What ministry looks like

How often we make ministry too hard.  I laugh at this because really it means we need to be more available and flexible to God's plans over our own.  Ministry can happen when we simply get out of the way and let God work through us.

Here's what ministry looked like today:

- the contstruction crew made concrete forms for the cement roof but ended up bailing out the flooding radio station.

- the student minister mentored two young leaders by sharing his testimony and then inspired the two youth alongside of him to share their faith, 3 youth prayed to receive Christ.

- the women's team painted fingernails and prayed for each finger that received a new look.

- the children's team sowed seeds by reading the Bible story book and left the book on the chair for a dad to read.  Someone prayed for him from across the room for his searching heart and then connected him with the pastor, who led him to Christ.

- a small school full of children who see too much too soon, needed the gift of play instead of a bible lesson.  

- sometimes God can do more with a lighter heart than a heavier burden we tend to carry.

- we can make the best laid plans but God always has His way in us and through us.

- I had the opportunity to speak encouragement on Nicaraguan Christian radio today and God orchestrated the four stories together in a way that I can't describe.

- over 80 or more people were seen in the medical clinic today.  Many waited in line to talk to the pastor after recieving their medical care, total decisions for today were 7 adults and 3 youth.

- the Ag team looked at dirt and determined how to grow the best crop, and the rain brought a great examination of drainage issues.  

Simply put ministry happened today God's way.  Love in any language looks like love when lead by the only Love we know.  And there are many days that we make our plans, our programs, our own agendas and then God sends the rain to wash our structured hearts and brings us a refreshing to our souls that does more than any best laid plans.

People may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.  (I think Maya Angelo said that).  

A flexible team is a team available to be used by God in ways of divine design.  We can plan all we want but when we get out of the way and let him work through us, it's always better than we could ever think or imagine.  Always better.  The gifts God gives on a daily basis bring opportunities to experience Him in ways that are specifically designed according to His wisdom and what He has established in our hearts and lives.  Our opportunity is to respond with kindness each time, no matter your mission field today.  That's the way of love, Jesus looked at some hard places of life and touched each and everyone of them with His grace, and left them all a better place.