One Year of Ministry

A year ago today I walked into my office for my very first day of ministry. They called it “Lindsee De Mayo” all day which made it really fun.

With that said, today is a sweet day in that it is my “one year anniversary” of being on staff as the Girl’s Ministry Director at my home church. To say that it has been a sweet, yet hard journey would be a complete understatement. I can honestly say that I have been challenged in my own walk with the Lord more than ever and have changed as a person. He continues to sanctify me through and through daily and as rough as that can be, it is so sweet.

Even though I’m just a rookie in ministry, I decided I would share with you some of the things I have learned in one year. So here goes…

1) When you get a lot of girls in one room, there is no telling what might happen. And honestly, they may not even act like girls! They may act more like boys in their bodily functions than we ever care to admit. And frankly, that’s okay, because that’s when the laughs run rampant.

2) Ministry can be very lonely at times. But, it’s in those times that I’ve learned I have to press into that loneliness and really seek after His face. Nothing besides Jesus Himself will curve that loneliness. Or the void I feel.

3) I don’t pray near enough for my girls.

4) I truly can do nothing of significance without the Lord. Everything I try to do or conjure up on my own is only in vain and will flop, or really make no difference whatsoever.

5) The faith that some of the girls I serve exude, is an absolute inspiration to me. I feel so privileged to be able to work with them. It is an honor I couldn’t have asked for!

6) More often than not, the plans I make get shot down. Years ago I planned on graduating and being married by now. Clearly, that’s not reality! So often I want to fight Him for taking away “my” plans, but then I remember that His plans are better than I could ever imagine. Whether or not I’m married.

7) Life is nothing but seasons, and I want to enjoy the season I’m in now and not rush it, as hard as that can be and as impatient I tend to be.

8) The girls I serve can smell a fake a mile away. I have no option to be anything but real with them and my struggles. I am so far from perfect. And I don’t ever want them to think I have it all together.

9) I still feel more than inadequate to do what I do. But, HE is equipping me.

10) I’ve never need the Lord more than I’ve needed Him this year. That may sound a little dramatic, but it’s the absolute truth. He is my Rock!

11) My hearts desire is that the girls I work with would have a love for Jesus that surpasses everything. Sometimes I feel like I expect so much out of them, but I want to expect a lot out of them!

12) Jr. High girls and High School girls are completely different, but I love them both.

13) According to the 6th grade girls, I am a giant. Especially when I wear heals.

14) I have a wonderfully, supportive staff that I appreciate so much. Their walking this journey with me, and at times, we’re all a little confused.

15) Youth pastors have a certain “look” about them, you can point them out in a crowd of a million. No lie.

16) In ministry, you have to be very, very flexible and at no time should you expect to have a consistent, normal schedule. I mean, what is normal anyway?

17) I wish I knew a million more things about the bible than I do. It’s just so thrilling and a lot of the times I don’t give it enough credit, or thought, or what have you. I should dig into it and read it a lot more than I do.

18) More and more this year I have desired consistency in my walk with the Lord, and more and more I realize that if I want that consistency, I have to be self-disciplined and more intentional about what I spend my time doing.

19) You can figure out a lot of information on Facebook. It makes all things official.

20) It is so hard not to have “ministry guilt” because I can’t get to know each and every girl that walks through those doors in a deep way. It’s just impossible, but oh, I love them.

21) My life is really busy, in a very inconsistent way.

22) I would be an absolute wreck without my lady volunteers. Seriously. They make my life about 100 times easier and I am so grateful for their service to me and the girls, and their awesome ideas. Plus, they make planning retreats and events way easier.

23) I have learned to delegate.

24) We absolutely, as a youth staff, cannot hold our meeting on our church campus. We tried it just last week, and the interruptions kept us from having long periods of productiveness or conversation. Hence why we hold our weekly meetings at Starbucks.

25) Being in ministry really is all about food. You eat non-stop.

26) Nothing is very shocking anymore. And boy oh boy, do I still have a long way to go.

27) Girl's Ministry is just flat fun. I have the best job in the entire world.

I am so grateful for the job I have. Sometimes I wonder how in the world the Lord would ever entrust me with such a position, but loving and discipline these girls has been nothing short of an absolute blessing. They’ve taught me more than I could ever teach them. They make me be real, they challenge me and I love it.

Most days I still feel like I just started yesterday and have no idea what I’m doing, but I am hopeful now that I have one year of ministry under my belt, that the Lord will continue to lead and guide me as I lead these girls. I pray He will. And I pray He’ll make me love Himself and these girls more than I ever could have imagined. He is up to something in Cypress, TX and I am thrilled to be along for the ride.

So, here’s to one year! Thanks for coming along with me for the journey. I am so grateful to each of you as well for your encouragement and love. It means the world to me!