Worship during the Dirty Dishes

Occasionally I will have a day where I want to just tune out all the noise in our house.  I don't say this in a negative way.  I simply have some days where the kids are so busy playing that they get a little loud, and I have difficulty thinking.  When the kids are playing well, and not being overly wild or fighting, I don't like interrupting their play simply because the noise level is a little too loud for my comfort.  So, instead I grab my MP3 player, position the ear buds in my ears and do some house work. 

Yesterday was one of those days where I just needed to have some quiet time to refocus on worshipping the Lord (I often get distracted and lose focus).  So, yesterday I put in my ear buds and tackled a pile of dirty dishes while I fixed supper.  While I was listening, the song By Faith from Keith and Kristyn Getty came on.  As I was singing along with the music, I was struck by the words of the hymn.

We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the church was called to go
In the power of the Spirit to the lost
To deliver captives and to preach good news
In every corner of the earth

We will stand...

By faith this mountain shall be moved
And the power of the gospel shall prevail
For we know in Christ all things are possible
For all who call upon His name

We will stand...
Yes, some days ministry in a small church and small community can be very difficult.  I won't lie and say I don't ever wish we were in a larger church.  However, I have enough friends in ministry to know that every church has its struggles.  The struggles are just different.  But, by Faith I will continue to run this race beside my husband and we will faithfully minister to our small congregation.  This church right here is where God has called us, and I must not turn my husband against the ministry.  I must not plant seeds of doubt in his mind.  Instead, I must support and encourage my husband.  My job is to do my best to keep things running smoothly at home, so when he comes through the door the trials and discouragements of the church no longer weigh him down, but that the love and joy of a happy and peaceful family will uplift his spirits.

Today LifeAction Ministries sent out an e-mail entitled "Debunking the American Dream of Ministerial Success" by Bill Elliff 
This article brought up the Apostle Paul "But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:8-9 ESV).  As ministers of the Gospel, we are to expect adversaries.  Adversaries are not just from without the church.  Paul had many adversaries attacking his ministry even from within the church. 

Today I am making a choice.  Instead of allowing the ministry to discourage and dishearten me, I am going to find encouragement in knowing that God has a purpose for us right where we are, and He has a plan for our wonderful congregation.  Therefore, I must be the encourager to my husband and support the various activities and ways he strives to reach our community.