Tag Archive - prayer

One Hope for the New Year

January 1, 2012 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 1 Comment

Fireworks for new beginnings

Out goes the old year and in comes the new with all it’s challenges, struggles and opportunities. Looking back, I know without God things would have been much more difficult. With God’s help our future looks bright.

“Thus far has the LORD helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12)

I am working on my goals and plans for the next year. My life plan will include health, organization, minimization, focus and some high hopes.

May God give you hope and focus to finish the work he’s called you to with success in the challenges to come. God bless!!

What are you glad to see go this past year? What are you looking forward to the most this next year? Do you have any Big Hairy Goals for this next year?

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*picture from blakeflannery.

Riding Around Africa

August 21, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women with 0 Comments

I slept very comfortably in a grass hut. During the night, if we had to use the toilet we walked outside to another hut with a concreted porta-potty kind of thing. It had a toilet seat concreted into a raised sitting spot that went straight into an underground tank. Comfy-at-night feeling.

Waterfall at Sipi Falls

Waterfall at Sipi Falls

Chuck didn’t sleep very well. The altitude sickness from the evening before wasn’t letting up. He was looking forward to getting back down the mountain this morning to see if he got better. Iganga’s elevation where the orphanage is based is about 3600 ft above sea level and Sipi Falls Lodge about 6700 ft in the foothills of Mt. Elgon in eastern Uganda, almost to Kenya. That’s nothing compared to 40,000 ft for about 22 hours flying there (link to flight post).

Early, James knocked to see if we wanted to hike up to the falls. I wanted to, but Chuck was feeling pretty bad so I stayed with him. James, Jacque and Mike took off to climb the slippery, red-mud slopes. It took them about two hours to make the hike to the second waterfall taking pictures and sliding most of the way.

After they left, I went to take a shower which was located in a separate grass hut. It was exquisite in decor. The shower head dripped over flat and smooth rocks where my feet went. The drain was hidden under the rocks. The hot water was non-existent. Well, there was occasional flash of warmer water, but it mostly felt ice cold like the water from the Sipi River. Since the weather was cold 50-60ish and rainy, I was VERY reluctant to jump in the shower. No hair washing today!

After re-packing my backpack, I walked up the hill to the main lodge for coffee and breakfast. I needed some warmth. Sipi Falls Lodge was like a royalty treatment in grass huts. The food was delicious and served with special yummy-ness. The total cost of this romantic getaway was about $60 a night per person and that included three meals.

Riding Around Africa

We loaded into the van for the ride home. The beauty of the valley below with the clouds wisping through was awesome. I was totally struck with the thought, “Hey, I’m riding around Africa!”

Driving the mountain

Driving the mountain

On the road, we came to a police check point. The police have stations where they stand on the side of the road stopping traffic whenever they have a whim. They wear camo, carry their AK-47′s, look over the van and ask questions like: Where are you going? Where have you been? What are you going to do? This time they made a request for us to give them a book. Cameron gave him his Bible, then he let us pass. I was pretty scared sitting in the back of the van watching another policeman watching the van. I found out after we were allowed to pass that Jacque was fearful too. (Sorry, no pictures were allowed of police. I didn’t want to get arrested!)

On down the road, Chuck saw monkeys in the forest trees. Jacque and I stuck our heads out the window to look for some. When we didn’t see them right away, we started making monkey sounds hollering into the trees as we whizzed by in the van. At that speed, who knows if I saw one or not. Maybe I did.

Celebration with the Orphans

With only a four hour trip home, we pulled into the missionary house to get ready for the party that night. We took streamers, animal crackers, cake mix and party balloons to have a party for the kids. A regular feast was fixed with rice, beans, chicken, beef, fish, cabbage, peppers, onions, ground innards (a pretty tasty paste made up of …, guess), and soda pop.

Party Streamers with the Orphans

Party Streamers with the Orphans

Chuck took a turn for the worse by the time we got him into bed. Fever spiked and decisions had to be made about doctor, clinic, or go buy some more of the same antibiotics he had already finished the day before. We opted to buy more medicine which anyone can buy without prescriptions in Uganda. We were to fly out the next day and it was already late into the night. He laid in bed while the kids prayed for him in the courtyard. They sang their prayer. Although I fretted about Chuck, their song was beautiful. Chuck dozed and the party began.

