Friday Five - light

from Julie at RGBP

The Fridays come and go, and each week there are things in the news which catch our attention. It seems that in our present time wherever we are in the world – bad stuff is happening.

.......

Friends, the times may be dark, the days uncertain, but this we know – God is light and life and love and together we can overcome.
Today for your Friday Five contributions – share your favourite bible verses, photos, times of day and poetry – in any combination you choose in order to shed light on our darkened world.

Far North Queensland

Far North Queensland

Far North Queensland

stairway to heaven, Broome [NW Western Australia]

sunset at Quirindi [New South Wales]

Friday Five: perks of ministry

Kathrynz wrote at RevGalsBlogPals:
Thanks to #snOMG this week has had a different rhythm to it for me. Fortunately, one of the perks of ministry is a fairly flexible schedule and quite often the ability to work from home. Another perk of ministry is that I will be part of a worship service that celebrates my friend's gifts in ministry and the ministry she will do with the church she has been Called to lead.

These two things have me reflecting on the gifts and perks of ministry and what else I would put on that list.

What about you? What are 5 perks/gifts of ministry for you?

Please let us know if you played in the comments and if you can check on the person before and after you. I will do my best to check in, but will be traveling to the above mentioned worship service.

 Not sure I would call these perks on Ministry, maybe blessings of Ministry.

1. being invited into peoples lives, especially at significant times on their lives.
2. in my mid-forties finally being in a place I feel like I fit. I had not imagined how comfortable I would be as a Minister, in fact I feared the worst. [though Ministry is not always comfortable or easy]
3. getting hugs for doing my job, even when a certain person is telling me they didn't like what happened on Sunday, when they tell me that with their arm around me, I know I am still loved. and I know that this elderly lady is comfortable enough with me to tell me hat she does and doesn't like.
4. the reaction of children, their honesty, their joy. The waves and smiles if we bump into each other  shopping, the hard drawn letters and cards, for my birthday or for no particular reason.
5. being accepted in various places in the community, because I am ordained.
6. I actually get paid to tell people that God loves them.

Friday Five

Singing Owl wrote:
I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but it does seem a good time for some reflection and planning. For the last few days I keep thinking of Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Among other things, that seems to say that reflection is in order if we want to learn and grow.
For some of us, this has been an incredibly difficult year; for others it has been a year of many joys. For all of us, there have been challenges and questions and there have been blessings and--maybe even an answer or two! As we say our goodbyes to 2010 and look towards 2011, share with us five blessings from 2010 along with five hopes or dreams for 2011.

New Years Day and I haven't thought about resolutions, but here goes:
5 blessings, in no particular order:

1. a wonderful holiday - sounds shallow, but it was just what I needed at the time.
2. new medication, I am blessed to have a GP who listens and responds to my concerns.
3. a congregation that is excited about ministry, and looking at how to connect with the local community
4. a husband who keeps on loving me and supporting me
5. a supervisor who encourages and challenges me to see my gifts for ministry, not just where I stuff up.

5 hopes and dreams for 2011:

1. being creative for the nurture of my own soul
2. finding the balance between not stressing about details, and getting things done to a reasonable level of competence
3. learning about and accepting , maybe even rejoicing in, my leadership style. I have been accepted into a leadership program for the first half of the year.

Maybe 3 will do, there are some things I am hoping for in the life of the congregation, but if I manage even one of the three above, that would make a big difference in my life, and ministry.
Maybe 4 could be joining in Friday Five!