Proverbs 27:19 – As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man!
Having just completed three years of ministry school here in Redding, CA has felt like a great achievement for me. This is a mountain conquered! I recently asked myself, ‘why did you go to ministry school’? I think back three years ago when I was sitting on my sofa early in the morning…seems to be the time I hear God the best…but I asked God that question. I felt like I heard the response in my spirit say, ‘you need to go’. Emphasis on ‘need’!! God was right, I did need it!
After three years of countless hours sitting on a chair listening to different amazing speakers from the local area and from around the world, both men and women, sitting in hours of different classes, reading countless books, writing numerous papers and unending (it seemed) homework assignments, serving the community through some kind of service, serving the church in different areas, interning for incredible leaders, traveling around the globe on a variety of ministry trips and one missions trip, leading 2nd year students on ministry trips, having my very first opportunity to stand up and speak in a small church as the guest speaker…2 times, praying for people, laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover, blessing people, prophesying over classmates and attendees in different church meetings, in coffee shops to the parking lot and around the world…all the while being married and raising three children. Then I sit back and say, wow…that was exciting, that was fun, that was rewarding, that was life changing.
Now after 3rd year graduation some are off on new adventures, new positions of influence, new churches, new jobs. Not everyone experiences the same thing after going through three years of ministry school. There are those who jumped in with everything they had and gave it their all. Like a sponge they soaked up everything they could get. Then there were those who sat, took in what was being said and served quietly behind the ‘loud’ ones, participated in what was required, took risks that were difficult for them and stepped out of the boat more than once. Both graduated, but both look very different.
We have all heard the phrase, ‘the squeaky wheel gets the most attention’. After looking back, more often than not, it was the ‘loud’ ones that got the most attention or opportunities. When I say ‘loud’, I’m not meaning they were often the ones screaming or jumping up and down the most. I mean they were the one’s that went after all they could get with gusto. The one’s that threw themselves at every opportunity.
Then there were the quieter, more reserved one’s that desired the same attention or opportunities, but were still working through past issues and beliefs, struggled to step into the risk factor, they were not as ‘vocal’ as the ‘loud’ ones, yet they still served, still prayed, still prophesied, still did their assignments, read all the books, went on ministry trips, poured all they had into 3 years in their own quiet way.
Now, does this mean we only get somewhere if we are loud, excited, overjoyed and are willing to step over everyone and everything to get where we want to be? No, it doesn’t mean that at all. Every person has their own process to get to who they were created to be and to see their own dreams fulfilled. The quiet ones work just as hard as the loud ones. Every person is created uniquely different from the person next to you. Each of them has different gifts, talents, abilities, goals, dreams, visions, and desires.
The goal is meant to be that we all walk side by side, lifting each other up when we fall, keeping one another encouraged, being there to listen, being there to impart, tapping into, discovering and revealing who each one of us individually were created to be. We are all headed the same place and we all desire to see the same thing…the Kingdom of God come to earth. We are all children of God, not just the loud ones. The loud ones may think they are accomplishing more, but in reality, they may “say” more, but the quiet ones are getting just as much done and said in their way.
I will say that I am one of the quiet ones. No, I don’t have a position waiting for me, or a career to get back to, but I do have a family. Yes, I do wish I would have been more assertive in my 3 years, taken more chances and not let fear hold me back. But I have learned a lot about me. I see more clearly the areas that still need changed. I see how my ministry at this time is my children. If I can raise them to be radical revivalists and love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength then I’ve been successful. Ministry doesn’t always look like a position behind a podium or on a platform. I am still me…I am still Mom and wife…I can still write, read, pray and take advantage of any opportunities that come my way.
My encouragement to you is…look in the mirror…who is reflecting back? Whoever you see is who you are currently. Yes, we continue the process of change from glory to glory. No one has ever reached the ultimate destination of being perfected here on earth. So, don’t be so hard on yourself if you don’t like what you see reflecting back. I know at times I don’t like what I see. That doesn’t mean I give up and quit. The goal is to go through the process, give yourself over to being changed daily, and begin to love that reflection because it is who you are…today! Tomorrow is another day, and overnight you’ve been changed.
Keep your heart aligned with Heaven, and your gaze fixed on His…face to face…and pretty soon, you will be amazed at where you are and who is being reflected back at you in the mirror.
Proverbs 27:19 – As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man!
Freely Authentic 