As I sit here in my small office with my candle aglow and my Christmas music playing, I'm thinking about the wonder of just knowing Jesus and what it means in our lives to be His. No life is small to Him! Each of us is His treasured possession! He cherishes each of us no matter what our calling! After all, the calling is from Him, isn't it? Does the pot say to the potter why did you make me a cup and not a bowl? No.
I've been in and around ministry for over 25 years. During that time, I see the pressure that builds when you enter this world to "do something BIG for God." What is missing in this push for the big dream is God's will.
What does God ultimately require of us? First, to have no other God before Him. That means idols too! Not any other religion, object, goal, desire, or passion comes before Him. Sometimes ministry itself can become an idol.
How many people have you encountered in churches that are "waiting" for God to "bring their full time ministry" to them. They put things on hold just waiting for their big break into ministry. They sometimes seek to become friends with people who have made an impact with a large ministry. To me, I think this is making ministry an idol.
What God requires of us is obedience to whatever HE has called us to! Nothing else. And, though He wants us to continue to seek Him all the days of our lives, we need not let the pressure of the Christian culture rope us into thinking that unless we have a "ministry" that we aren't doing great things for Him.
Your every day life is ministry! If you have surrendered your life to Him and offered everything to Him, He will guide you. What if His plan is for you to be a stay at home Mom, be a loving, Godly wife and minister to your family and anyone you come into contact with? What if it's not a "bonafide" ministry per say? Will that be good enough for you and those you seek to please?
What you see on the surface of many ministries is in no way a reflection of what they truly are inside. You may see one vision on the surface, but reality may be something totally different. If that is true, then its not really doing what God wants us to do. He wants truth and honesty. Not a facade presented in His name. That must be so offensive to Him. Not that those in ministry have to be perfect, but they do need to be real and transparent.
Today, you must know that YOU are enough for God! Your obedient heart is all He asks. If He calls you to live a big dream or its the desire of your heart, then live it! If not, then build a life serving Him that reflects your heart and desires. He has put those desires in you! And, they don't have to be HUGE desires. They can be normal sized desires that fit perfectly into His plan.
That grocery clerk you told how pretty she looks today may have been feeling lonely or forgotten. The love you express to her might just be enough to turn her day around. That is God's work as much as preaching sermons from a platform! Holding that sweet daughter of yours who's just had her heart broken is God's work. Your life is God's work! Don't ever underestimate the value of a life lived for Jesus in every day ordinary ways.
Nothing with Jesus is ordinary. His Spirit within you makes your life extraordinary! Don't compare your life to anyone else's! You are unique and He has given you the plan that is just right for you. You are important to His work just because you have offered yourself to Him!
Now go live your life for Him as your heart desires! He will work through you in great ways that you may never even know until you reach heaven!
Treasuring You in Him,
Karen
Karen Jantzi, CPC/CMEC is the Founding President of Treasured Woman and the CEO of Karen Jantzi & Associates, Coaching, Counseling and Consulting. She has a passion for helping women find a permanent sense of self-worth and value through living in the authority and love of Jesus Christ in their lives. She has been a business owner and executive for over 20 years and enjoys helping women bring life to their dreams of owning a business. As an author, blogger and speaker, Karen shares her life changing story with women across the nation with the hope that they too will turn to Christ and live a life they treasure. Karen lives with her husband, is the mother of 5 and enjoys life on the Yough River not too far outside of Pittsburgh. You may contact her at 407-687-5988 or [email protected]