Ministry and Mess

Mike Carson is a gifted Saxophonist. Mike Carson is a great teacher of the appreciation of music. Mike Carson is also one of my most faithful deacons. Mike Carson blessed my life like never before a couple weeks ago. I shared with Mike a recently particularly painful experience in my ministry. I shared with Mike how sometimes it makes no sense for some people who claim to be saved to be so pathetically silly.

Mike then said Pastor, I had an experience not long ago where I saw an older woman who was struggling with the burden of some bags. Mike said I offered to help her by taking her to her home and helping her get her bags safely in her door. She consented and he said he took her home, carried her bags to her door and bid her a good night. Mike said as he walked back to his car there was some debris in her yard and he ended up stepping into something that did not smell good at all. Mike said he looked down to see that he had stepped into a soiled diaper. The Baby bowel movement in the diaper oozed all over his shoes and mike said he was ticked off. As he attempted to clean his shoes on the curb Mike said he kept saying to himself, All I was trying to do was help somebody in need now look what has happened.

As he pulled away from the address he kept thinking about stepping in some mess while trying to do ministry to someone in need and with all the other issues in his life he just did not need something like this to further depress him. Mike said while he drove he kept seething as he smelled the residue of mess on his shoe when God spoke into his spirit.

Mike said the voice of the Lord said to him "Mike, when ministering to the needs of my people every now and then you will step into some Mess, but be encouraged Mike because I can turn mess into a miracle."

After Mike said that to his Pastor he just walked away and said that's for you too Pastor.

Beloved I remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33 "In me you may have peace; In this world you will have trouble, but be of Good courage for I have over come the world."

Mike's experience blessed his Pastor that night and Jesus words illustrate that insight and serve as a blessing to you. We will face messy situations and messy people while we strive to do our best to be a blessing. But Jesus said don't get mad, don't get frustrated and don't turn back. In Jesus you May have peace if you believe that he is the real Transformer. He transformed Death into Life; A negative into a positive and a Messy situation into a Miracle.

Be Blessed, Be Faithful and Be Encouraged!

Pastor JJ