I want to take a little time to get personal and share with you some things that I have learned through experience and time and especially the last couple of years working with so many wonderful people on the internet.

I have been told many times by some peers and family, many of them well-meaning, but just lacking understanding, that internet ministry is just a hobby. They tell me that at the most it can be a tool used to get people involved in your “real” church. Of course what they mean is what I like to call the “brick and mortar” church.

The thing that I have found to be true though and especially working so diligently with so many of who have ministry on the world-wide-web is that the “real” church is right here! I don’t mean in the traditional sense of course, but the real church has ALWAYS been in the hearts and spirit of “true” believers and worshippers of Christ Jesus.

This internet ministry reaches so many more people than could ever be accomplished with all the programs and special meetings that a traditional church uses to try and “win” people to their congregations!

Don’t get me wrong. I am NOT condemning traditional churches. There is a need for them on the local level, but when it comes to the idea of “real” ministry, who is meeting the “real” needs of the people hurting and searching in the world?

I, like many of you, am involved in prayer groups that are made up of people in so much pain that they couldn’t sit in a church pew for an hour let alone a couple! Yet these dear brothers and sisters are some of the strongest most diligent prayer warriors and intercessors that I have ever had the opportunity to join with! I have not met face to face with people as bold and strong in the Lord as many of these people that use a keyboard for ministry!

And ministry it is!! Prayer requests come from all around the world because the people that find these ministry sites know in their hearts that if it is a part of the site’s ministry, then someone, somewhere, is going to see their request and take it to heart!!

You can’t say that in the traditional “brick and mortar” church! How many requests and opportunities do the local churches in your towns and cities get from all over the world?

Each and everyone of you, has at some time in your life been hurt, despised, dis-trusted or have an infirmity in the body, or some other reason why a “religious leader” be it a pastor, a priest, or a reverend, what ever the title, has said you can not be used of the Lord due to your situation. You do not have the training. You have been in trouble with the law. You have been divorced, or not married, or don’t have kids or have too many. Your sick, or have a life-long disease or a terminal illness. God can’t use you!

But you know what? You’re the very ones that the Holy Spirit chooses to use! You already know why, most of you. I’m not telling you anything new. But, it’s because no matter the circumstances in your life, no matter the situation, or condition of your body, your spirit is ALIVE unto Jesus! You look to Him when know one else will listen to you! You find strength in His Spirit when your friends don’t support you anymore! You are the vessel the home owner threw away, but the very vessel that Jesus chooses to use because you still love Him so no matter what!

Your situations and circumstances have given you the best teaching, the best lessons that no amount of money could ever buy! No book outside the Bible could ever teach you what you have to earnestly offer others! I don’t care how many Bible schools or colleges you could attend, the situations and circumstances that each and everyone of you has gone through has provided you with strength, wisdom, knowledge, compassion and mercy that can help someone else who’s going through the very thing and searching for answers. These are answers they will never find in any book based on theology or philosophy!

The strongest and wisest preachers or teachers that I know of, have come from a life filled with exactly the same obstacles and hardships and they have been overcome by that person’s faith and strength in the Lord Jesus!

I have come to know so many of you who live everyday with pain. Some of you have to crucify everyday the feelings of self-doubt and worthlessness that you feel, believing in faith what the Bible tells us about Jesus’ feelings for each of us. We fight the battle everyday in one way or another and yet, you are still willing and able to put your pain, your feelings and hurts aside to pray for a complete stranger. Or, you give a word of encouragement or inspiration to another brother or sister who may be feeling a little weak!

You, and You alone in Christ, are the backbone of the “true” Church, the Bride of Christ! No one can take that away from you! Not by words, not by actions, not by curses! The love that you demonstrate everyday, even if it is something simple like causing another to smile and forget their pain for just a moment, is the seed that grows and causes more seeds to be sown! It is this ACTION that is the “real” love that the Holy Word speaks of.

Don’t EVER let anyone tell you that what you do is not a MINISTRY! Ministry in it’s truest sense is SERVICE to another! That is what ministry means! Remember what Jesus told us, “The greatest amongst you, will be the servant to all.” You are already there! You know what it is to serve! It doesn’t matter that we don’t see one another face to face! All the greater, because we have a connection to one another that goes deeper and reaches into eternity! We have a spiritual connection with one another!!!

The Bible tells us that our “spirits will bear witness, one with another!” Anybody who doesn’t believe this only has to browse any number of Christian blogs, forums or websites alone for a day and they would be able to see the undeniable connection! And remember, each one of us is only one tiny island in a sea of many that the Holy Spirit is raising up!!!!!

So, don’t be disheartened when you have a down day! Don’t beat yourself when you’ve made a mistake! Let the Lord use these things; “to make all things work together for good” because you “love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose!!!”

Many of you may be the only ones who are truly standing in the gap for another soul because of what you have been through yourself! You know what others feel and the hurts that can slow them down! So, keep moving on and doing what the Lord has placed in your heart to do! Remember, it is the LORD who “will give you the desires that are in your heart.”

In closing I want to encourage you with this Word of Scripture:

“I urge you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

“—–so we, who are many, are one body in Christ and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly; if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:1-2, 5-8.

God Richly Bless you all who so diligently look out for the needs of others and who continue to demonstrate (an action) your love to one another despite your pain and hurts, and despite what other “religious leaders” tell you what you can and can’t do for the Lord, God Almighty!!

Praise God for His mercy and Grace which shines forth upon ALL His children and showers our hearts with HIS LOVE and GRACE! Praise Him on High for He IS worthy of our praise!! Continue to exalt Him to the ends of the earth!! May Glory and Honor be His forever and Ever!! Amen and Amen!!

Given with Love;
God bless you richly!