Counseling Article - April 2010

Everyone who loves the Lord has a desire to serve Him and become a minister for Him.  Many struggle to find their ministry in their life.

There was a time in my life that I was looking around at others and how they ministered to others.  I felt unused and incompetent. I did get involved with the nursery at the church I was attending. Someone once said to me that I may be caring for the next Billy Graham.  I still didn't get it.  Then someone else said to me that my children were my ministry.  Raising them was the most important thing during that season of life.

People often come to me frustrated, disappointed and feeling inept because they see others with what they consider "Important" ministries.  The scripture says whatever we put out hand to we should do it as unto the Lord.  Some of you may not know who Brother Kenneth Hagin is. He is one of the teachers of the so called faith movement.  I had the privilege to attend his school.  He taught us that we are all vessels used by the Lord.  The important thing is to be all we can be where God has planted us, whether that be in the pulpit or as the guard in a prison.

Ministries sometimes are for a season and sometimes for a lifetime. I know a woman who has a very important ministry and she doesn't realize it. I  call it the multi-media ministry.  She has the uncanny or I should say Spirit led ministry of giving out books, tapes, DVDs, to many others.  She may offer a book the she knows would interest you or she may offer a tape or DVD just because she enjoyed it and may never know that the book, tape or article is just what the person needs.  Someone else may have a puppet ministry as we saw here last year.  That ministry can bring joy and peace to people's hearts. I could go on and on.  I hope you get the point that wherever God has you doing right now rejoice in it, don't compare yourselves to others and keep looking up. If you think you are not being used, think again.  Just your presence may again the love of Jesus to a coworker or someone bring else.

I once heard a story that they were giving out crowns in heaven and a man who had held great crusades for the Lord thought they would receive though biggest crown.  He was waiting for his name to be called as the presenter lifted the crown. Instead an unknown name was called and out of the crowd came a little old lady who had spent many years in prayer for others including the evangelist.  Enough said.

Donna Ridge