I never thought that this would be one of my favorite pics from the Philly mission trip, but it's one that I will treasure. Years ago, when I started learning about the Holy Spirit, deliverance, the prophetic and other supernatural aspects of ministry; I thought it was about getting another great word from the Lord or creating another testimony.
I thought it was about getting a word from God so you could share it with others. I thought it was about getting a word from the minister during the altar call so I’d know which direction the Lord wanted me to go. I thought that ministering was testimony after testimony of how the Lord was healing and setting people free.
What I didn't realize years ago, that I do now, is that ministry is a constant communication with the Lord. It's our friendship and relationship with our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It's our prayer, it's our surrender, it's our loyalty, it's our obedience and it's our sold out nature for Christ.
This picture means so much to me, not because I'm serving the Lord, not because I'm scrubbing bathrooms for His Glory and trying to get a pat on the back for it; but because only hours earlier I had prayed and asked Him if I could scrub toilets in His Kingdom and His immediate answer to me was "Bet!"
During worship that morning the Lord brought forth a convicting word, I can't remember the song we were singing, I can't remember the exact word that was given, but I remember the fire that came off of those words burning through me.
I remember being on my hands and knees weeping to the Lord. Weeping in thankfulness for His love. Weeping in thankfulness for having any part to play on this assignment. Weeping in thankfulness that my husband was serving right beside me, and for the way he loves me like only Jesus can have a man love me. Weeping in thankfulness for being his wife and for the Lord showing us how to do things right this time around. Weeping in thankfulness for my children, weeping for the natural and spiritual mother the Lord is creating in me. Weeping for restored friendships. Weeping for all the ways the Lord has changed me and stripped me of everything that was useless to Him. I remember crying out, on my hands and knees in prayer to the Lord that I was so honored and blessed to be a servant, that I would do anything to serve Him. I said "Lord I would rather clean toilets in your kingdom, than be anywhere outside of your presence. Lord let me serve you"...and here's the kicker..."Lord I'd even clean the urinals to your Glory!"
Worship ended and we broke for lunch. Regis and I took some alone time to have a pizza date. While we were at the restaurant, a message came through to the group chat about needing help at the church cleaning. The church had some smoke and fire damage and we needed to get everything ready for service that evening. After we finished our lunch, we drove over to the church. I saw Deborah and I asked her what she needed help with. She immediately took me into the men's bathroom and said we are cleaning bathrooms. It took me a minute, I didn't put it together yet, I just went into work mode. I started wiping the walls, and cleaning the sink and toilet. Then when I went to scrub the urinal I heard the Lord say. "You'll even clean the urinals to my Glory, Ash" and He reminded me of that sentence I said just a few hours earlier in tears. I stopped in awe of my Lord, snapped this pic, put on some worship music and played House of Prayer. The gentleman painting started singing, and the cleaning commenced. The others arrived moments later. We all finished the church in time for the service and I worshipped as hard as I ever have in my life.
This is my Lord. Reminding me that I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right things, and I am so blessed to have this relationship with Him.
Years ago, I thought ministry was something that Lord would elevate me in, in His timing at His will. That ministering was something the Lord would have me do for other people. That ministering would mean that my hands would help others, my words would bring His truth, and that the love, healing and anointing in the name of Jesus would break any yokes of bondage and cast out any darkness found along the way.
Today I know, without a doubt, that ministry is the overflow from our relationship with the Lord.
You can have your world and all the things in it, I prefer my cross and my urinals with Jesus. Ministry isn't testimonies, salvations, or serving, it's not about getting another great word at the altar or another great revelation from another sermon that you will never actually apply to allow God to transform your life.
This world is a dark dark place. Be the light.
Ministry isn't ministering, it's being a friend of God and doing whatever He needs you to do in any given moment.
Lord thank you for confirming another step in the direction YOU'RE taking us. Keep me heading Your direction, in Your will and Your timing and bless all of your children along the way.
Psalm 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
1 John 3:18 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 5:16 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Proverbs 19:17 17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
1 Peter 4:6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Acts 25:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
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