By Liz Roy
Hospitality is trusting in Christ’s welcome of us so that we then welcome others. It begins in your own heart and turns outward to love in action.
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By Liz Roy
Seeking out friendships within the church is a lot like cultivating a garden. As we tend to the garden of our hearts, our spiritual eyes begin to open to the variety of friends God may be bringing into our lives.Here are some exhortations to keep in mind as you pray and look for the friends God may be providing in your life.
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By Glenna Marshall
Maybe your weakness isn’t a physical thorn. Maybe it’s mental. Or maybe it’s your backstory, your pre-conversion tale. Maybe it’s the sin that once held you in a suffocating vise. Maybe you speak of it as often as possible so it loses its power every time you back it up against the power of the gospel. Or maybe, like me, your thorn crops up when you need it the least and you wonder how in the world you will accomplish the good work God has set before you. This is the place, friend. This is where He delights in displaying His power–right in the middle of your weakest weakness. He will not share His glory with another, but He will gladly display it in you.
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By Christine Hoover
When pastors’ wives confess in survey after survey that they are lonely, I think more often than not they’re expressing the isolation they feel that is a natural consequence of their hidden vulnerabilities. By “natural consequence,” I mean there are many things that remain under the surface of our relationships because they can’t be explained in words; they can only be experienced by those in our shoes. In addition, there are some things that must remain under the surface—unsaid and unacknowledged—because this best honors God, our husband, and people in our church.
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By Glenna Marshall
Just like setting New Year’s resolutions can help us make goals to focus on and work towards in the coming months, pausing to reflect on the last year can help us evaluate what God has taught us, how He has blessed us, and where He might be leading us to focus. In other words, looking back can aid us as we look forward.
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By Glenna Marshall
Ministry life is guaranteed to be hard. This calling will rarely be an easy one. That’s not to say it is without joy—it absolutely brings joy that is rooted in our hope of eternity with Christ. But, we shouldn’t be surprised when suffering comes to us through the doors of the church where we serve.
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By Kellye Carmack
Encourage them. Is someone serving and sacrificing their time? Encourage them. Did someone lead a small group or a Bible study? Instead of pointing out what they could have done better, encourage them. Do you want your church leaders to thrive? Encourage them.
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By Glenna Marshall
After nearly two decades of walking with church members through the most memorable moments of their lives, I’ve come to believe that it is an honor to be a burden-bearer. Even when ministry has been tense because of criticism or misunderstandings, we can put those things aside in a moment of crisis and just be present with our people. Presence is what they need from us.
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by Kellye Carmack
Many ministry families give up their hobbies and passions to spend more time doing ministry, but the things that bring you joy may be the exact things that God uses to minister through you. I’m not saying there won’t be sacrifices that we have to make for our church, but don’t sacrifice something that God may want to use. The same God who knit you together with your passions, called you to ministry, and He wants to use all of you for His glory.
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By Glenna Marshall
God is sovereign over our lives. He has ordained all of our days, our ministries, the churches where we’ll serve, and the people who fill the pews each week. He sees the isolation that ministry families often feel. He knows about every stinging comment you’ve received, and He’s aware of the way your heart hurts. He knows that on some Sundays, church doesn’t feel like a very safe place for you. And He is with you when you walk in and offer a smile and a hug though everything in you wanted to stay home.
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By Kellye Carmack
There are parameters in following Christ. Those parameters allow us to freely and safely live where we can experience true blessing. God’s commands, rightly applied, give life, joy and protection.
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By Glenna Marshall
Because the Spirit lives in me (and you), we can love the church! Not perfectly, and not all the time. Sin is still a present reality in this life. But, with time and growth and the faithful, sanctifying work of Christ, the love that Paul writes about will grow in our hearts as the Spirit keeps His word to make us more like Jesus.
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By Kellye Carmack
It feels easier for us to believe that Jesus rose from the dead than to believe that He will work all things out for our good. Friend, this is what I want you to remember: If Jesus really rose from the dead, then everything else He says is true. He promised he would rise from the dead, just like he promised to give you all things for life and godliness, just like He promised to never leave you or forsake you, just like He promised to provide for all your needs.
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By Glenna Marshall
If you are struggling through a difficult season of ministry, I encourage you to spend some time in the middle of your Bible. Read the psalms, memorize them, study them, sing them, pray them, journal them. And follow the path that the psalmists do: lament your troubles before the Lord—but then remember His past faithfulness to you. Make a list if you must! He was faithful to you in the past, and He will continue to be faithful to you no matter what. While He may not end your trial when you want Him to, He will be with you through it. He sees. He knows.
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By Kellye Carmack
The body of Christ is full of “worship leaders,” who never step on a stage or pick up a guitar, but whose lives constantly point others to the Savior. Your church doesn’t need you to be a dynamic teacher or an amazing hostess. They need you to love God more than anything else in the world.
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By Glenna Marshall
It’s easy to let your church ministry dominate every conversation, be the point of every prayer, or be the source of every joy or discouragement. If you’re new to ministry life, it might even seem right. But your ministry is only as healthy as your marriage.
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By Kellye Carmack
Taking time to examine our hearts, our work, and our relationships at church can be a good habit for a ministry family. One way to do that is with reflection questions. I love reflection questions. They’re like prodding little friends who pull the hidden mess of our hearts into the light.
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By Glenna Marshall
What is it about writing and receiving a letter that bears more weight than a text or email? Why take the time to pen words and mail them when we can simply call or tap out a few words that are instantaneously read? And how can something as seemingly simple as mailing a short note in the mail help us love our congregations better?
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By Kellye Carmack
I’ve had a lot of experience with unmet desires, with years of praying and longing but not receiving. Like our foster child, I’ve known what I wanted, and it has looked so good. I’ve been certain it would be the best thing for me, and I have been angry with God for not agreeing with me. I’ve spent a good bit of time trying to interpret and understand my losses through the lens of Scripture.
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By Glenna Marshall
When we are perplexed about those who come against our ministry without merit, we can know that God will not hear the lie against us. Rather, He listens attentively to our prayer against the lie! When your ministry is denigrated, criticized unduly, slandered, or unfairly judged, let your vindication come from the Lord who sees, knows, and understands. If people are lying about you, the Lord will not hear it because He knows what is true. But be certain that He hears your prayers to Him for help. One day, He will right every wrong.
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