Ministry

God calls upon us to serve one another.

Serving others for Christians is  often called a Ministry

We often think of Ministries as  charities
Like Soup Kitchens or Food Pantries.   

Or Helping at Shelters

Or even reaching out to those who may not have ever heard the Word of God.

But what I learned recently is you can take your normal day,

your work day, your school day, etc

and turn it into a Ministry!

At our local hospital there is a lady who is the cashier at the cafeteria.

She greets everyone with a huge smile and friendly hello.

She works to maintain a clean and attractive environment.

See, being at the hospital her customers are mostly 

the worried family and friends of patients.

So she has a ready hug, a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen

 for anyone who needs it.

She has even prayed with her customers before.

She was telling me how her job is much more than a job to her.

She considers it a Ministry.

That was profound to me.

What a great way to serve God!

I have a candy bowl at my work station that I now consider my Ministry.

My work station is kind of tucked away in the back of the building 

So I put candy out so my co-workers  won't forget I am there!

(But never Reese Cups, bc I eat always eat them all!!)

They come see me for a "candy break"

When they stop by  I try to provide a friendly smile.

If they feel like chatting I have a ready ear.   

I have listened to them express concerns about their patients.
(most of my co-workers are nurses)

Sometimes it is about the boss
(don't' we all have those days!)

Sometimes its about difficulties at home.

One time I was able to witness to my co-worker

And invited her to join me at church

(She has yet to take me up on it, but I the offer will always stand, of course!)

I haven't yet prayed with a co-worker,

But I have been asked to pray for them!

I never really thought a simple act of keeping a candy bowl

Could provide so much!

SO.....

How can YOU

Turn your average day into a Ministry???

If You Doubt God Understands What You are Going Through.......

The photo is taken from the set of "The Passion of Christ"

and shows Director Mel Gibson discussing a scene with actor Jim Caviezel

But in the context of  this Meme it makes for a powerful message!

It reminds us that no matter how you are suffering, 

God is there with you.

He understands

He has suffered too.

I like how focused the actor is on the director.

He is listening intently on what the director is saying.

It's as if nothing else in the world is as important.

Just like God focuses in on you and listens to your prayers.

And it doesn't matter how big or small the prayer is,

it matters all the world to God

When we suffer, and when we pray

we sometimes feel alone

We feel God is not listening.

But He promises us that He is there.

And He is focused on our needs.

Its as if nothing else in the world is as important.

These are His promises to us:

Psalm 91:15     "He shall call upon Me and I will answer him.

  I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him

Isaiah 41:10    "So do not fear, for I am with you. 

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  

I will strengthen you and help you. 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Legend, Lunatic, Liar or Lord?

Many people deny the existence of Jesus Christ

And their reasons usually fall into one of 3 categories:

He is a Legend, a Myth, and never really existed.

He was a lunatic, a crazy guy, going around doing crazy things

He was a liar, a deceiver, faking his message and his miracles.

A few moments of research will prove Jesus was not a legend, but in fact a real person.

There are many historians that wrote of him,

 most notable was the Jewish historian, Josephus

who wrote of the happenings in Judea for the Romans 

in the 1st century

and included reports on Jesus crucified under Pilate

and the execution of John the Baptist 

and  Christian Leader, James, brother of Jesus Christ.

There are other historical references as well

You can click this link to see a well referenced article called

Ancient Evidence for Jesus from NonChristian Sources

So I feel pretty comfortable in my belief that
Jesus Christ is / was a REAL person.

But what kind of person was he?

If he was just a man, a mere mortal

but claimed to be divine, the Son of God

then he must be a mad man, a lunatic.

But he gave the most intelligent, articulate and powerful sermons.

So great that they are still recited over 2000 years later by people around the world!

How could a madman, an insane person, be so intelligent that he 

could match wits with the greatest intellects and students of Jewish law of that time?

And how could he create such a large following, that grew after his death

to number in over 1 billion today around the world?

So he couldn't have been a lunatic and keep it together so well for so long.

Maybe he was a brilliant liar.

Perhaps with the help of his disciples he faked all the miracles he performed.

And somehow faked his death

 and with their help escaped the tomb 

so he could pretend to be resurrected.

If you believe this, then you do not understand the nature of scourging and crucifixion.

Scourging is being beaten with a whip having 7 leather straps

 with shards of metal embedded in it.

The Romans were so skillful in the delivery of the 39 ordered blows

that they could tear away flesh

expose vital organs (lungs, liver)

and keep a man alive.

Then this man who's body was shredded was nailed to a cross.

The placement of the nails in the hands were such that they hit a specific nerve

to cause excruciating waves of pain according to medical science.

Shoulders, elbows, wrists become dislocated from the weight of the body 

pulling against the nails.

In this position one can not inhale, unless they push themselves upward 

by their feet against the nails driven through them

 (the image on the right is a real victim of crucifixion excavated by archaeologists)

And it is documented that when he appeared dead

to be sure that he was dead, a Romain soldier pierced his side

with a spear and blood pooled in his lungs came gushing out.

you can read more about it here:

Death by Crucifixion

Not This:

But This:

(and nails, not ropes)

It was well known by everyone how terrible crucifixion was.

When arrested, all Jesus had to do is deny

 that he claimed to be the son of God and 

he would be released--he would be freed.

Can you imagine anyone carrying out a lie to the extent of being willing

to be scourged and crucified to keep that lie?

It defies all logic.

So Jesus could not have been a Liar.

Not a Legend, not a Lunatic, not a Liar.

When I first heard all of the above and thought deeply about it

I could not come to any other conclusion than

 Jesus is Lord.

But for the little shadows of doubt that lingered in my mind,

This is what flushed them away:

Imagine you are a disciple of Jesus.

And you are hated as much as He,

When Jesus was arrested, his followers denied him.

They denied being associated with Jesus

because they knew they would be punished as harshly as Jesus was.

So the disciples lied and went into hiding.

(Wouldn't you?)

So why, several days later, would the disciples be almost literally

shouting from the rooftops that Jesus was Messiah

the Son of God?

The penalty was still death.

And many were stoned to death for spreading word that Jesus was the Son of God,

As a matter of fact, all his disciples were executed 

(except John who was imprisoned on an island)

Peter was crucified----upside down.

Paul was beheaded.

Steven was stoned.

And still others continued to spread the word that Jesus is the Son of God.

Where did all this courage come from?

Why did they no longer fear pain, suffering or death?

I can only come to one conclusion....