Sharing the Best

I would like to hear from Pastors' Wives concerning the best parts of being in the ministry with their spouse.  Also, if you are a male, whose wife is the Pastor, I would love to hear about your experiences. 

My favorite part of the ministry was watching someone grow in their relationship with Christ.  I especially enjoyed seeing a person, who may have previously denied any interest in Christianity, have a moment where it became all too real to them who Christ was. 

I had a very close friend that had requested that I never bring up the subject of faith because she was not a believer, and felt that there was no need for that in her life.  I agreed to what she asked, and we never spoke about the faith issue, I just lived my life, and treated her as Christ would have.  It was five years into our friendship, when she told me very excitedly that she and her husband had accepted Christ - I didn't even know they were attending church anywhere!

It was incredible to be with her from week to week, and see the joy of discovery!  Every Bible story was new to her, and she couldn't get enough of it!  She would grab my hand and say, "Do you know about Jonah and the whale?"  Her joy was contagious!

For all of the stressful parts of the ministry, this was my favorite!

Getting Fit in the Right Places

Yesterday's sermon was focused on 1 Timothy 4:6-16. There was one verse that jumped out at me as the scripture was read - verse 8 says, "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (NIV, 2192). I started to think about how many of my friends have become very engrossed in fitness and weight loss due to the increased media attention on staying healthy. If you look at Facebook posts, there are quite a few folks that are chronicling their miles run and pounds lost. Don't get me wrong - I'm not against this. In fact, I write about it myself in the daily status reports.

What is important to note from verse 8 is that physical training is for this world only, but training our minds and hearts for Godliness benefits us for eternity! There should be "spiritual fitness gyms" springing up all over our country! Oh....wait a minute....I think they already exist....they're called CHURCHES!! Maybe if we called them Spiritual Fitness Centers, charged memberships, and had T-Shirts for sale, maybe people would flock to them, and join.

My attendance in Sunday School builds my faith muscles, and provides the necessary vitamins to nourish my mind, and my heart. Being present during Worship fills me with praise and joy, and, by God's design, causes me to respond to the Holy Spirit's presence. This "filling up" of the Spirit of God allows me to take on the problems and stress of my life, just as much as exercise prepares your body for physical requirements.

Today is the day to tighten the muscles of my relationship with Christ. Lord, help me to run the race so that I can be fit for the Kingdom!

Great Article About Pastors' Wives

Here is an interesting article concerning the tough job of a Pastor's Wife.  Here is the link, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

http://workinprogress.blogs.time.com/2007/03/29/think_your_job_is_tough_try_be/


 Would like to hear your comments!

Lord, Please Make Me Nearsighted!

I am going to admit something here on my web page that may shock some of you!  I am on Facebook!  There I said it, and I'm proud of it.  Facebook users get a lot of friendly ribbing from the non-users.  It's considered by many to be a waste of time.  One of the criticisms is that it's becoming a substitute for actually speaking to someone personally. 

I have discovered that this medium has a great capacity to tear down or to build up.  I have used this social network to disciple, encourage, comfort, support, and bring laughter to those who have allowed me into their lives through the communication wavelengths of the air and cable.  My life has been touched, and my mind broadened by friends on Facebook.

Yesterday, my daughter, Kelly, wrote something on her status that has stayed with me and challenged my heart and mind.  I'm not sure if these are Kelly's words or if she read them somewhere, but this was her post for January 26, 2011: "Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don't take root anywhere."

I responded to Kelly by writing, "I think we look to the future because it always seems to hold mystery and excitement. Today only has duties and responsibilities. Great thought. We need to find the "surprises" God has for us today! And we need to wake up anxious to unveil the mystery for today - what might God reveal to us that is His purpose for our day. I will wake up tomorrow with an excitement of discovery!"  That was a great thought, but you know, I woke up this morning the same me, looking at a long day in front of me.  I had totally forgotten that great statement that I wrote yesterday about waking up to "find the surprises" God had prepared for me today.

Always looking toward the future - that's a huge problem for me!  Maybe it was spending twenty-seven years as a military spouse, and never being sure how long I would live in a certain place.  My husband retired from the Army Chaplaincy a year and a half ago, but I find myself still focusing on somewhere down the road, and what may be in the future.  Is that what God wants of me?  I doubt it.  He has placed opportunities in front of me today.  Lord, please help me to turn my eyes from the road ahead, to the steps I'm taking right now.

Join Me for a Cup of Coffee!

As I write this new blog, I am sitting at my window at the Seminary.  It's gently snowing, and I have my mug of coffee with Mint Chocolate Truffle creamer!  Ohhhh - I love that stuff.  I can only get it at Christmas, so I bought at least fifteen 16 oz containers and have been rationing them out.  I think I only have three left, and then I'll have to wait until Christmas of 2011 to buy it again.

I really enjoy my morning cup of coffee.  There's nothing like the smell of coffee and bacon to get the day started in the right direction.  We bought our first home ever in 2009, and the second time we looked at the house, the owner had just brewed a fresh pot of hazelnut coffee.  There was a fire in the fireplace, and it fairly shouted, "Buy me!!!"

To brew the best cup of coffee, you must start with the right kind of coffee bean.  If you would watch my husband in the coffee aisle of a store, or in a store that specializes in coffee, you would understand what I'm talking about.  The "seeking out" is necessary.  And, to see the look of joy and accomplishment on his face when he finds just the right blend of beans is priceless. 

Jesus talked about a pearl of great price in Matthew, "Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it" (NIV, 1678).  Our seeking for Heaven should far surpass our search for anything here on earth.  The joy we will experience when we finally meet our Lord will be nothing to any joy or accomplishment here and now.

What are you seeking today?  As you drink that morning cup of "Joe", consider the time spent on selecting the beans for that particular cup.  And, then pray that you devote even more time selecting who you will entrust your future to today.  I place mine in the hands of my Heavenly Father, and it's my prayer that you will also!