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TITLE: My ministry, my calling.
By Joanne Kraft
06/04/07
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My heart is for women, mothers, young girls. Thank you in advance for your helpful critique. I am brand spanking new at this. What is the difference between a non-fiction and non-fiction article? Would my writing be one of the above or considered a devotion? Thanks so much, Joanne
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Titus 4:5 nkjv



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 twelve years my husband has watched while I started and failed at numerous home business ideas. Some much too embarrassing to mention here. When I decide to do something I don’t do it half way. I run the full course, buying every book on the market on the subject, spending hours researching and trying to learn all I can about the topic. Infomercials are marketed towards people like me. This is one of the many reasons I thank God for my husband Paul. 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, to 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. By this the they mean the fulfilling life of both family AND a full time career...yeah right! Or if 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 ministry that the Lord has placed in my life, being a wife to my husband Paul and a mother to our two daughters and two sons.



The most influential, significant, momentous, life changing and fulfilling thing I could possibly do with my life is to be a Godly wife and mother to the family the Lord has placed in my charge. The above scripture speaks to my heart, ‘Be watchful in all things,’ I must be on guard, nothing should distract my attention or draw me away from this blessed assignment the Lord has given me. Yet, almost daily I must keep my spirits’ peripheral vision blinded so as not to wander or to veer off course. That verse from the 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 above scripture ends with a charge to keep from the Lord, ‘..fulfill your ministry’. This is not just a suggestion, this is a command. My ministry is to evangelize or to teach my children the ways of the Lord, to endure both the trials and the blessings of motherhood and of being a wife. I am to guard, teach, and endure my God given ministry unto completion. I must be reminded of this so often. This Godly assignment is one the Lord has given me, one that I don’t take lightly, yet one that the world continually tries, and often times succeeds in distracting me from. I do not believe there is anything wrong with having outside interests or hobbies. or even a job, as long as it doesn't come before your ministry from the Lord. This is where I struggle.



Just this morning I woke up and after telling Paul that I would make him French Toast for breakfast, I began sharing with my husband 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. This is what I felt the Lord was putting on my heart to do. I would find such fulfillment in this, I argued. After my long drawn out speech there was finally silence as I waited for what he would say about my ‘new’ calling. He just looked up at me and patiently said, “Right now, your calling is to make me French Toast.” I almost laughed but then thought that maybe I didn’t explain myself well enough. I thought to myself, “He must not understand what I am telling him.” 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 just looked up and softly said, “Why don’t you go and write that scripture in syrup on my French Toast.”
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