Thoughts from Pastor T's Wife: Creating Balance Between Home and Ministry

Creating Balance Between Home and Ministry: "A women's primary role is to her home. The home is a great task alone. However, many women today are called to the ministry. Whether it is teaching, preaching, ministering music, etc., many women are called to areas within the ministry that requires much preparation. There is an old saying, "There aren't enough hours in a day!" God knew what he was doing when he gave man 24 hours per day and created our bodies to rest at least 8 hours of that day. That means we have 16 hours of wake hours. If you daily feel overwhelmed, not rested, and stressed by all the assignments you have taken on, then perhaps you are doing more than what God has intended for you to do..." To read more click on this article's title above.

The Look of Unoriginality

Leave those internet sermons on the internet!

I know, I know, the Bible says. “There is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). But that doesn’t mean we are to be copycats, plagiarist, or plain old lazy in our preparation to minister the gospel.

Internet sermons can be useful tools in our preparation. They can inspire, offer illustrations, and enlighten. But they should not replace our first and foremost Source, the Holy Spirit. When preparing sermons, never, never, never research internet sermons first. Get into the habit of NOT DEPENDING or NEEDING them. You will stunt your development as a preacher if you choose to preach sermons prepared by others.

One problem I’ve witnessed is that of preachers allowing research assistants to prepare their sermons instead of just researching the scripture, big idea, or theme. Some of us sitting in the congregation are studious and not stupid. We know you didn’t prepare your sermon. As a matter of fact, we can pretty much figure out which of your sermon writers prepared the message! And here’s a tip to you who choose to continue in this venue—your sermon writers can’t hold water! In other words they will tell someone, who will tell another, who will tell another the truth about your “preparation time.”

The problem of preachers relying on sermons from the internet is growing in the church. I was in a small church setting and heard a guy preaching a message that just didn’t match his personality. I jotted down a few quotes from his message, googled, and WAH-LA—there it was in its entirety on the internet. I was in a larger church setting, and the same happened---same title, same introduction, same body---could this be a coincidence? I think not!

Here me out, I know sometimes you can get into a bind. But don’t fall into the trap of taking shortcuts in your preparation. Internet sermons are shortcuts. They can be a help—especially when seeking out illustrations. HOWEVER, internet sermons are NOT to be the only tool of research.

Recently Beyonce performed on the Billboard awards. I did not see the show, but I saw a clip of her performance that had been posted on Facebook by a friend. Beyonce had been accused of copying the routine of another artist. For proof, the video showed the performances by both artists side by side simultaneously. I must admit, I was shocked by the similarities. Also, I was a little disappointed that the choreographer of Beyonce’s routine could have possibly been a copycat.  Beyoncé's team admitted the routine was initially inspired by a similar performance by Italian singer Lorella Cuccarini. Once I viewed Beyonce’s video and the original video, I began thinking that someone has misrepresented themselves. A copycat, internet sermon preacher is misrepresenting the call God placed on you.

Check out the Beyonce video:

Quote of th Day

Humility does not imply that we are to have an inferior view of ourselves, but a healthy one. ~Ted Engstrom

Do You Have A Buisness Card?

I GOT IT!! Took a while but I finally got it!!

My husband has been getting on me about ordering business cards for our ministry. After speaking recently at an event I finally understood why I needed business cards. It seems like every time I speak, someone invites me to speak at their event and/or asks for a business card. Whomever assists me would scramble in search for a piece of paper to scribble the number onto. HOW UNPROFESSIONAL!!! I can't believe I waited this long to get a card.

It was really easy ordering the cards. I went to Office Depot's website and was able to design a card and place an order. I paid about $25  for 200 business cards. It took 3 business days for me to receive them. Whether a Senior Pastor or associate minister, every person in ministry should have business cards. It's more professional to issue a card, than to scribble on a piece of paper. The recipient is more likely to keep and locate your business card verses a torn paper.

Here's my card with the phone numbers scratched out in a very unprofessional manner (LOL!):

Feeling Discouraged? Little or No Preaching Opportunities

That last post was a mess. i don't know what happened to it, but some how the formatting was disoriented. here's a re-post

 

By Roline Thomas
12/22/10

What God has for me it is for me? Let a good preacher tune up and whoop out that phrase. Watch what happens. Observe the people shouting, running, jumping, naming and claiming. In the moment, it sounds good and feels good. The listener receives and believes the declaration. Yet, FOR SOME who are not being used in ministry, who begin to wonder when will he or she have a chance to operate in the call, “what God has for me is for me” is not very comforting. Sometimes, the slogan has been far removed from their memory bank.

