Today is the last day in the BURNED OUT theme. We have looked at people in the Bible who fought against Burn Out (and consequently we, Christians even of this generation, benefited), and we have addressed what to do to avoid Burn Out as well as how to handle it when you find smack in the middle of it.  Today, we will look at some practical ways to give yourself rest when in the middle of Burn Out.

It's an uncomfortable feeling...lacking the energy and enthusiasm you once had for ministry. Feeling disconnected and removed from the joy that you once felt. When the sense of obligation supercedes your sense of purpose and joy. It's no secret that ministry is hard.

The Bible is clear that there will be troubles in this life. Sometimes those troubles get the better of us. What can we do when we find ourselves spiritually, mentally, and/or physically exhausted as a result of ministry Burn Out? Below are some suggestions:

1. Communicate clearly with those around you in ministry. Whether that's a pastor, a partner, or those who serve under you, it is essential that others are aware of how you're feeling. They can be in prayer for you and also so that arrangements can be made for you to...
2. Take a step back and/or away for a length of time. Ministry will never thrive if it is being handled under duress. When experiencing Burn Out, it is essential to have time to rejuvenate and revive. It is also necessary to evaluate if this ministry is where you still belong or if your capacity needs to change. 
3. Bathe yourself in the Word. Remind yourself why you fell in love with Jesus in the first place...and more importantly, how much He loves you! Go directly to the source for rest (Matthew 11:28). Take time to meditate on scripture and recommit to serving the Lord for His glory, not any other reason.  
4. Take time to reflect on your ministry thus far. Allow God to show you how far you've come and in what areas you need to adjust. Take time to praise Him for all that He has done. 
5. Allow someone else to take the lead while you get fed spiritually. Although it's difficult to step back after being in ministry, there are times when it's good to simply be fed for a time. Recharge and then be ready to go back into ministry when God calls you. 

Certainly, there are countless other things to do when you find yourself in Burn Out. Seeking out a trusted leader is the best way to begin. Most importantly, quiet yourself and allow God to speak to your heart so you know the next step to take and when. 

Devotional written by Mandy.

This week and last we have discussed Burn Out in Ministry. We have discussed practical application for avoiding it as well as how to get out of it if you find yourself experiencing Burn Out. So, how do you know if you are Burned Out?

While this is by no means an exhaustive list, these are some ways to recognize the signs of Burn Out:

1. Your joy for ministry is gone. What used to give you pleasure and fill your heart no longer does or doesn't in the way it used to. This can also be a sign that you are ready to move on from that ministry. This is when prayer comes in. Pray for God to reveal the reason for your lack of joy in that area and a clear path to follow. 
2. Excessive tiredness, cloudy thinking, easily distracted. Granted these signs can also match a myriad of situations and ailments, but are often found during a season of Burn Out. When we have been burning the proverbial candle from both ends, our thoughts are often crowding one another as we attempt to organize it all in our over-tired, scattered mind. 
3. Your sense of obligation supercedes your sense of purpose and peace. Does the ministry in which you serve match your gifts? Are you serving because you feel led by the Lord? Or are you serving because the ministry simply needs a warm body and you volunteered? Serving in an area simply because there is a need is a quick way to Burn Out. It's imperative that we listen for God's calling so that our Spiritual Gifts match those needed for that particular ministry. Filling in for a short time in a pinch is commendable, but long-term service in an area outside of our calling and outside of our spiritual skill-set can have negative consequences, not only for us but also for those who should be serving in that area. If the need is filled by someone who shouldn't be there, there is no opening for the one who should be. 
4. There is no "white space" in your life. Are most days and evenings filled up with activities, meetings, planning sessions, activities, and commitments? Do you find yourself struggling to be in the Word daily? There is a Pin on Pinterest that says something along the lines of: "If you're too busy to be in the Word daily, you're far busier than God ever intended you to be." We all need down-time that will benefit us physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Bottom line, the best method, by far, to avoiding Burn Out is in seeking God's wisdom and guidance in all of your ministry pursuits. He will never lead you to a ministry that you aren't meant to be in, nor will He lead you to one that He will not fully equip you for. 

