Our Sufferings Are Not Worth Comparing

"I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing with the glory

that will be revealed in us."

Romans 8:18 (NIV)

Let It Snow!

Yesterday it snowed here again, but do I care? Nope! Because I will soon be on a airplane to Pheonix, Arizona, to spend a week with my husband in beautiful Sedona. It maybe 2:49 in the morning, but I am wide awake like a little girl on Christmas morning. I am so excited! I have never been to Arizona, but I have been told by others that Sedona and the Grand Canyon are beyond description. I can't wait! You can be certain my camera will be in my hands at all times. So for the next seven days, my sons will be writing my posts, as I take zillions of pictures.

I am never nervous going to a different country or place because I know the Lord Himself goes before me. He will be with me there as He is with me here. And if I have the Lord, then I have everything! Even if my suitcases get lost or if the airplane needs to make an emergency landing who-knows-where, I am at peace because I know God will never leave me or forsake me on the earth or in the sky.

"The Lord Himself

goes before you

and will be with you;

He will never leave you

nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

Steering Away From The True Faith

I have always wondered, of the people in churches who are regularly paid to do God's work, how many would suddenly quit if they were told they would no longer receive a steady pay-check for their work. Would the servants of God be willing to work free if God asked them to? Could they rely on God to provide for all their needs? I certainly think more people in the church would offer their help and support if they knew their leaders were volunteers. People would probably be more generous in giving, too. In other words, people would start coming to church to serve rather than to be served by paid workers.

I think money and a strong business mentality in our churches gets in the way of God's spirit flowing through the hearts of the people. The Bible says that love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It causes people to wander from the true faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows.

"For the love of money

is the root of all kinds of evil.

And some people, craving money,

have wandered from the true faith

and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

Money doesn't bring people closer to God. In fact, it's often a lack of money that does.

What Is Ministry?

The Biblical meaning of the word "ministry" is "service." When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, God calls each of us to serve Him faithfully with all our hearts, always keeping in mind the great things He has done for us.

"But be sure to fear the Lord

and serve Him faithfully

with all your heart;

consider what great things

He has done for you."

1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)

In the Scriptures, Jesus Christ set an example for us to follow. God's Son came to serve, not to be served. Thus we are not to live the Christian life expecting God, or the Church, to serve us, but rather we are to serve God and others.

"For even the Son of Man

did not come to be served,

but to serve,

and to give His life 

as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45 (NIV)

Just like Solomon in the Bible, we are asked by God to serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.

"And you, my son Solomon,

acknowledge the God of your father,

and serve Him

with wholehearted devotion

and with a willing mind,

for the Lord searched every heart

and understands every desire

and every thought."

1 Chronicles 28:9a (NIV)

The best example of a person I know in full-time ministry today is a lady who attends a Bible study at my home. She has been lovingly taking care of her sweet, cancer-striken mother in her own home for several years. She won't receive a pay check, nor will she be given an earthly title, but never-the-less, her reward in heaven will be great.

A Family? Or Just An Assembly?

The body of Christ is to be family, because the Bible states that anyone who does the will of God is to be treated like a brother, sister, and mother.

"Then He pointed to His disciples and said,

'Look, these are My mother and brothers.

Anyone who does the will of My Father in Heaven

is My brother and sister and mother!'"

Matthew 12:49-50 (NLT)

A church is not supposed to be just a body of believers who meet once a week. A church is to be much more than that. It is to be a family of believers. And when God brings a new brother or sister into the church, he/she should immediately feel loved, accepted, and belonged. He/she should not feel like a stranger, an outsider, or an intruder. If a church ignores or shows no interest in a brother and sister, then it is not a family, but just an assembly.

Gifts Not Titles

Jesus Christ has given these as gifts to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.

"Now these are the gifts

Christ gave to the church:

the apostles,

the prophets,

the evangelists,

and the pastors

and teachers."

Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)

Is any one of these gifts more important than the others? Of course not! Just as our bodies have many parts, and each part has a special function, so it is with the body of Christ — His church.

Even though the thumb is small, is it not vital?

There are many parts to the body of Christ, but we all belong to each other. No one member is more important than another, and we are not to esteem some members over others.

"Just as our bodies have many parts

and each part has a special function,

so it is with Christ's body.

We are many parts of one body,

and we all belong to each other."

Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Why then do we take the one gift — those who are pastors, and give them titles? We even confer the title "Pastor" on people in the church who do not fulfil the role of pastor as described in the Scriptures. Each year we come up with new prefixes for the title "Pastor." It's gotten so ridiculous, it's embarrassing. It seems as if every paid or educated worker in the church aspires to this honorary title that man bestows — a title that distinguishes him/her from the rest. However, it was never God's intention for some members of the body of Christ to elevate themselves above other members of the body of Christ. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are all gifts of God. Not one of these gifts is to be used as a distinguishing title.

Jesus Calls You By Name

After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to Mary of Magdalene who was crying nearby His empty tomb. Jesus heard her cries and felt the sadness in her heart, so He gently approached her. At first Mary didn't recognize Him. She thought he was just a gardener. Even when He spoke, she still didn't recognize him, until . . . He says her name.

"At this, she turned around

and saw Jesus standing there,

but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, 

'Woman, why are you crying?

Who is it you are looking for?"

Thinking He was the gardener,

she said, 'Sir, 

if You have carried Him away,

tell me where you have put Him,

and I will get Him.'

Jesus said to her,

'Mary.'

She turned toward Him

and cried out in Aramaic,

'Rabboni!' (which means 'Teacher')."

John 20:14-16 (NIV)

God the Creator of all mankind calls each one of us by name. He leads us to freedom and to feed on green pastures.

"I am the Good Shepherd;

I know My sheep

and my sheep know Me."

John 10:14 (NIV)

 in His voice.

If you listen for God's voice, you will recognize Him when you hear Him lovingly and tenderly calling your name.