10 Apr 2013
by pastorswifelife
in April 2013
Tags: Ageing, Aging, bible, Christ, Christianity, Deuteronomy 5:33, Exodus 20:1, experience gained, God, Honor your father and your mother, live a moral life, morally responsible, respect the elderly, wisdom attained, worthy goals
50th Birthday Cake
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
― Betty Friedan
I turn 50 this coming April 15. I am more excited than a child at Christmas. My family thinks that I may have a screw or two loose in my head. But I say it’s a 35 year goal finally come to pass.
That’s right, I have been wanting to hit the big 5-0 since I was 15 years old. I’ve never looked at aging as something to grieve. Now that 50 is so near, I now wonder expectantly, “well what’s after that?”
I do not agree with much of what Betty Frieden has to say, but I have to agree with the above quote. I’ve never looked at aging as lost youth. I’ve always looked at it as experience gained – a sense of wisdom attained – an opportunity to learn and better other people’s lives. At 50, I am hoping to love more richly, deeply, and more compassionately. I’ve found that being a Christian makes all those worthy goals mine because those were Christ’s attributes. Because of Him, I can move forward in life with confidence and assurance.
I have found that aging is addressed with favorable tones in the Scriptures. The first promise in Exodus 20:1, “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”. Whew, I sure am glad that I put my parents’ opinions of me in the forefront. I still do to this day.
Mom and Dad
In Deuteronomy 5:33 “Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.” The Lord shows favor to those who live a moral life. One who takes the Word of God and absorbs His teaching and lives a life based on those teachings will be blessed with long life. See also 1 Kings 3:14 “If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
In the Bible, those who are aged are perceived as being wise, resourceful and valuable. What they have, they are supposed to share for the good of everyone. We are to offer to our children, our fellow brothers and sisters and all of society, our very experiences and give them wise counsel to help them avoid our pitfalls.
Most all who know me, know that I am drawn to the silver foxes who came before me. I adore being around those who have lived life longer than I have. I love to listen to the stories of their youth and the experiences of their lives. The history that they’ve lived can truly help develop the future decisions of those that they bless with their knowledge. The elderly are to be respected and cared for, and they deserve kindness. We all have a responsibility to the generation that came before us whether they are family members, church members or neighbors.
Aging is a positive part of life. We are to accept the blessings and responsibilities of aging with gratitude.
Like this:
Like Loading...
25 Mar 2013
by pastorswifelife
in March 2013
Tags: Christ, Christianity, God, Gods gifts, Gods ministries, Holy week, Jesus, Jesus Christ, listen for Gods voice, palm sunday, Passion Sunday, perseverance, persevere, Rain, Sunday, Word of God, worship
It is 5 AM, and it is Palm Sunday. The only thing I hear is rain – a torrential downpour. This is the beginning of Holy Week. Earl is already in the shower, and I have to swing my feet off the bed and get down to the kitchen to get his breakfast cooking. It’s part of my ministry, and I’m happy to do it. I persevere to make sure that the work that the Lord has given me gets done. But it’s raining, and it feels like sleeping weather. My feet still hit the floor, and I get started.
I have to study a little more. I’m teaching the Sunday school lesson. I worked on it yesterday, but I’m not feeling confident with what I’ve got. Yet I must persevere, I can’t present what God does not intend. Clean up the kitchen, sit down and study. I look out my window to see lightning, and I hear the resulting thunder.
Shower, dress, but no, the dog will not go out in this rain. Can she cross her paws for the next 5 hours? I open the door, it’s raining so hard that there is a fog-like consistency in the air. The dog backs away. A thought runs through my head, will God’s people persevere and come to chuch today? It’s raining so hard.
I realize that I can’t go through the newly created pond at the bottom of my entry stairs in my shoes. I quickly change into my Duck shoes, throw the high heels in a bag and grab the umbrella. Will the umbrella actually open? Oh please Lord, let the umbrella open. It does. Thank you Lord!
As I drive through the streets, the meer couple of miles to the church, God begins to speak to me in my mind. I’ve learned to listen. Today it is not His quiet voice, but a strong voice that tells me to tell His people to persevere. Dear Lord, will your people come to hear? So here is what He told me in my thoughts.
