Tag Archive - church

Minister Wives Fellowship and Support

July 13, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women, series with 2 Comments

Minister Wives Fellowship and Support

Welcome to this more intimate series of posts that are meant to be a “we’re-in-this-together” kind of thing. I’ll write these posts to both challenge and honor us as the leaders we’re called to be. We’ve felt the essential need to connect with someone who understands the ministry and gets us. I’m a preacher’s wife and I have a desire to help minister’s wives find a safe place to to be heard and receive ministry. I’ll provide helps, a few opinions and lots of confessions in the struggle to be a pastor’s wife. My intention is to build a support system for you, the special servants of God, that often feel isolated and overlooked.

photo credit: ubo_pakes
Together, Facing the World

This post will serve as a table of contents for this series.

As always, please leave your thoughts, suggestions, and things you’d love for me to consider covering in the comments!

Can’t wait to get started. The following are the ideas to come and posts:

How to Embarrassingly Prepare Cross-culturally in One Sunday Morning
One Essential Way for a Pastor’s Wife to Deal with Anger
post on being real for minister’s and minister’s wives from a children’s book
continued . . .

As always, if you have a topic or suggestion you would like to discuss please contact me here or make a comment on this post!

This is the Minister Wives Fellowship and Support Series. If you liked it, you might enjoy the I nsights into Ministry & Leadership Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series and the Living and Working on Mission Series. Click over to the table of contents for all the Blog Series.

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Working and Living On Mission

July 13, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women, series with 0 Comments

Living and Working On Mission

I want my life to count for something. We all somehow, some way, through what we do, want to make a difference. This is a series of posts that includes information on how to get involved with an effort that will help you do just that. These posts deliver inspiration and encouragement for living on purpose, on mission as well as some outlets so you can get involved

My goal is to offer as many opportunities as I can. If you have any suggestions of ways to make a difference and be proactive make a comment below and I will try to cover it with a post.

Here are some of the mission and opportunity posts:

Christmas Eve Gift
The Best Christmas Heifer!
Little Made Much
One Way to Move from the Chair to Uganda
Obstacles to the Mission
Flight to Uganda
Entebbe Night and Morning
Entebbe Road and Ugandan Fast Food
Arrival into Iganga
Work for Orphans
Orphan Ministry and Burial
Orphan Laundry and Service
A Little Work and Monkey Business in Uganda
Uganda Caning on the Blindside
Sunday Worship, Dinner and Gifts (video)
Travel to Romantic Sipi Falls for Rest
Riding Around Africa
Last Orphanage Walk (video)
Uganda Orphans
Russia Orphans
Vickie’s Heart
continued . . .

As always, if you have a topic or suggestion you would like to discuss please contact me here or make a comment on this post!

This is the Living and Working on Mission Series. If you liked it you might also enjoy the Insights into Ministry & Leadership Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series. Click over to the table of contents for all the Blog Series.

Was this post helpful? Please consider subscribing!

Check out the options for subscribing here! That way you won’t miss a post. And if you really think it’s tops, Twitter it and like the FaceBook page!

12 Leadership Checks for Making a Kingdom Difference

January 14, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership with 4 Comments

While praying about multiplying our small group and the possibility of planting a church, I began reading and studying every related resource I could find. Many cite leadership as a key element to starting and/or maintaining a ministry.

Leaders teach Bible studies, organize and administrate offices and households, train children, balance budgets and bills then decide what’s for dinner. Leaders are everywhere, and I’m sure you’re one of them.

Leader.DucksinaRow
Leaders can lead large groups, but they must lead one: themselves. Leadership is pioneer work: heading out where no one goes but God. There are many challenges and it is easy to slip into NOT leading. In Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement by Dave and Jon Ferguson, I found a cool check list for leaders to monitor themselves and make sure they lead well.

Twelve indicators that leadership is lacking
1. I wait for someone to tell me what to do rather than taking the initiative myself.
2. I spend too much time talking about how things should be different.
3. I blame the context, surroundings, or other people for my current situation.
4. I am more concerned about being cool or accepted than doing the right thing.
5. I seek consensus rather than casting vision for a preferable future.
6. I am not taking any significant risks.
7. I accept the status quo as the way it’s always been and always will be.
8. I start protecting my reputation instead of opening myself up to opposition.
9. I procrastinate to avoid making a tough call.
10. I talk to others about the problem rather than taking it to the person responsible.
11. I don’t feel like my butt is on the line for anything significant.
12. I ask for way too many opinions before taking action.