Devotional written by Mandy. 

Yesterday, we addressed practical applications to avoid Burn Out and also things to do when you find yourself in the midst of Burn Out. 

One key way to both avoid and get out of Burn Out is by immersing yourself in the Word. Scripture study and prayer are key. Prayer keeps us in communication with God. "Why Pray when God knows everything already?" you may ask. Prayer keeps our thoughts on God and focuses our requests and praises directly on and to Him. 

Reading and studying scripture gives God an opportunity to respond to us through His Word. Scripture study is more than casual reading. It's in-depth and meaty. It affords us the opportunity to get to know the Creator of the world and read His love letter to us. God's inspired Word was always meant to be read. From beginning to end, every stroke of the pen tells the story of us as created in His image and of Jesus, the One predestined to save us from our sins. 

When you are in the midst of Burn Out or if you feel it coming on, meditate on the following scriptures:

Burn Out does not have to be inevitable. With diligence, prayer, and scripture study, it is possible to maintain (or regain, if necessary) your fire for ministry. 

Devotional written by Mandy.

If you have served in ministry for any length of time, you may have hit the proverbial wall, that place where you run out of steam. It can happen even when you're serving wholeheartedly at the top of the "mountain." Even when you're involved in ministry that makes your heart pound with excitement, your soul swell with the love of the Lord, and you know the good that you are doing, there may still come a time when you simply lose your fire. Last week we discussed many from the Bible who served in ministry and asked ourselves where we would be had they allowed Burn Out to stand in the way of ministry. 

The following are some things to keep in mind when serving in ministry in any capacity. These are practical items to consider before we hit Burn Out and also things to take to heart if/when we find ourselves exhausted and out of gas.

1. Be sure you are filling up with God's Word daily. Most of us have heard it asked, "if we don't refill ourselves often and consistently, how will we be able to keep pouring out to others?" This is such a simple, yet profound truth. God's Word is the bread of life (John 6:35). It is the water that keeps us from thirsting (John 4:14). If we are not reading and actively studying the scriptures, we will be toiling using our own strength. We will not toil for long when that is the case. We will inevitably grow tired and weak and frustrated. 

2. Evaluate why you are serving in that particular ministry. Are you serving for the right reasons? Reasons why NOT to serve in a ministry: 

• Simply because there is a need
  
• For the notoriety or glory
  
• Because you feel obligated 

Reasons why you SHOULD serve in ministry:

• You feel God calling you to that ministry (and in conjunction---->)
• Your gifts match what is needed for that ministry 
  
• You're not already over-committed in other areas

3. Remember that it's in our weakness that His strength is made perfect. When we serve the Lord, we are doing so to glorify Him. The moment we take on our task, thinking we can handle it without Him, we set ourselves up for failure and pride. 

What can you do if you are already in the throes of Burn Out?

1. Pray. Ask God to show you where you need to make changes. 
2. Get back into the Word. Once we've asked God to reveal to us what changes need to be made, His Word is one of the ways He will speak to us.
3. Make time to rest. Burn Out, particularly that stems from over-scheduling and over-commitment, requires rest. Take some time to reevaluate and quiet yourself so that you can hear what God has to say to you.  

Sometimes Burn Out happens because of a spiritual and emotional high such as an event like a conference, publishing a book, a meet and greet, etc. In that case, resting and taking time to refuel spiritually is necessary. Staying in tune with the Lord will keep us on track and alleviate much of Burn Out. 

Devotional written by Mandy.

During the first days of the church, shortly after Jesus’s ascension, the apostles began to preach the good news to all who would listen and to perform miraculous signs among them. Acts chapter 4 tells of how in Jesus name they healed a crippled man and how, through this act, many were saved. We also find in this chapter that the Sanhedrin was not happy about the following the apostles were developing for Jesus and brought Peter and John in for questioning. Due to the people favoring them, there was not much more they could do other than threaten them and tell them that they should not continue preaching God’s word.