Spring Blooms
I give you the rain. You receive the fresh aroma of Spring. I nourish the ground for all My nature to grow. My gifts to you include the beautiful gardens, flowers and trees – lawns so lush – vegetation so green. My water helps to provide all that for you. You have water to drink and shower and clean. My gifts to you. I give you My Word so the pastor can speak. He’s been provided with a sermon to nourish My people – to offer their worship – lift up their voices.
God is good. He gives many good gifts. Let us not use those gifts as excuses not to come and worship. I was pleased to see all those whose worship of God meant more to them than the possibility of enduring the rain and getting a little wet. His people do persevere.
Our pastor, our music department, our staff, our ushers, Sunday School teachers – as well as all those who prepare the coffee and refreshments – all worked really hard to be sure that the ministries that God entrusted to them were carried out. They persevered through the rain. And we were all blessed this rainy, stormy, Palm Sunday, 2013.
“Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.” 1 Thessalonisan 1:4
- Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday? (prhayz.com)
- Lenten Reflection Day 33 (makingroomforgod.wordpress.com)
- Beating Adversity (culversbm.wordpress.com)
- Happy Palm Sunday! (tidbitandmindbytes.wordpress.com)
Like this:
Like Loading...
15 Mar 2013
by pastorswifelife
in March 2013
Tags: Christ, Christianity, church is a hospital for sinners, Death, Dying, Glimpses of Heaven, God, Health, Holy Spirit, Hospice, Hospital, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Pastor, Patient, Roman Road
Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris, RN. I have just finished reading this amazing journal of the experiences of a faith-filled Christian who has served in Hospice care. Trudy Harris heard her call from God and took the gifts He offered her and went to work as His servant.
The final paragraph of the book reads, “Dying is a very natural part of living. It is not an ending, but a beginning.” She shows death to be a transition into the life God has promised to all of His children. He wants us to eventually come home to be with Him after we finish the work that He has created us to do. “He loves us-believe it.”
Dying can be very scary, especially for those who do not know God our Creator, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Director. But Trudy Harris witnessed of God to all those with whom she came in contact. Many came to faith in God through her conversation, care and prayers. Trudy Harris reflects Christ. You can feel it in the stories. You are in awe of her and pray to God to be more like her.
My mother Diana, is also an RN. Long retired, but she still renews her license. My mother worked in emergency rooms, operating rooms and on the floors of hospitals and private doctors’ offices. My mother is the first person that I call when I am given a diagnosis by my doctor. She researches, questions and gets answers. She comforts and loves those that come to her. Every family member counts on her medical knowledge and insight. I see Christ reflected in her. I also hear hope.
My husband Earl, Senior Pastor at James Island Presbyterian Church, recently gave a sermon entitled, “The Roman Road.” One section of the sermon hit me at the time that he stated it, and I was reminded of it again as I read this book. He said, speaking of the church, “We are a hospital for sinners – not a Hospice for sinners. As much as Hospice did for my personal family – and I love the work of Hospice – and not everyone who enters Hospice also dies in Hospice… But by simple analogy, a church is not a place for sinners who have no cure and are made to feel comfortable until they die. The church is a hospital where patients are made better by the Great Physician and live eternally.”
The church is for healing and recovery. A place where all sinners go to be made well. We come to be cleansed by the Spirit of God through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. In the church, I also see hope.
Trudy’s book offers the reader a glimpse into the final days, hours and moments of those who are ready to leave this earth and transition into life eternal. To read about those visions comforts the reader and gives knowledge to the believer that when God calls us home, He blesses us by His Holy presence. When God calls us home to begin a new life with Him, it is not frightening. It is more than we can possibly imagine. And that is why I believe in God’s living hope.
“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!” Romans 10:15
Like this:
Like Loading...
26 Feb 2013
by pastorswifelife
in February 2013
Tags: 2 Timothy 2:5, attempt to help those you disagree with, bible, cheating, chili cook-off, church function, competing with your spouse, Competition, competition between spouses, devil may care attitude, God, integrity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Luke 9:51-56, renewal weekend, vital component of success
Earl and I rarely, if ever, compete against each other.
