Here are some ideas, as many of you will see fatherless children on Father’s Day in your churches, on how you can give them encouragement.

  1. Recognize the void. Look for those that are fatherless in your church. They will be of all ages, some people never outgrow the void that growing up fatherless gave them. Their void is having love, spiritual guidance, and physical needs met.
  2. Acknowledge their struggle.   If there is not a physical struggle in the child’s life then there is probably a spiritual struggle. They ask themselves questions about who their father is, why he does the things he does, why God does not see their hurt and address their needs quickly, and if they are worthy of being loved. You do not have to say anything specifically to them about this struggle, but acknowledge that it is there in your heart. This is a genuine and Biblical void.
  3. Point them to the Heavenly Father. One idea is to ask them if they are doing alright on Father’s Day. Then lovingly remind them that God is a Father to all of those that need one. Give them a scripture or two in a note or on a notecard so they can take that reminder with them. They may even keep it in a special place and look at it now and then. Sunday School teachers can take special time in their class to remind children of the Heavenly Father’s unconditional love and care for them even if they are not able to talk to each child one on one.
  4. Pray with them if possible and pray for them as often as you think of them.
    If God allows you the opportunity, without making a spectacle out of the person or situation, ask them if you can pray with them. Then simply pray for their needs and thank God for being the best Heavenly Father a person could ever ask for. Be wise though, remember not to isolate yourself with a child or teenager in a room alone. Men should pray with boys and ladies with girls unless it is a husband or wife together, to prevent any type of false accusations.
  5. Provide any physical need they may have.  Ask God to help you see the need of fatherless child in your church. If you see they need shoes then bring them a pair of shoes or a gift card so they can go buy a pair. Then let them know that God cares for them. Doing this will help them be reminded that God does care even though their earthly father may not. The church does not carry the responsibility to provide for those in need, He encourages us not to shut up our bowels of compassion for the needs of others.

I John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

That verse is very powerful in motivating Christians to help others in need. Helping a fatherless child is no exception.

Another thought, if you are a Sunday School teacher and you know a child does not have a father or a regular father in his life then be mindful when you are having your class make crafts. You could make your craft point to the Heavenly Father or give them an alternative to make their gift for a grandpa, uncle, or other father figure in their life. Sometimes these types of activities will isolate the child and make them feel sad. Instead of allowing someone to leave church feeling discouraged, make it a positive experience where they felt loved by you and their Heavenly Father.

We have the wonderful responsibility of being able to point people to Jesus Christ and Father’s Day is just one of the opportunities we can have in showing fatherless children about a Heavenly Father. May you stand in the gap and be an encouragement to the fatherless around you! Happy Father’s Day to you all!

Tips for Surviving Long Ministry Weeks

Tips for Surviving Long Ministry Weeks

Long ministry weeks are destined for the Ministry Mama! Missions Conferences, revivals, VBS (and more!) are just a part of the regular yearly routine of the church and you probably have responsibilities to help it function. Those weeks are weeks where you can feel like you are defeated because of a non-stop schedule, especially if you have young children, are homeschooling, or work a part-time job.

Have you ever run a marathon? Not me… unless you categorize the hyper busy ministry weeks as a marathon. It sure feels like when I ran long distance in high school just so I could be a manager for the track team. I ran miles but never competed, lame, I know, but I just could not put myself in the stress of the competition! Maybe my non-competitive              experience will help me as I help you learn to pace yourself for those busy weeks.

I asked other ladies that are accustomed to long ministry weeks to give us some tips and these are some suggestions that they had:

  • Do not neglect your relationship with the Lord during busy weeks. It may seem busy but you need to keep your Bible reading and prayer time a priority to be able to make it. Keep God first.
  • Plan and organize your week before it gets busy. If you know you have a big event coming up then plan your meals ahead of time, pull out the clothes you want your family to wear for the week and iron them if needed. Also, plan activities for your children if you will be at the church for long periods of time. They get bored and can get into trouble if you are not organized. Buy supplies and needed materials before your workers arrive to help you set up. Be thoughtful toward your guests by preparing for their needs in advance as well.
  • Ask for help ahead of time. If you know you’re going to need help with VBS or Christmas Banquet decorations then ask a couple of weeks before the week that you will be decorating. People fill up their schedules fast and if you need their help you need to get in on their calendar before they make other plans.
  • Schedule rest. Make time for a nap or an early bedtime so that you are not so tired that you are not able to function with a godly spirit and attitude. Tired people tend to snap at others and grow impatient. We want to make our “spiritual” events of the church encouraging and uplifting by being our best and being rested. If you have to let your kids have an extra hour or two of sleep in the morning because you’ve stayed out an extra hour or two past their bedtime then please do that so that you can have children that are more obedient and peaceful.
  • Make easy meals. Most of the women suggested throwing food into the Crock-pot or making easy foods ahead like potato and macaroni salad. There may be times where you throw a couple of cans of tuna, some bread, and mayo in a grocery bag and take it with you to the church so that you do not have to eat out. You have simple meals that you like to make, make a list ahead of time and put it up on the refrigerator. When you’re in a rush then you can look at the list, grab all the items, and get it ready in a jiffy! Snacks are also a great thing to bring along with you. As soon as you’re involved in your church responsibilities usually your children are asking for something else to eat. Head ’em off at the pass by being ready with snacks.
  • Clean the big messes and leave the rest ’til next week. Don’t stress yourself to scrub the kitchen floors or complete your spring cleaning during long ministry weeks. If everyone is responsible to put their things away after coming home after your long and exhausting day then it will be easier to clean up than if everyone drops    everything and leaves it until later.
  • If at all possible plan some time at home before you have to go to the church or run your necessary errands. This will give time for your children to sleep a little longer, have breakfast, and clean up the messes left from being on the go. If you play some encouraging music then it will help them feel like they are able to relax before the tasks of the day steal the rest of the time away. If you can’t take some time at home, then do take time in your day to sit down with your husband and children and show them some tender lovin’ care. Look in their eyes, ask them questions, truly listen to their answers, see if they have any needs that need your attention.
  • Communicate! Stress can build up like a dam and overflow  hurtful words and   disrespectful tones toward others if we are not communicating effectively. You should speak to your husband about what he desires you to do, ask if there is anything specific you can help him with, listen to his burdens and problems without giving him any opinions. Talk to those with whom you work beside whether it is other people on staff or the volunteer church members that are helping you carry out these ministry events. Communication can remedy lots of problems if you will speak to people ahead of time instead of last-minute.
  • Keep it simple! Cut out the unnecessary time thieves, use the gift of the paper plate (no dishes, please), and ask God for special strength and wisdom to help you know what to do when.

So the next time you’re in the marathon of a long ministry week, I hope you will be able to use some of these wonderful tips and use them. Don’t forget, God supplies our every need even in the hectic moments of serving others. Pray without ceasing, He’s listening!