After almost 20 years as a Pastor’s wife, I am still learning the necessity of a daily personal walk with the Lord. Whether it is the busy weeks of VBS, or the times of heart ache that come with illnesses, trials, or seeing a dear one chose a pet sin over the Lord’s best, or just the lonely doldrums of winter in NH, I need the Holy Spirit’s help. Ministry is exhausting. It drains in so many ways.
But, what a life! Craig and I talk about how great the good times are, how we get to hang out with incredible people, and write puppet scripts, and prepare fun things to do for teens and kids and adults- with a Bible lesson attached. We get to sing a lot, which is always a great thing to do with ones time, and we get to encourage, and put an arm around people and just love them and point them to Jesus in the Word.
This week was one of ups and downs. We had prepared for a one day “Fun Faith Fair” at the park, in the little town where Craig has been pastor for 8 years. We prayed fervently for the event, that the children in our town to come hear the gospel. We prepared… completely planned, wrote puppet scripts, purchased craft supplies, prizes, prepared Bible lessons on “Sin is Missing the Mark” with fair games that illustrate the point. We put up posters, painted big signs to put up in town, etc. etc.
But… on Saturday, no kids came from our town. We sat looking at all we had set up… and realized it was for nothing. I needed the Lord that day. Sigh…
Then the upside. At the other church where Craig has been associate Pastor for the last 2 years, it was VBS week. We had been asked to direct it, and so again… all the preparations over the last few months, come down to the moment of implementation. In my heart, I was feeling like “Why do I bother, Lord? I get so disappointed.” However, along with several church folks who ran their “stations” with such diligence and excellence, we had a really great week of VBS. I think over 30 wonderful kids, and a few with lots of interesting questions about God. I love watching kids soak up Bible truths. Unlike we adults who have heard the “Old Old Story” over and over, children have those “AHA!” moments, where the wheels are turning, and you can just see the seeds being planted in their little hearts and minds. I thank the Lord for those moments this past week.
The truth about me, is that I LOVE preparing for something, working on a project, feeling like the Lord is using the things I love to do, for His glory. When I don’t see evidence of that, I feel like someone has punched me. I stumble back, I lose my footing, and struggle to breath, to sing without tears welling up. Ministry to me is like a battle of “Oh boy, this is awesome!” and “Oh brother, this is not what I expected.”
In it all, when I “Turn my Eyes Upon Jesus” I do find a peace for my soul, in spite of the ups and downs of life. Just today in my Bible time, I read in Acts 20, about Paul’s ups and downs. “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Ah, yes. The Lord knows I need Him, because this marathon of ministry is beyond me.

Looking Up!
It

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Gal 6:9-10 (NKJV)

Summer time is not the lazy dog days of summer for the Merritts. Craig has been serving the Lord at Rumney Bible Conference, cooking for hundreds of kids, and continues to Pastor in Danbury, NH.

Kim just finished illustrating a Christian children’s book and is teaching guitar
lessons to 9 students. While they are busy with that, they also have a week of VBS, and a week of the kids ministry at Camp Maranatha. Of course… in there somewhere is the music ministry!

God promises us that if we do not grow weary, He will bring a harvest. Sometimes the harvest is big things like when souls are saved, but sometimes it is small changes towards Christ likeness, in us or someone we are ministering to. So we press on, and know that being busy is okay as long as we maintain our walk with Christ.

“My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts from heaviness;Strengthen me according to Your word.” – Psalms 119:25-28 (NKJV)