Our church had a Renewal Weekend, and part of the program was a Chili Cook-Off. Earl and I entered the competition. It took Earl about two weeks to realize that he would be competing with me, I, on the other hand was aware of it the moment I entered our names.
I planned, made lists, bought my ingredients. Earl ordered his secret ingredient from Kansas City, MO. We then realized that Earl might have to go out of town the day before the competition and try to get back in time for the renewal services. I got a devil-may-care attitude going. “Honey, what to do? You’ve got to enter your chili because you’ve signed up.” “Oh, and don’t forget they made announcements on Sunday that you and I would be entering.” “Did I mention that they brought it to everyone’s attention again during Wednesday Night Live dinner?”
Competition is not necessarily a bad thing. According to the Bible, competition is a vital component of success. However, left unchecked, competition can also lead to cheating and failure. According to 2 Timothy 2:5 “And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.”
Did I mention that I was beginning to feel guilty as I saw him get closer to failure? On the Thursday prior to the cook-off, I called Earl knowing he was under a lot of heavy stress, meetings and pressures, and so I asked him if he wanted me to get his ingredients. I even offered to make it for him if he would tell me how he made his chili. I would be happy to follow his instructions to the letter and make sure his chili got to the cook-off for him.
Jesus Christ’s message to his followers was that they should attempt to help others whom they disagree with rather than to make them even more helpless (Luke 9:51-56). Thus, by focusing on caring for others rather than on competing with them, believers can maintain their own integrity while being of service to those in need.
I care for Earl, and I wanted him to enter his chili. What harm does it do for me to help him out? It’s still a competition, played by the rules. Funny thing was, he then told me that he did not need to go out of town and that he would have time to do his own work on his chili. So let the games begin!
By the way neither one of us won the contest, and I chose the double crock pot before he could do so. His chili turned out a little dry because he didn’t have enough room for the liquid in his single crock pot. Was that cheating or just competing?
Like this:
Like Loading...
18 Feb 2013
by pastorswifelife
in February 2013
Tags: Christ, Christian, Christianity, church, Galatians 55:13, getting to know new members, God, God-given gifts, HolySpirit, Jesus, Lord, low man on the totem pole, opportunity to serve Christ, pleasing ourselves, pray and care for, Savior, Serve one another, share with others, to be a servant, to be served, Totem pole
Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another.”
In VanCouver Canada 2012
A lot of people may have a huge problem with the scripture above. Why? Because probably most people want to be served, not to be a servant.
We are a society that focuses on self and pleasing ourselves, and this is a far cry from the example that Christ gave us to serve others. We are taught in our Christian belief that once we become a Christian, we have a new nature alongside our old nature; we begin to reflect on the very acts and manner of Christ. We can choose between following our old desires and lusts or following the Holy Spirit within us.
Once God calls us and enables us, it’s easy to accept Christ as our Savior and trust Him to save us. The Holy Spirit moves us to do so. But Christians sometimes stop right there. They understand that acceptance of Christ offers forgiveness of sins – past, present and future. But Christians may count on this gift from God to see them through life -regardless of whether they continue to follow their old natures. But the Holy Spirit prompts followers of Jesus to change their focus on self. The Spirit continues to educate and change us into what God intends for us to be in Christ. The freedom we have in following Christ transforms us into wanting to be more like Him – not doing anything our old nature tells us to do and simply receiving forgiveness. This spiritual transformation freely allows us to shed what we once considered important: ourselves, and sense that others are also equally important to Christ. That transformation leads us to not only listen to His voice, but to move us into service to others. The service that He calls us to engage varies greatly. Some are called into the mission fields, others to the pulpit, and to many other less visible positions in the church.
I have to say at this stage in my Christian walk, I am content to simply be a servant of The Lord. And I’m even happier to be called to be engaged in positions that most folks would consider low on the totem pole. Give me the opportunity to meet and greet new people coming into our church. Give me the opportunity to go out into the community and help feed the hungry. Give me the opportunity to visit folks in the hospital or bring a meal to those who are experiencing illness at home. Give me the opportunity to hold the hand of an elderly person or to hug someone who doesn’t get a hug from anyone else, and I am genuinely happy.
