My Ministry, My Calling

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Titus 4:5 NKJV

Saturday morning I woke up with a fresh passion of purpose. After telling my husband Paul that I would make him his favorite, French toast, I excitedly began sharing with him my desire to begin my next “new thing”. He sat there and quietly listened, nodding and smiling at the right times. I told him that this new bright and shiny thing was truly my calling. I just knew that the Lord was putting this “new thing” on my heart to do. Yes, I admit it…I even drug the Lord into this one.

I would find such fulfillment in this, I went on. After my long drawn out speech there was finally silence as I waited for what my beloved would say about my “new calling”. He just looked up at me patiently, gently smiled and softly said, “Right now, your calling is to make me some French toast.” I almost laughed at his lack of enthusiasm, but then decided that maybe I hadn’t explained myself well enough. I went on to explain how I had come across the same scripture two times in as many days to confirm the spiritual influence of my decision and convince him of the same. He again gently smiled, looked up and softly said, “Why don’t you go and write that scripture in syrup on my French toast.” Ok, definitely not the response I was looking for. But I must say, I did not take offense to his reply. You see, my husband is in a “new thing-coma”. He has faithfully stood by me year after year, time after time as my number one fan through each new endeavor I have stepped out to do. My faithful man is a bit tired.

Webster’s dictionary defines the Type A personality as, “a term used to describe people who are driven, hard-working, busy, and impatient.” In the past ten years my husband has stood by while this Lucy Ricardo over here has started and failed at numerous home business ideas. Many of them are much too embarrassing to memorialize here. When I decide to do something I don’t do it half way. I run the whole Boston marathon. I read and often times buy every book I can find on my new subject of interest. Infomercials are marketed towards people like me. I will spend hours researching and trying to learn all I can about the topic, print out my business cards and lose interest by lunch time.

This is one of the many reasons I thank God for my husband. Each time I run full speed ahead towards the next bright and shiny thing that distracts me, he has always been the one to reel me back in, take off my rose colored glasses and gently remind me of the Godly assignment the Lord has placed in my life right now.

I am not sure whether it is because I was raised in the 80’s and heard so often in the 90’s that the American woman can have it ALL…mmm hmmm, sure they can. By this they mean the fulfilling life of both family AND a full time career…yeah, right. Or maybe it is just my Type A’ personality rearing its ugly head, with a little bit of the curse of Eve thrown in for good measure. Regardless of the reasons, I constantly can get sidetracked from the life long ministry that the Lord has called me to…being a Godly wife to my husband Paul and a Godly mother to our four children. There is no other ministry more influential, significant, life changing, valuable or fulfilling that I could be called to, period.

The above scripture speaks to my heart, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” Be watchful in all things, I must be on guard. Nothing should distract my attention or draw me away from this blessed assignment. Yet almost daily I must keep my spirits’ peripheral vision blinded so as not to wander. This verse from that precious hymn “Come thou fount of every blessing”, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love”, touches my heart for this very reason. The scripture above explains that my ministry is to evangelize or to teach those in my care, also to endure both the trials and the afflictions of my beloved position. My true calling. The above verse ends with a charge to keep from the Lord, ‘…fulfill your ministry’. This is not a suggestion from God, this is a command. I must be reminded of this so often.

This ministry assignment is one that I don’t take lightly, yet one that the world continually tries, and often times succeeds in distracting me from. Thankfully my husband and my four children are the best anti-distraction tools in my Savior’s hands. So today instead of fulfilling my “new thing,” I am fulfilling my “true thing” and nothing gives me greater joy. This morning making my family French toast is a tool in God’s hands, to reel me back in to my ministry, my calling. “French toast anyone…?”
In His Love,

Joanne Kraft
Guest Contributor

Joanne Kraft writes from her home in Northern California, where she lives with her husband Paul and their four children. If she is not in her garden, or shopping at thrift stores, you can find her at her blog “Blessed…” at www.onesoblessed.blogspot.com

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