Ever had these thoughts:

When will I be licensed? When will I get an opportunity to preach? I feel an overwhelming sense of unfairness when others are used often, I am not given a chance. There are some in leadership who are holding me back from what God has called me to do because they don’t like me and/or show favoritism to others. 

If you ever had these thoughts what happens to “what God has for me it is for me?” Do you really believe because you don’t get opportunity that other people have hindered your call? Stop blaming others for your lack of progress. Talk to God. But beware, he’ll give you an answer, perhaps one that you weren’t expecting.

With God all things are possible. He is able to bring you to, get you through and finish whatever work be has begun in you. So why are you in this stagnant place? Why haven’t you been licensed? Why don’t you get opportunities to preach? I don’t know, but what I do advise is this “DON’T BE DISCOURAGED.” Why? Because all things are working for the good of those who 1) LOVE GOD and 2) are called according to HIS PURPOSE. Here are a few things to ponder:

1. Do I really live like I love God. Maybe, God can’t trust me with opportunity because I haven’t placed Him first. How’s my devotion to God?
2. Am I walking in His purpose? If God called you to preach he has an audience for you. Are you really called to preach? What makes you sure?
3. Am I ready? Preaching isn’t easy. Do you really think you can deliver a sound message in such a way that people will be transformed by the love of God. Maybe you are in a “gift development” season. Use this time to learn how to study and prepare.
4. Am I serving? Ministering is so much more than preaching. Many called preachers make the mistake of seeking opportunity to preach while missing opportunities to serve.

One final thought. My husband has often asked this question in minister’s training class. If you were driving in the wrong direction, how long would you continue before turning around. If you are going in the right direction, keep moving forward. But if you discover you were not called to preach, turn around before you hurt yourself or someone else.

 

Quote of the Day

Blessed is the man who recognizes that there is only one God and stops applying for the position. - Max Lucado

Faith Conference in Dallas

Featuring Earnest and Roline

After the licensing…..2 years later

Sub Title: Steps to Self-evaluation

By: Roline Thomas
November 13, 2010
In November 2008 and for the first time in the history of my church St. Mark BC, nine women preached during the Annual Associate Ministers Revival. All nine were licensed on the culminating night, November 12, 2008, as ministers of the Gospel. That faithful night, I identified the women as my “line sisters” and named the group “The St. Mark Nine”, which was inspired by Little Rock’s history making Little Rock Nine.

After receiving a “Happy Anniversary” email from one of my line sisters, I began to ponder my own call, reflecting on the past, present, and future.

Looking back over the past 2 years, I asked the question, “Have I lived up to the call?”

• Have I been devoted to God speaking to Him in prayer and allowing Him to speak to me through His Word?
• Did I do all God wanted me to do?
• Did I faithfully and consistently serve in the ministry of my local church body? What exactly have I done to help build God’s Kingdom?
• Did I serve in excellence by being prepared and dependable, showing up on time, not having a personal agenda, not seeking to be in the spot light but seeking to shine the spotlight on the Savior?
• Was I a minister of integrity by keeping my word and doing that which I said I would do?
• Was I a good minister to my husband and children?
• Did I keep priorities in order---God, Family, church, and then other stuff?
• Did I give unselfishly and sacrificially of my time, my talents and my treasures?

Reflecting on the present I asked myself, “Am I where God wants me to be?”

• Do I consistently spend time with God in prayer and in His Word?
• Based on my conduct today, would people be shocked if I were to tell them I was a minister?
• Has anything (people, places, organizations, or habits) interfered with the development and/or furtherance of my call?
• Am I wasting time and energy doing what God really doesn’t want me to do?
• Am I really called by God? Am I sure about it? Am I afraid to admit I possibly went in the wrong direction?
• Am I a blessing to anyone around me?
• Do people come to me for help (prayer, counsel, etc.)? Am I approachable?
• Are my gifts making room for me? Do I get opportunity to exercise my call? If God has called me to preach there should be someone for me to preach to.
• Am I prepared to minister at any given time?
• Can my family depend on me? Can my church depend on me? Can my job depend on me?
• Am I in the right church? Am I involved in the right ministries?

In regards to the future, I wondered, “What will I do to be a better steward of the call and a better servant of the Most High?”

• Have I set goals for my life and ministry?
• Where do I see God taking me?
• What areas of my life do I need to change?
• What should I do differently that I am doing now?

 Gleaning from what I preached on Wednesday night (11/10/10) --- If someone were to accuse me of being a "Minister of the Gospel" would there be any incriminating evidence? Hmmmmm……