I have recently been granted the wonderful opportunity to help our new members become more connected and integrated into our church family. I am helping them to find those small groups, circles, ministries, members, and committees that they feel God may be asking them to serve. God might use me to help them find their God-given gifts to share with others.
I love being with God’s people, doing what God has called me to do. I know that God has given me the gift of hospitality, and I am currently planning a dinner party for these wonderful new members, just so we can get to know them better. These are the people that God has given me to lift up in pray and care, and what a magnificent pleasure to be in Christ’s service even low on the totem pole!
Like this:
Like Loading...
14 Jan 2013
by pastorswifelife
in January 2013
Tags: acts 20:28, Christ, church burdens, dogs, God, guard the flock, Holy Spirit, Jesus, ministry, motorcycles, pastors, pastors vacation, shepherd, stress reliever, stresses of the pastor
As a pastor’s wife, I see, hear and feel the stresses of my pastor husband. Look on line, the internet highway is inundated with information about pastors and all the stress and pressure with which they have to deal.
Pastors tend to hold on to all the church burdens as if they were caretakers of the pain of their people. They are concerned about every little nuance that is taking place within the church. They just don’t seem to be able to let it go. But I learned a long time ago, a pastor may have to deal with church issues, but he/she can certainly help to alleviate the build-up of stress.
In Acts 20:28 Paul states “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
To “be on guard for yourselves” means also to take care of self. So we not only guard the flock, but we also guard ourselves. Jesus paid the price for His Church. He has placed us here as stewards of His ministry. But if we don’t guard ourselves, how can we guard the flock?
When I first met Earl, I quickly came to realize that he rarely if ever slowed down in his church work. He even dragged his children to the hospital on visitations when he was a single dad. Well, luckily I came along! It was time for him to loosen up a little and relax a bit. 
Earl is a man of so many interests that it is difficult to recall them all. As time goes by, his interests just keep adding up. Years ago, I knew of only one main interest he had – music. Earl is a composer and a singer. He actually has studio recorded CDs. He has boxes and boxes of music that he has composed since his teenage years. He has written serious classical music and Christian music, but he can also rock! He plays guitar with a group at the church called, “The 20 String Trio.”
He is an amateur astronomer, and an art collector. He can repair some electronics and repair almost anything around the house. He likes boating and airplanes, and he is even taking pilot lessons. He used to run 5Ks regularly in Georgia. He also water-skis and snow-skis.
Earl also took up motorcycling about 5 years ago. From time to time, we take the bike out for rides and have even taken one out for a vacation – just driving through God’s country and enjoying the beauty all around us. We spent New Year’s Day 2013 on our bike, island hoping. Some of the prettiest roads we’ve ever been on are the oak-canopied roads right here on James Island and Johns Island. Earl has compiled quite a bit of garage jewelry with his motorcycles and the old automobiles that he has acquired over the years of our marriage. He does his own maintenance on his toys and his own repairs, which does save us quite a bit of money. He is not afraid to get down and swim in the oil to fix his own cars or those of his children. It’s a physical and mental exercise that when completed, grants him a sense of accomplishment.
When he isn’t riding bikes, Earl and Maggie, our dog, play chasing games. Tug of war is also a favorite. Earl laughs and laughs at Maggie’s antics. What a simple way to reduce all the toxic anxieties of stress. Like they say, “laughter is the best medicine.”
But my favorite stress reliever is taking Earl away from his local ministry field. I make sure that every year, we plan a two week vacation mid-year to take him completely away from his church work. And we make sure that he takes a week off after Christmas.
Earl – Israel ruins 2010
Without this time away, Satan can wear a pastor down so that he ends up being a useless servant to the Lord. And that just is not what God expects of His shepherd whom the Holy Spirit has made an overseer of His church.
So what have you done lately to help your pastor be the best pastor he can be? He may not be able to see that he needs a reprieve. So I ask pastors’ wives and congregations to make sure your pastor is in the best shape physically, mentally and emotionally. We all want God to continue to use him/her to help us see Christ and to grow as His disciples.