The list made me uncomfortable. Yet I’m not called to be comfortable. I am to serve even when it hurts. Fear immobilizes me and I’m guilty of allowing it to keep me from leading. This list inspired me to take a risk, to step up and really lead as God directs.

How about you? Where has God been leading that makes you uncomfortable, or like your neck is stuck out? How do you put fear aside and adventure forward with God? Please answer in the comment section.

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Check out the options for subscribing here! That way you won’t miss a post. And if you really think it’s tops, Twitter it and like the FaceBook page! If you’d like to partner in prayer sing up here.

This post is part of the Insights into Ministry & Leadership Series. If you enjoyed it you may also like the Living and Working on Mission Blog Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series or the other Blog Series.
(Images courtesy of sxc.hu)

Robin in Bangs, TX on 10/29/10

September 1, 2010 in Events with 0 Comments

Bangs First Baptist Church
hosts

Capture Me!
Ladies Conference

October 29-30, 2010

Click to register or call FBC @ (325) 752-6724

CaptureMeInsert

Capture Me! begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday night and ends 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Reservations are needed. Dinner, breakfast and lunch are provided. Childcare optional with registration. See registration form for information.

Don’t miss this great opportunity for a dynamic weekend of worship, inspiration and friendship.

Spiritual Life (PART 1): Perfect Knowledge Unnecessary

August 30, 2010 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 3 Comments

“Will you show me how?” eight year old Jessie asked.

Has a child ever put you on the spot with a question? Maybe one you’ve been asking yourself? How can we respond when we don’t know the answer?

Jessie’s mother sat with her Bible, writing in a new purple book when Jessie asked, “What are you doing?”

Kathy sighed without looking up. “I’m doing the work Mrs. Robin asked me to do. Go play.”

Loaded with boredom’s energy and full of questions, Jessie couldn’t go play when another question had to be asked. “What does Mrs. Robin want you to do?”

Kathy stopped writing, slapped the book irritatedly and looked at Jessie. “She challenged our class to seek a deeper relationship with God.” Kathy’s tone softened, “And gave us some homework to try.”

“Can I do it too? If Mrs. Robin thinks it’s good, I want to do it too. Please?”

Training Kathy thought the word “homework” would send Jessie out to play, but it became obvious that Jessie had the same desire, to learn about God. She showed Jessie step by step how to do the exercises she was doing. After Kathy journaled a short prayer in the purple book, Jessie wrote hers beside her mother’s. Often Jessie asked questions in which Kathy had no answers. After praying for understanding, Kathy asked her pastor and leaders for guidance. Staying one step ahead, Kathy taught her daughter some tools to maintain, strengthen and develop a deep spiritual and intimate relationship with God.

We don’t have to know everything about God, the Bible or other spiritual matters to teach others. Even the wisest theologian doesn’t have all the answers because God has kept hidden some mysteries for which we must exercise trust and faith. Besides, if we have all knowledge but have not love, we have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-2, 8-9) for God is love (1 John 4:8, 16-17). Studying for knowledge is good. Memorizing the Bible is excellent. And serving the widows, orphans and prisoners is commanded. But mastering that and the other religious activities of our heritage isn’t the primary spiritual teaching. We need a personal God-experience to gain a hope that lasts. It’s not how much we know, but how much hope we have in who we know.

Imagine having a purple book with your child’s recorded conversations with God next to yours. That’s helping another find their God-experience.

“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Co 8:1, NIV). “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Co 13:13, NLT).

Follow up with Spiritual Life (Part 2) and Spiritual Life (Part 3).

(Images courtesy of sxc.hu)

Stay Thirsty, Share Hope: A Simple Way to Do Good

June 25, 2010 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 0 Comments

Please, can I have a drop to quench my thirst?

People Are Thirsty

Every time I come in from this Africa-hot Texas weather I beg for water, sometimes in a not-so-pleasant manner. This heat makes me sticky and irritable. I’ll be “glistening” all summer while searching for refreshment.
waterglass
Others also look for cold water. Some head to rivers and lakes (my prayers for those involved in Arkansas’ flash flood). Others turn to vendors and waiters. I heard of a rich guy that was burning up in the heat. He could not buy a drop of water and was desperate for a cold drink. No one helped. “Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue” (from Luke 16:24), he begged, while knowing he was shut off from the life-giving water.

