If I'm Honest.

If I'm honest with you, sometimes being in ministry makes me cry.


Some days it's because I feel like we're doing everything all wrong.


Others, it's because we must have done something right.


We had a high school student contact Cody this week, worried for his friend who hadn't had a new pair of shoes in over a year and a half. He had a simple question: "Can you do anything to help him?"

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Church is sometimes messy. It's a collection of broken people, loud people, quiet people, hurt people, happy people, opinionated people, sad people, "I've done my time" people... all looking to meet Jesus in the same place.


We meet Him on Sunday mornings in worship together, at Monday Lunch serving high school students, in the emptying of trash bags, moving TV's to set up for Bible studies,  and over committee meetings to help chart the course of ministries.


Some weeks it feels like too much. Is there really one more church activity that we can fit onto our plate? But other weeks, it feels like just enough. And those are the weeks that make it all worth it.


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About this time last year, a Finance Committee  started working on a budget. They fine combed through it prayerfully, before passing it on to the deacons to approve it and finally taking it to a vote with the church body. And because that body said "yes, we believe in our ministers and in the money they need to make things happen" when the question was asked, "Can you do anything to help him?" we answered with a resounding yes.

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After picking out shoes, we realized there was probably another need that hadn't been asked for. Luckily, the question for help came at the same time as our only departments store in town was having a major sale - 70% off, plus an additional 50% off the lowest marked price. Coincidence? I think not.  I'll be honest, it's a little hard to shop for someone that you don't know and have no idea of their personal style.  So I did what any sane woman would do... I bought it all! Not really, but close. A polo for $4, of course! Tee for $2.50! Dress shirt for $10! Long sleeve hoodie for $4 with two colors available, I'll take them both! In the end I think I got at least 15 tops, two pairs of jeans and a pair of shorts, all for under $100. I'm sure I looked slightly like a crazy lady in the store... wavering between a joyful smile as I pulled out another item and tears for this boy I didn't know.

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The money spent on these clothes is a drop in the hat when it comes to our  church budget. But this week, that money made all the difference in one boy's life.


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If I'm honest with you, sometimes being in ministry makes me cry.


Some days I feel like we're doing everything all wrong.


Thank you Lord for letting us have a part in something right.