What makes a small thing a ministry?

A mother makes a lunch for her son. Such a small thing. It is only a small lunch for one young boy. Her son. She probably does this every day. It is a small task, and it is ministry. She is meeting a need. She is serving another. “…take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” (Col. 4:17)

A different kind of day

Then, one day—a day like any other day—yet different, that small lunch (5 barley loaves & 2 fish) fed thousands of people! The mother’s ministry became part of something bigger than herself. Bigger than she ever could have imagined! But isn’t that just like God?!

We often have no idea the impact we have

Jesus took the small lunch, raised it up to God in thanksgiving and it became the sustenance for thousands of people. The ministry of small things. Do you think the mother had any idea that morning that the lunch she made her son would be used on such a grand scale for so many? I doubt if she had any idea she was also making lunch for Jesus that morning! Do you think her son thought he would go hungry when they took his lunch away?

Giving thanks can change things

Jesus was handed the little lunch. He then honored God as the true Source by giving Him thanks. “Jesus therefore took the loaves and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated, likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.” (John 9:11) I believe that giving of thanks is what opened up the Heavens so to speak. In this case, it was the story of the loaves and fishes you know so well. (John 6:9ff) But it is also the same for you. Giving of thanks can open up the Heavens as you seek to do ministry. And when you feel like what you have to offer is too little! It is NEVER too little! It is always just what is needed for whatever He is calling you to do.

Going about your day-to-day

The mother had probably made that lunch hundreds of times with no real impact except to serve her son and be certain he was fed and cared for. You—like her—don’t know when THIS will be the day when your little will be turned into much with the touch of the Master’s hand.

Don’t be like the disciples

They scoffed. They could only see the need. They could only see their inability to meet the need. They only saw the cost. They still did not understand that The Lord is The Provider. “There is a lad here, who has 5 barley loaves, and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9)

Jesus saw the possibilities!

Jesus—the Master of small things. He knew. He cared. He met not just physical needs, but also heartfelt emotional and spiritual needs.Yes, he healed and yes, he raised the dead, and yes, he even walked on water to get to the terrified disciples in the boat hit by a storm in the middle of the lake. He KNEW! He intimately knew the Father, and He did the Father’s will. And He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did then, He does now! Now, He does it through you. Through me. It can take the form of a smile. A note. A phone call. A lunch taken to a shut-in. Praying for a sick friend. Befriending an ornery millennial. Taking a child to the park for the day so the mom can have a break. Giving a gift for no reason. Just because. Speaking blessing over the check out person. Praying for the persecuted church. Sharing the Gospel message. Starting a Bible Study in your apartment building. We may never know the impact our small thing has.

Just one skilled electrical worker

Like the man in the picture. Just look at that tangle of wires. Yet, he is willing to do what is required in order to bless you. Who even thinks about him on any given day? Yet, there he is in the background, stringing wires all day every day. Routine. You may never think to thank him about what he does to make your life better. Until a storm comes. And the wires go down. Suddenly, his routine work becomes a very special ministry to the rest of us. The ministry of small things matters. In lives. In homes. Hospitals. Offices. One willing person can fix it in moments. Like the disciples. Like the Mom that made the lunch. Like the skilled electrical worker. Like JESUS! You, too, have a ministry of small things to do…

Marching orders

”…take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” (Col. 4:17) Be available. Do the work of the ministry of small things for His glory and your joy. For there is no greater joy than to serve Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think…to Him be the Glory…forever and ever.” (Ephesians 3:20, 21)

Need help figuring it all out? I’m here for you…

Thank you for the privilege of connecting…

Until next time,

God bless you bunches!

Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Ahhhhh…that favorite question of a well-known TV personality: “How’s that workin’ for ya?” Actually, it really is a pretty good question, isn’t it? Just how is your life working for you? Are you thinking, “This is just not what I signed up for!”? You are probably correct. Chances are, you have gotten a bit off-course.

“Busy!”

It seems like that is a frequent response to, “How are you?” (Not a good busy, but a frustrated busy!) Many are just plain worn out most of the time, with relationships suffering for lack of care. Deep down inside of ourselves, we know there has to be more than this!

Where do you want to be in a year

Or…in ten years.  Or…at the end of your life? Each year, more people that are meaningful in my life, are making their journey HOME to their ETERNAL HOME, crossing over to the REAL world. I wonder: What do you want your legacy to be?

Questions

Questions are good because questions can lead to the answers we are looking for…hoping for. And when we have hope, we feel like we can scale Mount Everest in a single bound! I want to help you get to that place! That’s how I spend my “busy” days! Helping people like you discover the beauty around you and in you.

How does life coaching work?

After spending some time on the phone, working together to identify the financial, spiritual, and energy drainers that suck the life out of you; then we will find ways to eliminate or redirect them…until you discover that your energy level is rising to new heights. And you catch yourself smiling for no reason. Because you are content! Finally! You will know you have found “yourself”. Your God-intended self.

