Hebrews 12:2

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Comments by Joan Boney:

Each of us in the church must "endure" our own cross.

My "cross" is the church itself ... caring for the church ...

Dream:  I was traveling with a small group and we were flying to various islands.   We landed on one island and it was hot, dirty with pineapple fields.  (mostly everything I did not like) ... There were children running about on the island.  When the group got ready to leave that island I realized it was their plan to leave me on that island to care for those children.  I said, "I won't stay. I won't."  Then I realized it might be God's will for me to stay and care for those children so I said, "Unless YOU want me to."  God did want me to stay and I stayed.  There was a pastor and his wife on the island but they wouldn't come out of their house.

The "children" in this dream are the church.

It is my assignment to care for them.

I am also anointed by God as an apostle, to deal with church doctrine.

And I am anointed by God as a prophet, to correct the church.

This is "my cross" which I must faithfully endure to the end of my life on this earth, keeping myself in the faith ... faithful to God to do HIS assignment.

To protect "the ministry" which is given to me, I must keep myself by the Holy Scriptures by faith in the Word of God.

My life must be straight on this earth otherwise I could not do the work of the ministry.

This is "my cross"

You also have a cross to bear.  

Jesus says:   32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it:and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  Mt. 10