How in the world did I become a marketplace minister?

So I was talking to my sister, Kathy, the other day and telling her about what God had been teaching me about being a marketplace minister and she said that I should set up a blog to share those insights. I thought it was a great idea, but with all my other duties, I didn't really see that I would have time to do that...but then this morning as the Lord continued to teach me about being a marketplace minister,...I couldn't stand it any longer...I needed to share it with someone. So I decided that I would just begin and see how much time I have to do it.

If you're a marketplace minister, you probably wonder the same thing I wonder...how did I get to this place? I just thought my husband and I were getting into business for ourselves to make a living, I certainly had no plans for it to be a ministry. But of course, when we went into business for ourselves 30 years ago, we didn't know the Lord like we do now! He has a way of going before us and putting things together that He will use years later - He's not really worried about whether or not we GET it at the TIME!

Twenty five years ago, as our domain grew and then collapsed, we found our need for a saviour and then the Lord began building through us again. Because of that season and the purification that went on in our lives, we were much wiser, and so the Lord has been building His Kingdom in and through us ever since. I was so excited when I began to learn that we were serving His Kingdom in and through our businesses. I had served in the church proper for many years, but never understood that we could honor God and serve Him in and through our businesses.

One of the very first things I learned is that because we are a "ministry", we need to have prayer covering i.e. intercession, just like any other ministry. The enemy hates the move of God anywhere , even in the marketplace and so he of course is going to oppose us and do what he does best...rob, kill and destroy. God has been gracious to provide intercessors in friends and family and in addition to the continual prayer covering, I know where to go for emergency prayer.

Some of the main points He taught me in the beginning are: We will need wisdom to operate righteously in a sinful world and we need the mind of Christ to know God's plan for our decisions. It all belongs to Him, and it is in His hands. We have much responsibility, but ultimately, it is His work.

Another thing I have learned is to look at the process we are in daily, not just focus on arriving to a certain "place". A wise person once wrote: "God is more concerned about our character than our comfort. " This has actually comforted me (if that makes sense) to know that I haven't necessarily gotten off the right path whenever there may be pain. We must want His Kingdom more than our own comfort. This whole process is an adventure, and there is great risk involved (as if everyone doesn't have that if we're breathing!) but above all, God loves me and wants the best for me.

Recently during a really stressful day, when I was thinking that retirement looked awfully attractive, He said to me "You must build or you will die". I knew that He didn't mean die physically, that He was talking about many other facets of life. Our calling as marketplace ministers is to build His Kingdom, and for my husband and myself, that is in the restaurant business. Sometimes, because of the battle, I just want to retire and stop building and risking, but that Word from Him made it very clear that that would not be the best thing for my husband and myself at this time. (Lots more about the battle another day). Obedience has to be key in our walk as marketplace ministers.

He has also taught me that we will make mistakes, but they will be growth-laden. There will always be steps backwards, but the progress forward will be greater in the long run. I have to remember to focus on what He has done, not on what I haven't!

Another very important word for me from Him was that our goal was not to accumulate wealth, but to know Him more and grow into the image of His Son - to learn to trust Him more. This has helped me to stay focused on the ultimate goal of knowing Him and not watch my bank account.

Another important thing He said to me was, "Live like you believe me!". This continues to be a challenge, but I know that His grace is sufficient for all that I face.

For years I asked God to redeem our finances and to give us favor. Every time I prayed that I felt nothing, like I was talking to a ceiling. But over the years I have seen that He was pleased with that prayer and has answered it over time. In the midst of that He redeemed our hearts CONCERNING finances and that was part of the process.

One of our main purposes is to bless those we have contact with, our employees, our vendors, our customers and our community. Our servant's hearts must be continually looking for ways to bless others. He gives us authority over our domain, and that means we must intercede for those in our domain. My husband's generosity has served us well over the years as he continues to teach me so much about blessing others.

The degree of integrity that we must choose is paramount. At times this has been difficult, because sometimes it just doesn't seem to matter much, (nobody will see it) but over the years, I have felt the Lord say, "Just choose integrity one minute, one decision at a time" and truly He has blessed us for those choices.

Wow, I guess I had more to say than I realized. There's so much more, but perhaps for another day. It's so great to be able to share, even if nobody else reads this. Thanks for listening!