These two men could have counted their blessings and moved out of Jerusalem--a place where Jesus himself was not wanted--but instead they answered that they could not obey man at the cost of disobeying God (Acts 4:19-20). It also goes on to tell us of how Peter, John, and the other believers met and prayed for continued boldness that they may continue to preach the good news despite the persecution they would inevitably face.

What if these men, these believers, had chosen to let powerful men on earth dictate what they did and when they did it? What would have become of the church if its foundation was based on grounds that shifted with the tides of man? Would the church exist as we know it today if these first leaders backed off and passed on the responsibility to others when their jobs had not yet been completed?


Devotional written by Lindsey.

In Ac ts 16:16-40, Paul and Silas suffered much during this story. Verse 23 tells us they were stripped and flogged. Verse 24 tells of how they were placed in an inner cell, probably far from the light of day and chained into stocks by their feet. They of all people had every right to feel burned out. They had every right to let the exhaustion of their beatings get the best of them. At the very least, it could have been expected that they would be drained, tired, weary, and silent as they recovered from the trauma of the beating they received. However, verse 24 tells us a different story altogether than the one we would expect to hear. These two men weren’t feeling sorry for themselves or passing the proverbial buck onto the believers who hadn’t just been beaten and thrown in jail. Verse 25 tells us that they were praying and singing hymns to God and that the other prisoners were listening. These men were witnessing in the midst of some of the most dreary looking circumstances. To truly understand the power behind their non-burned out actions, we must read on into verse 26 where we see that their singing and praises to God led the way to an amazing opportunity as the earth shakes, the shackles fall away from the prisoners, and the doors flew open.

At this point the story is already pretty amazing. These beaten men were praising and being a witness and God freed them with an earthquake. Even more amazing is that not only do Paul and Silas remain in the prison, but the other prisoners do as well. In turn, these actions save the life of their guard both physically and eternally. Verse 33 tells us that, through Paul and Silas, the jailer and all of his household were immediately baptized.

In the midst of a time when burn out would have been completely understandable, these two men made the decision to worship. Without that decision the lives of many would have been lost both physically and eternally. Even now, we have no idea how far reaching an impact Paul and Silas may have had that one night with a decision to burn bright instead of burn out.

Devotional written by Lindsey.

Stephen’s death marked a great persecution of the church. Acts 8:1 tells us that all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. The consequences of this could have been astronomical. The flock of believers were separated from their spiritual shepherds, the apostles. The people, however, were not deterred. The extreme persecution they were facing did not dry them up or keep them from their God-given purpose. Acts 8:4 just astounds me. In the midst of tragedy, at the loss of one of their own and the persecution of all the rest, we find that the scattered did not just keep believing, no they preached the Word wherever they went. As they faced the burning heat and pressure from the world they remained the dew that could refresh and renew the world. They gave others the gift of hearing about that sustaining water as well.

What if they hadn’t though? What if they let the heat of the world burn up their faith? They had every right to. They no longer had leadership or an example of how to react. If they had scattered and let the world burn them up as the high heat of the day burns off the dew the church would not exist and you and I would know nothing of Jesus Christ.

Devotional written by Lindsey.

Christians today often get caught up in passing the buck.  I have heard many times over, phrases like, “We served our time, now it's someone else's turn.” I am not talking about situations where the ministry torch in one area is being passed to a new generation so the old generation can move into another area. The cases I am referring to are when members of ministry decide its time to “retire”. They decide that their dues have been paid and it's time to sit in their proverbial rocking chairs, biding time until the second coming or physical death.

While we will delve into the issues of here-and-now ministry in the weeks to come, this week we will be asking “What if?” What if the first church leaders, the forefathers of ministry, if you will, got burned out? What would our world look like today if the apostles did anything other than minister up to their dying breath? Though we cannot know for sure, we can take a look at some great examples of ministry that did not get burned out and develop some guesses as to what may have happened if these men chose to pass the buck.

