Month: July 2015

This past Sunday our church was invited to another church to celebrate Family and Friends day. It was a blessing to my soul. I was able to sit in the congregation and enjoy the Word through song, a praise dance and the Minister’s message. As the Pastor’s wife of a small grassroots ministry, sometimes you don’t get to enjoy worship service as much as you would like. I think the primary reason, at least for me, is that you are more concerned about the worship experience of others. This is not a bad thing. As a servant of GOD, we know it’s our duty to tend to the needs of others. However, I firmly believe you can’t serve at your best if you are not at your best. I think it can be challenging at times for any active ministry worker to truly immerse themselves in worship service. It’s so easy to get caught up in the ‘order of service’ that you miss the experience of it. I believe that no matter how large a church is, generally speaking, it’s a core group of people who keep the church going. These folks work in front and behind the scenes to make sure any and all services happen.

So…I ask the question, should church workers get a Sunday off? My response may be a bit much for some but I say ministry leaders should allow and encourage these core folks to take a Sunday off and visit another church. I think it’s a good practice because it allows the core group to rest, revitalize and focus on their own worship experience. It pushes the leaders to train other members to move into those roles. Sometimes and some may argue many times, it’s out of necessity that churches lean heavily on this core group of members. However, you run the risk of stifling growth, resisting change and burning out your faithful few.

Most work places provide the benefit of vacation days. Shouldn’t we provide the same for our faithful and hardworking ministry servants?

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT – Exodus 34:21 “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

Everyone gets tired. Even Jesus rested.

Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!

this Pastor’s Wife

I was enjoying a leisurely stroll through one of my favorite consignment shops this past weekend and there were some interesting canvas artwork for sale. I found myself stalking a particular piece. I asked the merchant if they had a layaway plan. Yes, I’m that girl. He said he felt confident that the owner would consider this payment option depending on the piece. I got excited about the potential of having that artwork hanging in my house. But, it wasn’t the same excitement that I would’ve felt if I could’ve just removed the piece from the wall, said thank you and walked out the door.

Merriam Webster defines layaway as a way of buying something in which you do not receive the thing you are buying until you have paid the full price by making small payments over a period of time

This got me to thinking about how some people live their life. We live it like it’s a layaway plan. We make payments with our time Monday – Friday in anticipation of enjoying our life Saturday – Sunday. We get up Monday and start all over again. That’s foolishness! Something is seriously wrong with that picture. There’s no doubt that every day is not going to be a walk in the park. Let’s be honest, some days you wish there was a ‘do-over’ button. Regardless, it’s still your life. My belief is you only have one life to live. Live it every day. Take the good with the bad, the bitter with sweet.

As I mature in wisdom, everyday, even in the midst of my grumbles, I take an inventory of the things I’m grateful and thankful for that GOD allows me to enjoy. In my last post, I listed just a handful of those things. Believe it or not, as simple and silly as some may seem, I really get excited about experiencing each one. I’ve learned that you can enjoy life every day because life is about the moments in between the beginning and the end of each day.

 FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT – John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Your life has been bought and paid for in full – ENJOY IT!

Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!

  this Pastor’s Wife

 

In no particular order, I took a moment to list some of the simple things I enjoyed this past weekend. What simple thing(s) did you enjoy?

Please list at least one in the comments. I’ll bet you’ll smile…

1. Organized office closet
2. The hubby laughing at Bindi playing with her toy in her new FSU jersey
3. Colorful fruit in a glass bowl
4. A fully stocked snack center
5. Fresh flowers in a cobalt blue vase
6. Window consignment shopping

   

7. Cleaning and displaying seashells collected by the nephews

   

8. Watching the sunrise
9. Fresh linens

   

10. A properly folded fitted sheet
11. Hazelnut coffee in a clear mug
12. Watering my plants

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Be Thankful. I am!

Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!  

this Pastor’s Wife

 

 

 

 

I believe with everything that I am that GOD divinely designed each person to do or be something specific in HIS master plan. I believe we were created by HIM for HIM. Mark Twain said it best “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Discovering why I was born has been one of, if not, the most challenging thing in my life.

