I was talking to an old friend today. Although she is a full-time teacher, she serves in the youth group at her church. She was talking about how hard it’s been lately to serve in the youth ministry because she’s having trouble with her OWN children at home, and was just sighing it all to me. Breathing it all out. Long, heavy sighs. Then she said, “Well, YOU know how it is…ministry is hard.”
And, then it hit me.
Okay, not true.
It hit me a few nanoseconds after I had the thought, “Ministry is hard? That’s funny…you’re a teacher….”
Then it hit me.
Oh my gosh. She’s in ministry too. Sure, she’s not a pastor’s wife…but she VOLUNTEERS her free time to MINISTER to teenagers. She IS a minister.
My friend (and I’m truly honored to call her a friend) 
Christine Hoover has written a book for ministry wives…but really, isn’t that ALL of us who are following Jesus with our lives? Ministering His gospel to those around us?
This book covers topics that we ALL need to be reminded about: eradicating pride, choosing to be a God-pleaser instead of a man-pleaser, battling stress that comes from ministering, and developing life-giving friendships (Let’s just be honest..that’s hard!!).
Christine is incredibly open about her journey of planting a church in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and three boys. I have been highlighting and praying many of the lines in this book as it trickles down to the deep parts of my soul. Last night as I was reading it I started feel sad because I only have two chapters left.
So, go ahead and hop on over to her chunk of cyberspace ( gracecoversme.com )and get yourself a copy. And while you’re at it, thank someone who has MINISTERED to you at some point in your life and continue to minister the grace you’ve been given.