God has a plan for your life

No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. He will confirm it along the way with illustrations that will be unique and meaningful to you. After all, it was His idea to create you and then to have a unique purpose for your life on this planet. He wants you to find fulfillment in your life. That fulfillment begins with a relationship with Him. I can help you connect with Him in a personal way.

I can help you find your purpose.

We will start with where you are right now and explore what the options are to fill that gap that separates where you are to where you were meant to be. Your problems are not unique, but your solutions are. Contact me and we will set up an appointment to talk about your options. That first call is free! With no obligation. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Talk to you soon? I hope so!

Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

The magical reading place
My mother was ill much of my young life and died when I was 12 years old. Yet, even now, some of my fondest childhood memories are of her reading to us, while sitting on the floor in a narrow hallway beside a bookcase crammed with books. She loved books. She loved reading to us out loud. And I “caught” that from her.

As she read with joy and passion, the words cascaded down upon us,  like a refreshing waterfall on a hot day. That narrow hallway  became a magical place. Her joy when reading was palpable. And contagious!

I continued her wonderful tradition
When God blessed me with my own children, it was natural for me to read to them, too–first from children’s picture books.  Later, I also read my Bible out loud, so they would begin to love it like I do. I wanted them to “catch” the love of books and the wondrous places they can take you. There’s a whole world of new adventures and new friends always waiting.  You never have to be lonely.

My children, too, learned to love to read and to love to learn, as I did. And the tradition continued with my children’s children, proving that reading for children has everlasting value. We all know that children “catch” from our examples, more than they are “taught” by what we say.

Catalog of Books for Children by Christian Authors
I’m excited to share this with you: One of my author friends had the wonderful idea of putting together a catalog collection of each of our children’s books. (Be sure to download using the link below.) Twenty children’s books all written by Christian authors. Great suggestions for every child on your list. And of course, I hope one of your choices is my very first published book: Daddy, Daddy! Guess What I Saw Today?  It is a picture book for children, but also hopefully will lead parents and grandparents to re-discover the child-like joy of the simple things you encounter each day. And to see God everywhere in your world.

I have learned that loving to read often leads to the love of writing. What  joy I have found in writing books for YOU to read. To God be the Glory!  (That said,  please also check out my beautiful red cover My Father devotional book for yourself or for that special person on your list.  It is in paperback, and now is also available in Kindle version. YAY!)

Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forever.”

Psalm 125:1

Suffering is a real part of the Christian experience

It was more than 30 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. Tozer said something about God not using a “man” until he has suffered greatly. I think of Jesus learning obedience through what He had suffered. So, it should not have taken me surprise…

The day my dreams died, I was in California with my family for further training before we were formally commissioned for the mission field.

My husband and I had an argument.

The kids and I had gone to bed. My husband stayed up watching TV. I had a nightmare. It seemed very real. So real, I decided to ask my husband about it. What followed was actually more than an argument…I had hoped he would tell me it was a silly dream. He did NOT.  Rather, he explained in detail, and I left the mission apartment in tears. It was dark and I was alone. I cried and cried. And walked and walked. And prayed and prayed.

Here’s how I remember what happened next

As I walked outside alone, reciting over and over again, Psalm 125:1, I looked at the massive mountains of California,

My conversation with God went something like this: “Lord, I can’t survive! I guess I always kinda KNEW, but why NOW? Why is this happening NOW? The confession was forced out of him, but why is all this happening NOW?”

Those STRONG. STEADY FOREVER MOUNTAINS almost mocked the sham of our marriage. I experienced the weight of what felt like the hypocrisy of our mission “call”. Would I ever recover? How can this be happening?

I asked:  NOW, what, God? Now what?

My answer:  “Those who trust in the LORD are like mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forevermore.”
– Psalm 125:1, 2

“Father, I am shaken to the core! BE my strong unshakeable foundation. I KNEW and yet I did NOT know all these years. What a fool I’ve been! NOW what? My kids are sleeping, unaware their hearts are about to be broken…”

God reminded me: The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. LORD, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers…”
– Psalm 125:3-5

That day was ONE of the most devastating days of my life. And yet, it was actually a good thing in that it was the true beginning of my growing up in my faith walk. I began to trust God in a much deeper level. Yes, we got counseling. Yes, we went on to the mission field, and Yes, God continued to teach all 4 of us lessons we never signed up for.  It was a wonderful time in the sense of learning to trust God on a deeper level; but sadly there were too many obstacles; and trust was never restored. The inevitable happened.

There were some difficult days before and after that day.

But, the purpose of this post is NOT to make you sad. But to share a bit of one person’s story.

And to remind you that we ALL have tough assignments in this EARTHBOUND life. But it doesn’t have to be the end. It can actually be a beginning of something new and glorious in your walk with the Lord. And like the potter, with the clay, the sunshine can bake you hard and rigid, if you do not allow the LORD to mold you and form you into a yielded vessel, fit for the MASTER’S use.

Life is hard, but God is good. ALL the time. Even in the midst of horrible news about marriage, health, finances or whatever.

“Lord, keep me from a complaining spirit.”  Is part of my morning prayer time each day.  Often, I have to remind myself during the day again! 😉

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

Until next time…

Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com