We ate played and visited with the kids. We witnessed the whole lot of orphans getting in trouble by Susan. The amount of respect she warrants isn’t to be trifled with. They mind. This might be the reason they are so respectful with us. It’s easy to see the love they have for Susan and her love for them. The party was a hit even though there were obstacles. We had a blast, but in our thoughts was the fact that this was the last night to see the kids.

Before bed we packed part of our bags for the trip home. Click to see more pictures on FaceBook.

Please pray for the mission. You can sign up to be a partner in prayer. And for updates while on location you can subscribe to feed here.

Please contribute your comment below. I’d love to hear your guess about ground innards, your understanding about discipline and respect, or your idea about resorting Uganda being more like camping America. Go ahead and comment.

This post is part of the Living and Working on Mission Blog Series and you can read more about our trip in the previous Uganda posts. If you enjoyed it you may also like the Insights into Ministry & Leadership Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series or the other Blog Series.

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Arrival into Iganga

August 3, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women with 5 Comments

Upon arrival in Iganga, a village of 30,000 people, we drove through after the people worked all day. They were rustling about the market buying their day’s food. The people get paid at the end of the day (like Bible times) and then can buy their food to cook for the evening. They fix dinner which may be eaten anywhere from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Here are some great pictures out of the van window.

Iganga Market

Iganga market

Iganga market

Iganga market

Iganga market

By the time we arrived at the missionary house, it was known throughout the village that we were in town. When we pulled into the metal gated yard at the house, the children from the orphanage were waiting on us. They jumped up and down clapping and smiling. As we exited the vans they each came forward with a unique handshake and a “Welcome” and “Habari” which is Swahili for “How are you?”

New Friends with the Orphans

Uganda Friends

Uganda Friends

I was so humbled. These children are so welcoming and glad to see us. As I mingling with the kids, a young girl of about 5 years approached and bowed to her knees before me. I nearly cried. I felt I needed to bow to her. I bent over and picked her up and hugged her tight. She was so precious. As a sign of respect, it is the custom for girls to bow as they approach. The girls all sat on the ground in a circle around Jacque. I approached as they were getting acquainted, and one of the older girls that spoke English asked me how old I was. I gave them the year that I was born and let them do the math. That’s because my kids aren’t with me to remind me how old I am. (And no, I’m not telling you here!) The children here are so very respectful and age is highly respected. Discipling them this week will be extremely fulfilling.

The kids had to leave shortly after our arrival, before sundown. And the large metal gate was locked behind them. Apparently, it is very dangerous to be out at night. The gate reminds me of the story from the Bible about Sodom and Gomorrah where the traveler came into Lot’s house and the town came knocking on the door. Moses, our house guard, sat just inside the gate with his bow and arrow and guarded us all night. We came in for dinner, which by the way was an amazing meal! The food here is all fresh, real food.

Real Food

Real Food

Real Food

After dinner, we sat out under a nearly starless night and talked while some awesome local music was playing loudly across the road. They were having a birthday party and the local music reminded me of what I would hear in Mexico, lively and fun. I’m positive one could salsa or zumba to it.

We settled in for the night. I took a shower that is arranged by gravity not water pressure, think of trickle. No problem, I was thankful for running water and a toilet in the missionary house. Most of the country has squat latrines and no paper. then I crawled into a mosquito netted bed of the same type of foam mattress that was in the hotel in Entebbe. It was good to lay down and elevate my swollen feet (the plane ride still taking a toll on my extremities). Slept awesome!

Remember the pictures of the market. The orphans that escaped from the north scavenge for scraps of food after the market is closed. This is where Phil began collecting the kids and taking care of them. Where will God break our hearts to begin making a difference in the lives on others.

More pictures are uploaded on Facebook. Check them out.

Please pray for the mission. You can sign up to be a partner in prayer. And for updates while on location you can subscribe to feed here.

Please comment below. Remember the pictures of the market. The orphans that escaped from the north scavenge for scraps of food after the market is closed. This is where Phil began collecting the kids and taking care of them. I’d love to hear where and how God has broke your heart to begin making a difference in the lives on others.

This post is part of the Living and Working on Mission Blog Series and you can read more about our trip in the previous Uganda posts. If you enjoyed it you may also like the Insights into Ministry & Leadership Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series or the other Blog Series.