Like this:
Like Loading...
02 Jan 2013
by pastorswifelife
in January 2013
Tags: 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, bible, biblically illiterate, Christ, Christian, God, Jesus, New Living Translation, New Testament, New Year, New Years' resolution, Old Testament, Pastor, percent of Christians that have read the Bible, Read the Bible, Word of God, Word of Truth
The rest of the sentence is, read the Bible! The Church as a whole, is biblically illiterate. Ouch, that hurts!
Different research shows slightly different results to the question, “What percent of Christians have read the whole Bible?” But nevertheless the Spiritual blood of Christians in America is anemic. Only 1-3 in 10 professed Christians, have ever read the Bible in its entirety. That means that although every person’s opinion is valid and important, not every Christian’s opinion is informed by the word of God. Only about 10%-30% even know what God says.
God expects more of us. Paul told the young Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable to teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Hasn’t God given us His word that we might understand Him a little better than we would otherwise? Every other year, I read the Bible in full. I can honestly say there are a couple books – Numbers being one- that are very dry and extremely difficult to get through. But this should not discourage us from reading this wonderful set of love letters that God has so graciously bestowed upon us. I have read the Bible in a number of different ways: cover to cover, New Testament then Old Testament, and the use of Robert Roberts one year study, which offers a reading of the Old Testament and two readings of the New Testament in a year. This year I have chosen The One Year Bible for Women using the New Living Translation. It breaks the Bible up so you are reading Old and New Testaments along with Psalms and Proverbs each day. I haven’t quite figured out the “for women” part of the title yet, perhaps it’s the pink accents.
God has a voice; He has chosen to speak to us in a most personal way. He has given us a book full of wisdom and love along with guides for the ways we should live our lives. If we don’t dive in and seek His truths, we will never know. We will never be able to discuss Christ and His fullness to others that may be seeking Him.
As a pastor’s wife that has read her Bible numerous times, I still have difficulty understanding some of its messages. But each time I read it, God enlightens me to new insights that He has for me to learn. He has also given me a great source for learning – my pastor. Christians are blessed to be offered free counseling by their pastors. Our pastors are there to help spiritually guide us and to preach and teach those parts that may be difficult to understand. God has put our pastors in place for this purpose among others. So don’t be afraid to seek out your pastor to help you.
This year, why not make a New Years’ resolution to read your Bible in full? Let’s get the percentage of Bible readers up and be able to live as per 2 Timothy 2:15. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
27 Nov 2012
by pastorswifelife
in November 2012
Tags: Board of Directors, Community Service, donate, food bank, food pantry, God, Hurricane Hugo, James Island Outreach, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Matthew 25:40, Ministering to Others, Outreach, people in need, understanding community, volunteer, Witness
When first entering the ministry as a pastor’s wife, I was clueless as to what was expected of me. I had been in church all my life. I was raised Catholic, converted to a Baptist at the age of 28 and then upon marrying Earl at the age of 36, I became a Presbyterian.
Though as a Baptist I had served in numerous roles from being the church sexton to the treasurer, as a pastor’s wife, I was puzzled by my role and what might be unspoken assumptions by the congregation as to my responsibilities.
As time went by, I began teaching VBS, teaching Sunday school classes from middle school through high school, women’s bible classes and adult Sunday school. I’ve been moderator of women’s groups, bible moderator and also the coordinator of women’s gatherings. I’ve opened my house to the entire church family for Christmas lunch, sang in church choirs and even catered the women’s annual Valentine Banquet.
But one of the most fulfilling aspects for me of being a pastor’s wife has been in finding service projects for the women to do for others outside our church family and in our local community.
There are ministries within the church of which I am very involved. I love women’s groups, and I make sure that I am a part of at least one woman’s circle. I always participate in a Sunday school class; I never cease to learn something as we delve into Scripture, no matter how many times I’ve read through the Bible. And I consider part of my church ministry to host members by inviting them to our home so that Earl and I can get to know our church family a little more personally.