Like many, there have been times in my life where I felt like I’ve made a difference, albeit small, a difference nonetheless. However, I know there is more to living this life than just experiencing sporadic moments of worth.  There are people who wake up with purpose and are driven by that purpose. If every person was created by GOD, surely, we all should wake up and be excited about our contribution to this world. This next statement is a sweeping generality but it seems man measures worth by what is seen and celebrated by the masses. The question is, for me, how much does this influence the decisions we make on how we live our lives? What do we pursue? Why do we pursue it?

Unfortunately I chose to pursue a degree based heavily on the reaction I received from others. Sad but true. People ‘seemed’ impressed when I shared what I was pursuing a degree in. Truth be told, at 17, I had no clue what I wanted or should have studied in college. I had no idea what my gift was or how to discover it.  If I knew what I know now, I would have approached my college career differently. I’m sure there are plenty of folks who would cosign that sentiment.  I may get some grumbles about this next statement but it’s my opinion based on my personal experience. I don’t believe college is for everyone. For some, I believe attending a 2 year college before attending a university is the best option and I don’t necessarily agree that going to college directly out of high school is the best route to take. Yes, I went to a college preparatory high school and I’m grateful. However, I must say, the guidance counselor at that time provided very little guidance. My perception was that the high scoring students received the attention.  All students need guidance.

Higher education is vital regardless of where and when you choose to acquire it.  Everyone should be a lifelong learner. However, I believe more attention should be placed on helping a person discover their gift at an early age. Too often people are forced into a life designed by man and not by GOD. In my humble opinion, this may explain why there are so many unhappy, unfulfilled, unsatisfied ‘successful professionals.’ It’s never too late to begin searching for and living the life GOD intended for you. I’ve learned not to fret too much over the time that’s passed because it serves no purpose. What I’m trying my level best to do now is make the most out of the days ahead because Romans 8:28 says ALL things work together for the good…

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT – 2 Timothy 1:9 – (NIV) He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

You deserve the life GOD planned for you.

Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!

  this Pastor’s Wife

I’ve come to realize that motivation is the difference between being content or being complacent. According to Merriam Webster, Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied and Complacency is a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better.

There are aspects of my life that I would like to improve. As of late, I’ve started analyzing this inventory of ‘needs improvement’ by deciding if I’m content or complacent with it. Once I started really looking at each item, I noticed there were some things that I had to question why they were on the list. I once heard someone say, we spend too much time trying to please people who don’t really care about you. Why is that? Now that I’m in the 40 club, I’m proud to say, for the most part, I’ve learned not to waste energy on what ‘they say.’ However, I’m human. In my first post, “Will I Ever Catch Up? ,’ I talked about my desire to be a better Pastor’s Wife.

Now here’s the thing, I want to be me. I’m good with me. In my humble opinion, being authentically you is the greatest gift you can give to the world. If GOD wanted us to be like one another, then HE would have made us all the same. And…that would be incredibly boring. This is where it gets a little slippery – being ‘me’ sometimes fight with what I believe the role of a Pastor’s wife should be. Pastor John preached about motives this past Sunday. It got me thinking about what really is my motive for wanting to morph into what I believe a Pastor’s wife should be. Is it to please others or to please GOD?

Ok, so what do I believe a Pastor’s wife should be? Here’s a short list: compassionate, selfless, helpful, loving, approachable, ready to embrace all GOD’s children, gracious, kind, ability to share wisdom without judgment, etc. Being all these things, ALL the time, comes with heavy responsibility. Because, Lord forbid, if you’re having a bad day and you’re not presenting your best self…whew… let’s just say, ‘church folk’ can be brutal. A good friend of mine said’ We don’t allow people to be human’. Shout out to CA! Truth be told, as Christians, we should all strive to exhibit these characteristics – Pastor’s wife or not.

I had to get real with myself. I’m not all those things ALL the time. The question is – am I content or complacent with it? I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure it out.

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT – Galatians 1:10(NIV) Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Not satisfied? Ask yourself why.

Be Encouraged! Be Blessed!

  this Pastor’s Wife