Sips From the Saucer

I took myself to coffee today. Just me as I am. No fresh perspective on a younger version of myself. Just black leggings, oversized waffle knit shirt and messy bun me. Just the here and the now me. She’s worth it because man have we been through it.

The dark cloud of a really big birthday looms over our heads. The end of our thirties doesn’t look the way we thought it would and we are grieving loss while taking thoughts captive that would love to steal, kill and destroy any joy and hope for the new season ahead.

For us another chapter of vocational ministry has ended. Together we sip and think over the many ministry chapters that the Lord has written into our story. We’ve learned so much. We have come a long way from that teenage girl responding to the call to full time ministry in a football stadium during a small town crusade on an October night so many years ago. It’s been quite the adventure.

We breathe in deep the smell of our coffee and agree: We were made for ministry. We need that reminder right now. If we had chosen this life, this calling, this mission for ourselves we would have ducked out a long time ago. But God!! The faithfulness of the Lord has been so good to us.

The Lord called and He has equipped and sustained us all along this road marked by children’s ministry, youth ministry, and Sunday morning services. We have seen the glory of the Lord in VBS, Christmas plays, lock-ins, summer camps, retreats, small groups, and Bible studies; at coffee appointments, pancake dinners, and missions trips. Years of studying, praying, writing, teachings, leading, celebrating, crying, loving, encouraging, lamenting are engraved on our hearts. These are the things the Lord created us to do. He molded within us a deep love for His people and a passion for His church. So what now? Now that this chapter has ended, what is next?

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.

Psalm 130:5

Fall is my favorite season. The beauty all around, vibrant color and crisp fresh air serve as reminders that change is beautiful and something new is coming. But before the newness of Spring, there is the respite of winter. Things slow down for a season. There’s a stillness that settles in giving rest for a weary soul.

Myself and I consider how ministry will look different for us during this next season. It’s being home at night for bedtime stories and prayers. It’s sitting at the table with math problems and spelling words. It’s laundry and more home-cooked meals. It’s being the one to wake up the kids and get them ready for church on Sunday mornings. It’s the small things that I know are mighty important.

Twenty plus years of ministry has taught us that ministry is messy and unpredictable in the most beautiful of ways. Our God is the ultimate artist – making masterpieces out of messy people and messy situations. It can be hard to move on and forget what lies behind to push on to what lies ahead, but we trust that His ways are better.

Years of ministry has also taught us just how little we know. We confess there have been waves of pride and self righteousness that have crashed into our hearts and minds over the years. It has taken us a while to arrive to this conclusion, but we now can say maturity in ministry comes when we admit we know nothing — nothing but Jesus Christ crucified.

He is our ONE THING.

 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

Our coffee cups are close to empty now. Sipping through the years has been good for us. The cloud of 40 is a bit smaller when we think of the blue skies that lie ahead.

Just as the Lord has written the chapters of the past, He will write the next. And myself and I think it’s going to be a big one. We agree to a refill to savor the moment and the memories. Here’s to coffee, Jesus, and new chapters.