But I am also involved in more outreach in the community. I feel that it is of the utmost importance for a pastor’s wife to also make sure she understands and gets to know her community. The people within the proximity of the church are part of our local outreach.
James Island is right over the Charleston Harbor connector. There is an organization that started in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo hit the island, called the James Island Outreach. I was introduced to this little non-profit by our churches volunteer team-leader to the Outreach. Our church is known as the pasta church. We provide mainly canned or dried pasta to the Outreach. We are one of 15 churches on the island that supports the Outreach. The Outreach is basically a food pantry and provides some assistance in other areas as well. 
An opportunity was announced at our church that the Outreach was looking for Saturday volunteers on the first and fourth Saturdays of each month. I volunteered for the fourth Saturday. In so doing, I found that our little island had a lot of hungry folks who desperately needed to experience the compassionate sharing hand of God from their fellow islanders. I eventually went from being a volunteer to also being a member of the Board of Directors and was asked to fill the Treasurer’s seat.
I took an in house class to learn how to in-take clients so I could work the office when needed on those Saturdays that I volunteered. This has now become a very large part of my ministry here on James Island. I have never had a client turn me down when asked if I could pray for them during our time together. Our director, Reverend Joseph Barbour, opens each day with prayer with our volunteers. God is here, working through our churches, to help all those in need. And personally, I believe all believers need to find that community outreach that calls them to volunteer their time and to help their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and those who do not know Christ through their trials. All people are God’s created children.
Get to know your community, its needs and its people. It’s important to all Christians, but most importantly to the pastor’s wife, in order to better serve her community, her church, her husband, and most importantly, God.
Matthew 25:40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
If you feel so led, please volunteer your time or donate food or funds to:
The James Island Outreach
1853 Maybank Highway
Charleston, SC 29412
Like this:
Like Loading...
16 Nov 2012
by pastorswifelife
in November 2012
Tags: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, Advent, Blessings, Celebrate Thanksgiving, fellowship with church families, God, holiday, holiday gatherings, Jesus, Jesus Christ, labor of love, Missing family holidays, prayers, steadfastness of hope, Thanksgiving, traditions, work of faith
When I was growing up, I looked so forward each year to Thanksgiving. My mom and dad were really good about making it special.
Growing up on a dairy farm, I had chores to do every day with milking taking place early in the morning before school and late in the afternoon after getting off the bus. There was no relief on the holidays. At 4:00 p.m. my brother and sisters and I were off to the barn to spend the next 2 to 3 hours taking care of the animals and milking the cows. Then cleaning up, we would go into the house to celebrate. Of course mom was also usually down there in the morning and dad was down there in the evening.
On Thanksgiving Day, the cars were lined up in the driveway and starting at around 4:00 p.m., the festivities with grandparents, aunts and uncles and loads of cousins, began. By the time we finished chores, it was 6:00-7:00 at night. We would then come into the house through the basement and try to sneak through the maze of people to get to our rooms to change out of some extremely smelly clothes and race to the bathroom to wash up before dinner.
The aromas coming from my Mother’s kitchen were heavenly. My mother would cook the biggest turkey she could find 25 – 30lbs, crammed with homemade stuffing. Earlier in the day, my sisters and I would have already pealed a minimum of 10lbs of potatoes, and along with all that, there was no less than 12 other vegetables and side items spread out on the table for all to be enticed.
For the past 13 years, I have missed out on my family’s Thanksgiving Day dinners and gatherings. For years, Earl led Thanksgiving Day services in churches. We’ve also lived so far from either of our families that even when he didn’t have services, just trying to get to them has proved difficult. In the early years with the kids, we couldn’t afford to fly with three children, so the attempts to get to St. Louis would be delayed by Atlanta traffic. I remember one year trying to leave Atlanta on the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving and 4 or 5 hours into the trip we had traveled only as far as the Tennessee border. The red lights ahead of us were like a never ending river. We realized that we had to turn around and go back or drive all night.