Today we are going to take a look at Stephen, the martyr. Acts 6:8-10 tells us who Stephen was. He was a man of God, capable of doing great and miraculous works in Jesus name. Stephen was causing such a ruckus that other “men of God” became angry and opposed Stephen by speaking false witness against him.

All of Acts chapter 7 details Stephens impeccable understanding of who God was and is and is to come. His monologue to the Sanhedrin clearly lays out God’s plan and, finally, in chapter 7, verses 48-53, Stephen calls the men out for what they truly are, “stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears.”

Before Stephen spoke these words he had to have an idea of how things might turn out. In fact, in those verses he points out that these men betrayed and murdered The Righteous One. Yet, despite this knowledge, despite knowing that these words would not go over well, Stephen refused to allow the enemy to burn and destroy his desire to do God’s will.

What if Stephen hadn’t let His light shine through during this experience? What would have been different? I believe that had Stephen taken the easy way out a lot would have changed. First off, what impact would he have in the church? Would he still have the power to perform great and miraculous things in Christ’s name? I believe his testimony among believers would be quite damaged. Second, and maybe most important, what would have come of Paul? Acts 8:1 says that Paul approved of Stephen’s death, yet it's not much later that he has his own experience with heaven. Is it possible that Stephen’s testimony of Heaven is exactly what Paul’s heart needed in order to be receptive to his own experience? Without Stephen choosing to push forward despite the rising flames and pressure from the world around him I do not believe that Paul would have been able to answer Jesus by name on the Damascus road. I do not believe that the seed of understanding would have been planted. If Saul never had opportunity to become Paul, where would the church be today? What would be the state of gentiles? Stephen’s passion until the very end played an important purpose in the church and--by extension--in our personal relationships with Christ.

Father God, help us this week to look at the examples of Godly men and women who fought until their dying breaths to spread the good news. Give us insight into how much they impact our world even today and how we are capable of affecting future generations in much the same way. Give us a passion to do everything we do unto you Lord for all of our days. In Jesus name we ask these things, Amen.


Devotional written by Lindsey. 

I {Mandy} have lived a lot of life in my 37 years. 

I was raised in tough times as one of 3 girls. I am the youngest.

I grew up with the typical teenage angst and some that was far from typical. 

I had an unfortunate experience as a teen where I was taken advantage of by someone I trusted and someone who was entrusted with my care.

That situation embittered me toward the church-- and God in particular. My identity and value was tied up in who I was within my church and who I was in the eyes of the person who broke my trust, and I mistakenly lumped God in with all of that and walked away for a time.

I began sneaking out of my house my senior year and became sexually involved with my (then) boyfriend. It didn't take long for me to become pregnant and, a week before I was to leave for college--a staunchly Christian college-- the college of my dreams, I found out I was pregnant. 

My boyfriend and I panicked. How in the world would 2 active church teens explain to the pillars in their church that they'd had premarital sex and that I was now pregnant. The entire landscape of our lives changed in an instant. 

We made hasty plans and decided to run away and elope. We obviously didn't think this through. I guess we just hoped that our family would assume ours was a "honeymoon baby" and not do the math. 

To make a long part of this story short, allow me to sum up that part of my life.

It was pretty horrible. 

We moved 1000 miles away from home with no family or friends. I had horrible morning sickness and barely knew this boy I called my husband. I was ill-prepared for adult life let alone marriage and now motherhood. I was lost. 

To make matters worse, I was distant from God.

After 3 months, I suffered a miscarriage. I had never announced my pregnancy to family because many were still not speaking to us due to anger over our eloping. I was, in essence, a little girl living in an adult world struggling with very adult problems. And I had no one to turn to. 

My marriage shriveled up and died shortly after the miscarriage. We moved back home and I became involved with someone 12 years my senior. I think I saw stability and security in him. That began my not-so-illustrious experience with cheating. 