Drinks All Around

His desperation created in me a desire to help. I wanted to dig a well, pipe in some relief, do something. It was too late for him, but I could share my life-sustaining drink with others before they reach the same horrifying end.

I decided to tell as many as I could about the water that flows deep, puts out the heat and satisfies our thirst. Such water is found in Jesus. He offers living water and to the one who drinks it, no more thirst (John 4:10-14). I want to be the pipe bringing life, the well that overflows, the spout that pours sweet words of hope, life and redemption. I want no one to go thirsty like the rich guy. I promise to share my drink.

The Choice to Drink Deep, or Not

I may not be able to make others taste, but I can be a pleasant, enticing glass that holds cool and refreshing water. My acceptance and love can leave people with a desire to know more about me and my God. In these irritable, hot, hazy days of summer, fill my cup Lord, and make me a pleasant presentation of your living water.

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.) (John 7:37-9)

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Pointless Prayer on the National Day of Prayer

May 6, 2010 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 0 Comments

Today, on the National Day of Prayer, many pointless prayers will go nowhere. There is a time where prayer for our nation, our leaders and our families are noticed by God. But that season is after a reflective prayer where we humbly approach God in repentance acknowledging our wrong doings and dependence upon his forgiveness. Without that personal relationship and preface to prayer, we are participating in meaningless utterances.

As a “praying” nation, we fashion a god and clothe him to fit our belief. We are a spiritual, religious people like those in Jeremiah 10:1-10. In our minds we adorn god with garments of gold, making him some sort of controllable idol, boxing him in a manageable package that fit whatever limitation our faith holds.

God is beyond measure, beyond comprehension, beyond our ability to grasp entirely. We cannot explain him. We cannot contain him. We cannot pray to him on our terms. We must read his letter to us, the Bible, to catch a glimpse of the holy God we want to petition in prayer.

When we do . . .

When we seek him, we will find him, especially when we seek him with all our hearts (Deuteronomy 4:29, 1 Chronicles 28:9). God wants to relate with us. He wants us to pray, to have conversations with him—both listening and talking. But we must pray on his terms: humbly, repentant and personal followed by corporate repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 10:9-10).

Instead of a national day of religious whims, how awesome would be a national day of repentance, prayer on God’s terms.

Picture: To buy a t-shirt at www.recoveryrocksmesa.com

MOPS University Heights Baptist

October 20, 2009 in Scheduled Events with 0 Comments

Where is your brother?

September 24, 2009 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 0 Comments

Yesterday’s entry in Streams in the Desert had a stirring poem by Archbishop William Alexander. The poem moved me as it spoke to my heart’s passion. Listen to this…

“If I have eaten my morsel alone,”
The patriarch spoke with scorn;
What would he think of the Church were he shown
Heathendom—huge, forlorn,
Godless, Christless, with soul unfed,
While the Church’s ailment is fullness of bread,
Eating her morsel alone?

“Freely you have received, so give,”
He says, who has given us all.
How will the soul in us longer live
Deaf to their starving call,
For whom the blood of the Lord was shed,
And His body broken to give them bread,
If we eat our morsel alone!

Oh Church, I confess to being a glutton, but I can no longer fully enjoy our feasts, the meetings of shared faith. My heart longs to take the abundance of life to those who hunger, those who cry out, those who have no hope.

To those who wait, “I don’t know how to get to you, but I’m coming. Hold on a little longer while I find my way and learn. I want to bring you a bite of hope, a bit of love and acceptance. I’m a coming. Don’t give up.”

To God, “Help me bring the answer to their cries. Show me how to do this. What is your way? Fill me with your amazing love and let it pour over them. Here am I.”

“Where is your brother Abel?” (Genesis 4:9)

Let Not the Music Die

September 1, 2009 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 0 Comments

Great Master, touch us with Your skillful hands;
Let not the music that is in us die! ~Streams, p. 335

That line of poetry pierces into the struggle for my passion and alludes to the difficulties of life. Job said:

Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand…who longs for the shade…waiting to be paid. I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery (Job 7:1-3).

If you’re like me working toward some beautiful melody or outcome, but find only discord and difficult notes, take heart. God will touch us at the right time and make beautiful music from all our pain and struggles. Your life and work matters to God. Let’s not allow the music in us to die.

What awesome worship the sacrifice of playing our music becomes.

Play on!

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