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Entebbe Road

August 2, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women with 3 Comments

After staying the night in the Entebbe Flight Hotel, we loaded into the vans and had the ride of our lives. Driving in Uganda is an adventure. I decided I’d breathe once I put my feet back on the dirt. Holding my breath beat the constant gasping for air. While driving, there is absolutely no personal space and no stop lights or stop signs. The roads have British style lanes (opposite sides of the road), but these lanes are really only suggestions. They drive and walk all over the road. Honking is the friendly communication of, “Hey, I’m here.” The drivers honk and pass blind while going over a hill. “Bike” lanes are part of the side road and are used by motorcycle taxis, bikes, pedestrians and vehicles too. Big trucks pass amazingly close to people walking, even very small children. Absolutely frightening!

We stopped in Kampala, Uganda at a mall with a Wal-Mart type of store called the Game. Phil picked up some things while we began absorbing the culture. Always aware that we had to stay together. Peter, his wife, Ken and Susan watched over us and the vans.

Coke is King in Sugar Cane

Coke

Coke is great in Uganda!

I had a bitter lemon drink that was very refreshing. It was a sparkling lemonade that had the taste of the lemon rind. Chuck got a bottle coke. THE OLD COKE made with real locally grown sugar cane. He let me have a sip. Yummy! It was delicious. Why can’t we have real Coke back home? The difference is astounding. Makes me want to grow sugar cane and make my own Coke.

Once Phil got the prepaid internet card and other things, we loaded back into the van for another breathless ride. Some of our team saw monkeys while on this road. The locals don’t like them. The monkeys eat their crops and are menaces, “worse than squirrels at home,” said Phil.

Ugandan Roadside Cook

Roadside cook

Roadside cook

We stopped for fast food in Mabira Forest on the road to Iganga. The roadside in this spot in the forest had lots of people selling food. We were told to stay in the van and close the windows. The sellers mobbed the vans. Susan got out and negotiated the buying of food. This was amazing to watch.

I learned that since our skin is white, we are considered rich people. They call us muzungu, which is the word for the color white, but to them means rich people.

Through the windows, Susan handed us chicken on a stick, grilled bananas and bottled water. I’ve never had better tasting chicken. Take a look.

Ugandan Fast Food

Ugandan fast food

Ugandan fast food

I Saw The Nile!

After eating our Ugandan style fast food, we started back down the road. We approached the Nile River and crossed the bridge. There were school children walking on the bridge and political signs posted on it.

School children walking across the Nile River bridge

School children walking across the Nile River bridge

Later we arrived in Iganga. The next post will be about our route to the missionary house through Iganga.

Seeing the Nile was something I never thought I’d do. Pretty cool. More pictures are uploaded on Facebook. Check them out.

Please pray for the mission. You can sign up to be a partner in prayer. And for updates while on location you can subscribe to feed here.

Please comment below. I’d love to hear about something you never thought you’d do. God has a way of making what seems impossible happen.

This post is part of the Living and Working on Mission Blog Series and you can read more about our trip in the previous Uganda posts. If you enjoyed it you may also like the Insights into Ministry & Leadership Series, the Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges Series or the other Blog Series.

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One Way to Move from the Chair to Uganda

July 15, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership, Ministry to Women with 1 Comment

From My Chair to Uganda

I sat in church one Sunday morning, totally moved with compassion and possibility. God began calling me to Uganda.

Mission, Ugadan Orphans
Orphans in Uganda photo by Elpis Ministries

In getting ready for Ugandan orphanage trip, I learned I’m a wimp! I have to get shots! Part of the preparation also includes packing a trunk of needs to be left with the orphans, and writing the discipleship material our team will be using to train the orphans. My husband and I will be in Iganga, Uganda at the Elpis Ministries orphanage from July 30th until August 11th training the older orphans. I want to teach them to live in God’s power and not repeat their social norm that put them on the street in the first place. My hope is that they can make a difference in their culture.

Your Opportunity

Because of God’s work in me, I would like to offer you an opportunity to also bless the orphans of Uganda.