I cheated on my husband. 

I divorced my husband.

I married the guy I was cheating with.

He cheated on me. 

I cheated on him.

I divorced him.

And it was at this time in my life that God started taking a hold of me again. I am ever-so-grateful that He did. 

The blinders started to slip from my eyes. The heart that I had built so many walls around to keep from feeling the hurt and the pain started to crumble. I started to yearn for God again.

I wish I could say that my life miraculously came together at that point. 

It didn't.

Instead, I started seeing a man who is now my husband. We immediately fell in love and got pregnant. I was 6 months pregnant at our wedding.

So you see, I hadn't totally gotten on the straight and narrow yet.

But one thing I know is that God was always there. 

Every tear I cried.
Every drink that touched my lips.
Every lie I told.
Every man I was with.
Every time my heart broke.
Every time I cried out, asking God to just make it all end.
Every mistake I made. 
Every fall I took.
Every time I broke my Savior's heart.

He was there. 

I can look back now, decades later and see that God really was there with me. I see countless ways He saved me and directed my paths...even when I wanted nothing to do with Him.

I see a broken woman who, at one time, just wanted to go to sleep forever. And I see a God who wouldn't let me go, who reassured me time and time again that if I just held on...to Him...if I just sought Him with my whole heart...that He would give me blessings untold. He would restore my heart and rebuild my trust. And He would make me whole again. 

He has been so faithful in His promises. 

He has shown me that my value and worth are not found in anyone or anything on this earth, but in Him. He has allowed me to be redeemed and to use my past--once so humiliating--to help others who are struggling. He has allowed me the incredible honor of glorifying Him with my story. 

My story: What was once written as a tragedy, God has re-written as a love story. 

And He will do the same for your story. 

What's Your Story? I'd love to hear it. 

Editor's Note: It's important to note that I have since reconciled with the person who took advantage of me in my youth. God's love and grace truly is amazing. And He has taught me that it doesn't just apply to me, but to others who have wronged me as well. He makes all things new. ~Mandy

My New T-Shirt That I Was Given From The Pregnancy Center Today!

Today, of all days, Nov. 6th, Election day 2012, I had some free time so I went to visit our local Crisis Pregnancy Center. Lucky for me it was right down the road from my house. What I thought was going to be a quick in and out visit turned out to be so much more. I was so impressed with the facility and all that they do. I was moved by the warm hearts and passion to serve that I saw in every person I met. And most of all I was able to remember how near and dear to my heart matters of life are and have always been.

So, I thought I would take this time to share a little bit of history and my testimony regarding choosing life. As an adopted child, I never gave it too much thought, but as I grew up I began to think about the reality of what my birth mother may have gone through. Being the third child of my birth mother's while she was dealing with her own personal struggles could not have been easy. The easy choice for her could have been to abort, but she did not. I was born in Chicago, stayed in the hospital for six weeks until I came to live in a foster home in River Forest, IL.

My foster family cared for numerous children, but for some reason their daughter, Julie, decided to place a note on her mom's pillow the night I arrived that simply said "Can we keep this one?" And so they did!

But is wasn't that simple, while it was fine for them to do foster care for black children even though they were white, the movement at that time was to keep black babies with black families and not to do interracial adoptions. At the advice of their social worker they were advised that if they really did want to keep me they should lay low and not say anything or the most likely action would be to lose me. So my family laid low. For 12 years they didn't stir the pot until they thought it was time. So when I was 12, I stood before the judge and told him that I wanted Joan and Paul Grotelueschen to be my parents (even though they already were). I remember him asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told him I wanted to be a pianist (go figure). And that was it, at age 12, I officially was adopted by the parents that God prepared in advance for me. It was a great day! I then received my first birth certificate with my name Maria Ladonna Grotelueschen.

