In the early morning hours of Monday, April 1, 2019, after I finished writing the following, I asked the Holy Spirit when do I post it?” His response was, “Wait.” Now on this early morning of April 25, 2019, one day before my 58th birthday and approximately 33 years in ministry, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I hear Him say, “Now, post it now.”  I stopped and considered the timing because at that very moment… I was living the following to an extent that surpasses what I jotted down on that early Monday morning. It was this moment that led to moments of realizing the dying to self process requires a much deeper and wider degree of death to self then one can even fathom… It has to and it will be experienced by those who are called to servant leadership. The following is what I jotted down in the early morning hours of Monday, April 1, 2019, and today, I know, it doesn’t even embody one iota of that which is required…

Ministry, Ministry, Ministry… Whew Ministry!

The process of preparing and equipping goes on for a lifetime!

A lifetime that requires death to self and having to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Uncomfortable while losing yourself and gaining knowledge of who you are through Him!

Submitting to a process that redefines what really is of importance… What really matters and should be valued, which is exactly opposite of that which the world broadcasts at the loudest volume.

Loudness does not equate to truth, yet gets the attention of masses who can’t hear the quietest, gentlest voice of truth to differentiate truth from lies.

Lies that steal us away from the very purpose of our being born.

Oh Ministry, Ministry, Ministry… Whew Ministry..!

God help me to fulfill this call to Ministry! To serve the very people who try and hold you hostage to what they “know” to be true instead of what He says, “Is true.”

The truth is, if they did it to Jesus, be ready, so you don’t have to get ready… They will do it to you.

Expect it, walk above it and look above it! Stand up any way, Speak any way and be obedient always!

Always resting your head on His chest to get as close as possible to hear His heartbeat. Always conscious of where the Holy Spirit is leading and the instructions He’s giving.

Always trusting and believing, no matter what!

No matter how you feel, no matter what you see, no matter what you hear while always being careful of the words you say.

Words never die. They live continually and what you say should add to life not deduct from it.

Hmm should I say it sprinkled in sugar to appease the emotions or should I be obedient and say it with the degree of salt required that will cause a shift from the physical to the spiritual… Most prefer the sugar and not what it takes to be set free.

Interestingly we are living at a time where what you say has to be everything good, sweet and positive… You know, that which everyone likes to hear… Because it feels good to the itching ear.

Which leads me to ask, “What about Love?” Do we not realize love encompasses a willingness to save lives, which calls for speaking ultimate truth. Which calls for delivering what needs to be said, just as the Holy Spirit leads and sometimes He leads very matter-of-factly and sternly to steer the life around.

Oh, but ministry consists of serving people who want to walk in everything good, sweet and positive in a world that is blatantly imposing the truth of destruction, devastation and death.

Ministry, Ministry, Ministry… Whew Ministry!

Whew, thank God the fulfillment from obedience is so fulfilling it satisfies your Spirit and revives souls while fulfilling the call to ministry!

Author:  Karla Smith

April 25, 2019