  • Become a partner in prayer for this mission, the team and the preparation. Please join the list of those who pray for us. I know I could use it.
  • Support us with your interest. I will provide up-to-date reports, pictures and interact with you, your children and co-workers while I’m there. Think of this as your eyes on the ground to learn about culture, people and all kinds of other interesting tidbits. I can make this as interactive and creative as possible. Maybe even introduce you to a child that God breaks you heart for and that you can sponsor for as little as $10 a week. These reports can be followed from my Living and Working on Mission Blog Series and your curiosities and questions can be posted in the comments. I will respond.
  • Donate your dinner or something you value. If you would like to help support this mission, you can donate and find out more about Elpis Ministries here. Donations cover school supplies, underwear, beds, food, school uniforms, sewing machines, welding machines as well as travel expenses. Please support making a difference in Uganda. And pass this opportunity to other interested groups and individuals. If you want more personal information, please contact me here.

How do you see yourself being involved with God’s mission? Would you be willing to join a mission team?

Please contribute your comment below. I’d love to know about your interest in living and working on mission.

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

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Related event

  • Speaker: Robin Bryce
  • Date: Saturday, July 30th 2011 - Thursday, August 11th 2011
  • Time: 8:00am
  • City: Robin Bryce in Iganga, Uganda
  • Venue: Elpis Ministries Orphanage
  • Country: Uganda
  • Notes: I’ll be discipling the older orphans to live in such a way as to make a difference in their culture.
  • Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Blog Series

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

Blog Series

These blog post and blog post series are considered the “Best Of” here on Confessions of a Preacher’s Wife Blog. These are the ones that moved me the most and naturally they are the best I have to offer.

I hope you enjoy the time journeying through them at your own leisure. Also, I trust you find them helpful, become inspired by them, and then maybe change or do something because of them. That your life will be different by taking my hard-learned lessons to heart and applying them as well as sharing them with others!

181/365
Creative Commons License photo credit: Xelcise
Best of Blog Series

Here are the series that I’ve put together for you:

A Spiritual Journey’s Gentle Nudges

This is a series of confessions on how God gently nudged me along on my spiritual journey. Sometimes it felt more like a kick in the pants, nevertheless, I got the message and back on track. Laced throughout are key truths I’ve learned along the way that changed me and I’m sure will help you, if only to laugh at this preacher’s wife and her zaniness.

Living and Working on Mission

This series is more of a log of various ministry efforts and opportunities as well as sharing insights I’ve gained. Any special effort like the Ugandan Orphan Mission or the Capture Me! Conference for women will share about another culture or a mission opportunity. These posts will deliver inspiration to get involved with God and share his love even in your own hometown. Click over to begin your journey of sharing God’s love and be ready to laugh and learn along with me.

  • Engage us here as we live on mission, changing the world one heart at a time.
  • Remember, it isn’t about guilt, it’s about finding something to live for, something that gives your life purpose!

Insights into Ministry & Leadership

This series includes insights and encouragement to improve leadership, ministry and personal/team development. Often we get into ruts doing things as usual. I want to broaden our thinking with some “what if” questions as well as some helpful tips. As a pastor’s wife and leader, I made a fair share of mistakes which caused me to study leadership and effectiveness. In these posts you will learn from my mistakes and gain insights on many aspects of leadership development, teaching and ministry, including ministering to women.

Minister Wives Fellowship and Support

This series both challenges and honors the leadership of ministry wives. If you’re a minister’s wife, you’ve felt the essential need to connect with someone who understands the ministry and gets you. 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. In this blog series, you’ll find helps, a few opinions and lots of confessions in the struggle to be a pastor’s wife. The plan is to build a support system for these special servants that often feel isolated and overlooked. Click on over to take a look at some of the topics.

Other series may be developed as need is expressed. If you have any ideas, please share in the comments below. Please comment and share your insight and solutions. What issues do you deal with that you would like discussed?

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!

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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.

Future Minister Wives
Creative Commons License 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:

  1. How to Embarrassingly Prepare Cross-culturally in One Sunday Morning
  2. One Essential Way for a Pastor’s Wife to Deal with Anger
  3. post on being real for minister’s and minister’s wives from a children’s book
  4. 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 Insights 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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3 Steps to an Incredible Journey with God

June 9, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Ministry to Women with 2 Comments

A couple of days after speaking at a Prayer breakfast on the topic of a living relationship with God, I had several people who asked for a refresher. They wanted to know more about taking a deep breath and pausing our busy schedules for a few minutes to focus on God. I will answer their questions by outlining the method I use for taking a breather to join God on an incredible journey.

writing prayer with God
Creative Commons License photo credit: juliejordanscott

I’ve read the Bible, studied the Bible, prayed, kept the famous Quiet Time and done all these things since my early teens, but it wasn’t until I asked God to speak to me that I learned what it looked like to have a living relationship with God. This forever changed the way I read the Bible and pray.