Interestingly enough, since I was not adopted for 12 years, I always had my original birth certificate. Legally my name, until I was 12, was Ladonna Gene Sykes. As a young athlete I was constantly having to produce my birth certificate for state tournaments, so I knew the name of my birth mother and the hospital that I was born in. This led me to a place when I was 16 to call 411~information one day and ask for her phone number. Just like that I had it. I remember the day when I was 16 and I secretly called her. I remember her words "I have waited my whole life for this call." It was then that my friend and I jumped on a train and a bus into the inner city (keep in mind we were two suburban girls) to meet this woman.

There is so much to write about the whole experience, the pain, the joy, the unraveling of emotions from me and others in my family, but at the end of the day what God did through this relationship was all in his hand.

Fast forward 3 years to when I found myself in a place where I was 19, playing college volleyball and about to go on to play my Junior and Senior year with a full ride Volleyball scholarship and suddenly pregnant. PREGNANT! I remember the devastation, the disbelief of truly believing that this could happen to me! I remember very clearly my coach telling me to fix the situation because I had an opportunity to play volleyball and I would be making a big mistake if I had the baby. I remember a friend telling me to get an abortion because I had too much going for myself. In the midst of everything, my crazy life, the partying, the reckless living, I remember something about what they were saying not ringing true. I remember TRUTH. I knew that what was inside of me, as crazy as my life was at that time, was LIFE.

I remember the day I sat down to tell my parents that I was pregnant and the disappointment that filled their hearts, but I also remember their love. I remember crying, sobbing, wondering what on earth I was going to do. I still remember their love. I also remember the reality of my lifestyle at the time. I remember my Dad speaking in love to me that maybe the best thing for this child might be adoption as I was in no shape to raise a child of my own. That was my reality at the time. I was reckless, selfish and living a fast partying lifestyle. I also remember how this new reality changed my life. It was like hitting a wall and coming to a full stop. Instantly, I stopped smoking, drinking, and partying. I stopped and became a mom.

You know what else I remember? I remember the day my baby was born and I said to him "Good morning Sunshine" My life was different. I also remember the day that my Dad said to me "Thank you. Thank you for keeping him and not giving him up." He became my Dad's little man and always had a special place in his heart. I could not have done it without my parents.

The fact that my parents instilled the value of Life in my heart is the reason that I stand before you today. They spoke Truth into my heart as a child and even though I strayed away throughout my life, Truth reigned and was brought back to my mind in the darkest moments.

So back to my biological family.....One of the greatest joys from meeting my birth mother was meeting my grandparents, Uncles, my siblings and then ultimately having the joy of taking in my biological niece to live with us for a time. She was named Maria aka Little Mia. Through my adoption, I was able to turn back to where I was adopted from and take in my own niece for a time. That is God's hand, His sovereignty!

In a nutshell today was just a good day and visiting the Crisis Pregnancy Center was just a reminder to me of God's grace and mercy over our lives and I praise Him for all He has done and for how faithful He is.

PART 2: So here I am, a day after posting this, with more thoughts. As I thought about the adoption story, I left out one of the most joyous parts. After being a single Mom for a year and a half, I started dating an awesome guy, Bob, who not only chose to love me, but love my son...OUR son. The story continued in that my husband adopted our first born and the cycle of adoption continued! So thankful for 18+ years of marriage and family built on the foundation of Christ and His adoption of all of us into the body of Christ!

About Mia: "As a singer/songwriter, Mia's soulful music reflects the painful beauty of human struggles and a passion to worship the God who saves." ~Kris Wagner, Screenwriter

Mia lives as a testimony to God's grace and His forgiveness. As one who formerly lived in brokenness and shame, she rejoices that God has restored her and identified her as His own. Inspired to share this message of hope with others, she boldly proclaims the Gospel message of forgiveness to all that will hear. With a heart for the lost, she prays that others will be freed from the bondage of sin and self destruction through the one and only, Jesus Christ.Mia is the wife of Bob, a Christian School Principal and the mother of three children, Chris, Aaron and Miriam.~"Mia's life is a compelling story of sin, surrender, sanctification and song."~K. Wagner, Screenwriter