So now we have made our own traditions for Thanksgiving. When the kids were home, I made sure I cooked everything my mom always had. The first year, Earl and the kids were amazed as they counted 16 different items of food on the table. I enjoy cooking, so Thanksgiving at our house has always been special, and it’s truly a day that Earl and I can give God thanks and also rest. We’ve learned that Thanksgiving Day is a restful day – a gift from God for the service we do in His name. And it gives Earl a couple days to energize before the Advent season begins.
Last year we started what I am going to consider a new tradition in this empty nest season of our lives. With no kids at home and living far away from family, we found some of our friends who weren’t traveling either, and we decided to celebrate with them. We split the cooking, and we all gather around a feast of food at one of our homes. This year, we decided to eat over at our house. We will enjoy the fellowship of one of our church families – but representative of our thanksgiving for all the saints.
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ…” (I Thess. 1:2-3)
Like this:
Like Loading...
17 Oct 2012
by pastorswifelife
in October 2012
Tags: answered prayer, being real, Christ, Christian, Christianity, friends, girlfriend, God, Holy Spirit, honest friendships, honesty, ministry, Pastor, pastorate, Pastors Wife, PW, Religion & Spirituality, truth
I recently read the book, Desperate Pastors’ Wives by Ginger Kolbaba & Christy Scannell. I found out about the book while browsing a website I joined specifically for pastors’ wives. It had some very positive reviews by women who are in the ministry, and I felt that perhaps I might glean some insight into whether my experiences were the same as my comrades.
The book begins by enlightening the reader that pastors’ wives (a.k.a. PWs) are many times without real friends. Then we meet four PWs who put their trust in one another over a long period of time and eventually there is created a deep and wonderfully honest friendship. PWs can relate to each other. PWs know and understand the difficulties of the ministry.
The focus of this book has described my life for the past thirteen years. I have struggled with befriending anyone since becoming a PW. I have begged God to bless me with a true Christian friend for all of these years.
Prior to becoming a pastor’s wife, I had close friends. I still have my oldest friend Valerie (we’ve known each other for 44 years) and my friend Beverly (we’ve known each other for 22 years). But these friends are not near in proximity nor do we share our everyday lives any longer. We talk or email every few months, catching up, but none of the depth of our lives is expressed in such short periods of time. And now, as the wife of a pastor, with my own ministry, I tend not to think that they want to hear about everything that is going on in my life because of the uniqueness of being a PW.
I reconciled myself to the fact that Earl was just going to have to do as my best friend. And actually, for all intents and purposes, Earl really is my best friend. He knows all about me and certainly listens and shares with me on an everyday basis and deals with all my annoying habits and many faults. But right now, I’m talking GIRLFRIEND!
Once I became a PW, I noticed people to be more reserved about themselves around me. Everybody is truly pleasant and certainly may be inquiring about me, but very few bring you into their lives and share who they are in such a way as to develop a close relationship. However more recently, I have met a couple of women who seem to want to maintain a closer relationship with an alien PW like me.
Carol is a friend from our Morrow Church pastorate. It took six years at that ministry before we actually met. Although I don’t get to see Carol but a couple times a year, we do have dinner and try to catch up. We laugh and we usually cry in just a mere 2 hour time frame, but we are uplifted by each other’s company and God’s Holy Spirit. God is the One Who has brought us together – not the call of being a PW. We met when our kids started dating and our daughter invited Carol & her husband to church. God answered that prayer for me. Within six months of meeting Carol, Earl and I were called to our next ministry. Since Carol, we’ve had two more pastorates.
It wasn’t until we came to James Island Presbyterian, that I met a wonderful woman named Kristi. Kristi is real. Kristi is true and honest. Kristi speaks her mind! The first time we met, she and her husband took Earl and me out for dinner and the first thing she said to me was “It’s been a heck of a day; I’m having a glass of wine, how about you?”….We hit it off immediately. Kristi is in the ministry too. Her husband is the Associate in Ministry at our church. Kristi knows….and understands! Kristi is yet again, a God answered prayer.
If we have patience and trust in God, I believe that He will bring into our lives the people who will help us traverse through God’s difficult ministry trails. I give God my thanks for giving me the patience to wait on Him and for giving me the friends that He has chosen for me…. in His perfect time.
John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries
pastorswifelife 