Here are the steps I take to join God on life’s journey:

  1. Take Time to Hear God

    As I exhale a physical deep cleansing kind of breath, I ask God to speak to me. I sort of sigh out all my racing thoughts and get ready to hear God speak. Careful to keep my spiritual ears open, I read a short devotion and the Bible. I don’t exegete the biblical passage or parse the biblical language. I’m not looking for in-depth Bible knowledge during this time. Rather, I’m simply reading to hear God speak–to give life to our conversation and depth to our living relationship. Reading the Bible with God conversationally has deepened my journey with God.

    I keep a journal of my journey. The things God shows me during my reading, I put on paper. Sometimes it is a little unknown-to-me fact, or at others, it’s a bigger ah ha moment–like the day I was creeped out. (Recorded in Why Following God in Living Relationship is NOT for the Faint-Hearted).  After writing what God says in my journal, I respond.

  2. Respond in Prayer

    My response to God is a prayer of praise–celebrating God’s continued relationship with me. I use the acrostic: P.R.A.I.S.E. Writing the acrostic down the page and my prayer according to these categories:

    • Praise – Think about God’s majesty, power, mercy, grace and love. Praise him for speaking to you and thank him for who he is and what he does.
    • Repentance – Ask God’s forgiveness for your wrongdoing, sin. Be specific. Ask for a clean heart.
    • Acknowledgement – Recognize God as sovereign master and humbly yield yourself. Submit to him.
    • Intercession – Make requests of God for others: your family, friends, church leaders, etc.
    • Supplication – Make requests of God for yourself: your needs, health, job, etc
    • Equipping – Ask God to help you fulfill your purpose in life: to fill you with his Spirit, to help you be victorious over evil, to empower you, to have eyes and ears to know God and a heart to respond to him.

    After finishing the acrostic P.R.A.I.S.E., I ask God to confirm any specific actions I need to take.

  3. Act on the Priorities

    Wrapping up my breather with God, I think about all I need to do. On more than one occasion, God has prompted me to do something specific during my conversation. I write my refreshed to do list making sure God’s tasks get first priority.

After I finish this exercise, I close my journal but carry on the conversation with God. That’s how I know what to do to be living on purpose–going on an incredible journey with God.

How do you keep up to date with your life with God? Please share what works for you in the comments section.

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Why Following God in Living Relationship is NOT for the Faint-Hearted

June 1, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, Leadership with 4 Comments

What more could I give? I was a Baptist minister’s wife and had served God and his people for nearly 20 years. Really, what more could God ask for? I met with him daily in prayer and Bible reading. I prayed for God to speak to me and to use me as he wished. I taught the Bible and led others to follow Jesus. I taught my kids to love Jesus. I served and did everything any woman could do as a pastor’s wife and one who is called by God to serve him. Or so I thought.

Wait!!
Creative Commons License photo credit: tramod

Following God

One day during my Bible reading and conversation with God, I felt a near audible. I had just prayed, “Lord, use me. Not my will, but yours be done. I am yours. I will follow you.” Then a deep movement stirred me. The common everyday spot in my home all of a sudden seemed . . . different. Everything faded from focus and all I could hear was, “Do you mean it? Will you follow me?”

Whoa. That just didn’t happen. Did it? Fear ran through my veins. I couldn’t respond.

Agitated and no longer able to sit, I stood. Paced the floor. I must be loosing it.

After a few minutes of all the Bible stories of God speaking repeating in my head, I settled on doing what Samuel did. I went back to try to re-enter the conversation. As I sat back down, I wondered where this was going. I re-read the Bible reading and said, “Okay, Lord. Speak again. I’m here.” Or like Samuel, “Speak, Lord. Your servant listeneth.”

There it was again. I heard, “Will you follow me?”

Being a sort of newbie at this way weird situation, I looked around. Could anyone else hear this? Then looked at the Bible again and said, “Uh . . . yes, Lord, I will follow you.”

“Really? Will you follow me?”

I paused. What does he want? How is this happening? “Yes . . . Why, Lord? Why do you ask?”

My mind raced. What is he going to ask of me? Will I do it . . . no matter what?

