my definition of ministry

I like people and I love God. So I talk to people about God (teach and preach) and I talk to God about people (pray)

This is my simple idea of a chrisitan life. That is the way it should be.
ever since God called my into minsitry again I have had one prayer in my lips:
"Lord, I want it to be different this time. I do not want to get lost again"

What do you mean? God kept asking, and I wasn't so sure.
I did mention some things here and there. But it wasn't really what I meant.

Now I know what I meant. I want it to be the way it had always been until I got things messed up with other people's idea of what it should be like. Ministry, I mean.
What is ministry about? I will not describe other people's definition of ministry.

I know mine:
I like people, and I love God so I talk to people about God,
and I talk to God about people.

Today I got several letters.

One read: "My baby now says mom!"
my heart beat fast, tears filled my eyes, my lips whispered thank you God!

One was signed: "tu hijita, " (your daughter)

Another said: "My girlfriend is....and my parents like her a lot."

another said: "My husband is going to Africa for a month tomorrow. It has been 2 years
since you prayed for me in the hotel."

Do you get the feeling? It is gentle, it is love, it is people sharing life and God.

Another person wrote:
"My eyes have been opened to the reality of my need for deep change.
I cannot blame my husband. I need a new heart.
Yes, my dear, I know where to find it: in the Word of God."

You have no idea of what these words meant to me.
It was worthwhile. Everything I have done has been worthwhile.
I have paid a high price, it has been worthwhile.
How terrible it would have been, for my friend to reach this point and not to have a clue as to where to go for help. REAL help. I know she is going through the roughest time in her life, but I smile in the inside. We have never been closer to victory before!

Gentle, soft...no real rush. This I do not want to lose.

"Bea, you are talking about a revival- that is hundreds of thousands of people...get real! It will not be like that!"
I bet you are wrong....mmm we aren't suppose to bet.
Well, I refuse to believe it wont be so.

It is unity that God loves. This is what it really is about. Humans together. Not because they are in a building but because their hearts are braided together.

When I was allowed to take a group of young people to the jungle I got a taste of what it can be like. 30 people in adverse conditions- loving eachother, and loving those around.
It was simple. Not confusing. No pressure to bring back a certain number of miracles.

I remember that I didn't have a chance to really train them. So I was worried about what they might do in the jungle. So I prayed and asked God "now what????"
His instructions were simple, "Tell them to love. They have received love. Tell them to love"

I was so proud of them as I picked them up from each village- to see the people hugging them and saying good-bye with tears. And they themselves with tears in their eyes. Relieved to go back to comfort- but with tears. They had loved.
It was a most amazing experience.
One that fills me with hope.

I do not want to get lost again. Others may have different calls.
But this is ministry to me, I do not want it to be any other way...even in the midst of revival.
Two things I do not want to lose touch with (I did both when I was in ministry last time)
I do not want to lose this personal touch with the people I love.
I do not want to lose this personal touch with the God I love.
Even in the midst of the revival.