His “Did you mean it? Will you follow me?” reverberated through my mind. I thought I meant it when I said I’d follow him. But . . .

Then with much more pointed clarity, “Will YOU,” he paused for emphasis, “follow me?”

Oblivious to 20ft tall woman
Creative Commons License photo credit: Funkdooby

Faint Hearted

Oh no. I thought of all the bad, horrible things that God could call me to do. I might loose my life. My family. My friends. Or my respect.

Bingo. Bells went off. That’s what I really struggled with. Pride.

What if God called me to do something that my ministry friends would think was not proper for a Baptist minister’s wife. With all the issues about women and ministry, all of a sudden I felt like God was going to push me to the limits and the many friends that I respected would no longer like me or see me as a good Christian pastor’s wife. Rather they might think of me as one who is way out of line according to their viewpoint of scripture. I feared this with all that is in me. I’m Baptist. I bleed tried and true Baptist. It’s a blood from generations past that includes circuit-riding ministers and denominational servants. What ridicule I might face.

I can see the gossip channel now. Robin Bryce went off the deep end. Turned fanatic. Nobody in their right mind does what she’s doing. How embarrassing for her kids. And what about her husband? Why won’t the church discipline her? My friends probably won’t return my phone calls or they’ll avoid me in Wal-Mart. It’s going to be horrible.

With all my insecurity, I felt that God was asking me to forget my background and my religion, and to follow him in a living relationship. I had to count the cost right then. I couldn’t postpone the decision a day to think on it. I couldn’t call my friends and ask what they think about it. I had to decide now. Would I obey God no matter what?

I wrestled. Fought the what-ifs. Struggled with the no-matter-whats. And concluded that I would be better off with God than against him. Even if I was alone with God and everyone else was against me, I would be okay. Years ago, I thought I had answered God’s four worded question, “Will you follow me?” But this was a much deeper, more costly question and answer.

Arm
Creative Commons License photo credit: Paul Stainthorp

Living Relationship

“Yes, Lord. I will follow you. Wherever and whatever, I would rather be with you, than doing things my own way without you. But, Lord. You have to promise me that you won’t leave me. I can’t do as you ask alone. I need you. Will you promise to go with me?”

It was then I felt his smile. He reminded me of his promises that were already written. “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

That moment was so surreal. As my home came back into focus, I eagerly awaited directions and wondered where God was going to take me.

Daily, I look for God’s hand of direction. This is how I live. Why I do what I do. God gives me directions through our living relationship and I do my best to follow him. I’m not perfect. I mess up. And often I’m gripped with fear. Sometimes the direction is a step into the dark and unknown–a place where there’s nothing but God’s hand. In those times I can sense another question of his, “Do you trust me?”

The room moved out of and back into focus years ago and my life has been a grand adventure ever since. My senses are fully alive. My emotions, intense. And my faith, strengthened. Following God is not for the faint of heart.

What fears keep you from following God? How do you make a practice of hearing God? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How to Keep Your Work in Focus: Celebrate with a Party

April 5, 2011 in Confessions of a Preacher's Wife with 6 Comments

I don’t celebrate like I should. Maybe I should put partying on my to do list.

Party cake

“For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all” (Dt 16:15).

The Israelis are supposed to celebrate the harvest with a feast for seven days. The celebration recognizes God’s part in providing success in their work. God provided the food: vegetables, vines and herds, but they had to plant, groom and tend. The celebration honored God, because without God their work would not have been fruitful.

My work also produces a harvest, a product. I’m no gardener or rancher. My work produces grown children, stacks of clean laundry and a few scribblings I call writing. I may influence spiritual growth through speaking and ministering. But the real produce from my life is what God makes of my feeble attempts to work with what I’ve got.

Any work of mine that is of real worth comes from God working through me. Not me alone. Therefore, I should celebrate. Celebrate the work of God in helping me to complete my tasks, to bring in the harvest.

But in my busy lifestyle, with all the tasks I have, I don’t stop and celebrate finishing one before I turn to the next. I work on too many tasks at once and the completion of one is given a quick wink as I look to the next. I run to the next job and make no space for celebration.

How would my life be different if I stopped after finishing a task long enough to thank God for helping me get things done? How much less stressed would life be if we had an afterglow party for a few days to celebrate God’s work through us?

In what ways do you celebrate and thank God after your harvests? How do you recognize God’s part of your work?


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