The Unlikely Choice / Sharon Rabon

Sharon Rabon

Pastor's Wife

Beacon Baptist Church

Raleigh, NC

The Unlikely Choice

I was born in a modest, Christian home in the countryside of Alabama. My parents reared me in church. They taught me to love the Lord and to serve others. There was never a question in our home of whether or not we would attend church on Sunday or Wednesday. Often, we would even attend other people’s churches during their revival meetings. After graduating from high school, I married my high school sweetheart, Tim Rabon. We moved to Nashville, Ten¬nessee, where he finished college and I attended a few classes at night. Upon my husband’s college graduation he began ministering at our church in Raleigh. Neither of us had hands on training, only a desire to serve and please the Lord. From that day until the present the Lord has taken me step by step in the growth of my Christian life. There is no reason except the Lord’s choosing why I am a pastor’s wife today.

Have you ever wondered why or if God would use you in His work? God chooses to use imper-fect people to carry out his work. That’s why you and I are perfect candidates! The Bible tells us in the book of Esther that Esther was parentless and a slave girl, yet God used her to save His people from the wicked Haman. Esther 2:15 clearly states that Esther “obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.” The book of I Samuel speaks of Hannah who was a barren, depressed housewife until God allowed her to birth Samuel. She then trained Samuel for full-time service, just in case God called. And He did call! These two ladies were not born with super spiritual abilities. They were just normal women with average problems; not capable on their own of doing anything for God.


What kind of woman is God looking for?
1. God is looking for a woman with a yielded life. He is not looking for a woman with self-confidence.
2. God is looking for a woman that will trust Him. He is not going to give you all the answers up front. You must believe and trust that His thoughts and ways are much better than yours.
3. God is looking for a woman with no excuses. You may think that you have no tact, time or talents. Those things do not matter to God. God will only call you to complete a job He knows you can handle by His power. You must go in the strength God has given you even if you don’t think it is enough.
Where were you born? When were you saved? Did you receive special training for God’s work? Are you doing anything for the Lord at the present time? God can choose anyone He pleases to accomplish His work on this earth. He often chooses unlikely candidates like you and me, with absolutely no qualifications, so He alone receives the glory. Walk by faith, realizing that God can and will use you!

The Most Important Book in the World! / Carol Tudor

Carol Tudor

Agape Baptist Church

Stockton, MO

The Most Important Book in the World! 

Five years ago my husband and I began reading the Bible through in 90 days- it’s reading 13 chapters a day- give or take- due to short chapters and longer chapters. We read along with listening to a Bible DVD - so we are hearing it and seeing it. The DVD helps keep you going and stay on plan. When we see something we want to look up we mark down a note and go back to study it. I cancelled my daily newspaper, my cooking channels and got up a little earlier to begin this plan. I always used the excuse that I was too busy to read more than 15-20 minutes a day.
This plan translates into reading it through 4X a year! I cannot tell you how much this has helped me!

Here at Agape’ Ranch we have an Assistant Pastor, Frank Burton, who told us an interesting story. Seventeen years ago he heard David Gibbs talk about reading the Bible through in one month! Pastor Burton spoke with Bro Gibbs after the sermon and told him he did not have time to do that. Bro. Gibbs sat down with Bro. Burton and showed him in his schedule where he had 3 hours a day available. So Seventeen years ago Bro Burton started reading it through in one month! That’s 204 times !!!! Bro Burton weeps as he Preaches. What a heart he has! We were challenged!
My husband started on New Years Day, reading the Bible through in one month.

Why not kick your Bible reading up a notch??
You may not be ready for either of these plans, but could you double what you are doing right now?
I’ve heard many ladies say how excited they are that they finished every season of Downtown Abbey. How much is that counting for eternity? I have decreased my TV viewing, my mystery book reading, my FB time in order to have plenty of time for the Word of God!
I have seen healing in my life. I have strength that is not my own.
Just a few thoughts at the beginning of this beautiful New Year!

Help! Identity Crisis / Linda Gangemella

Linda Gangemella

Special Music / Piano / Nursery / Hospitality

First State Baptist Church

Wilmington, DE

HELP! IDENTITY CRISIS 

Often at parties or in Sunday School class we play the game "Who am I?" Play along with me for a moment. Here are the clues. I write nursery and cleaning schedules. I teach a class. I try to speak to everyone at Church on Sunday. I entertain strangers - often with no advance notice. I need to be ready to rejoice and cry with others...many times on the same day. "Who am I?"

For 35 years I was privileged to hold that title (33 of those years in the same church). For most of that time I loved my "job". For all the other times I tried to remember Paul's advice in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." My life's verse was Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." That verse carried me through many situations and I know that most of you can relate. Then one day in December, 2016, at the age of 55, my beloved pastor husband died of cancer. The ministry job of being a pastor's wife which I had been almost my entire life suddenly ended. A pastor's/missionary's widow loses not only her husband, but the only pastor she has known for years, her title, her ministry, most likely her church, and often herself. My new verse that I clung to was Psalm 61:1-3 "hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. for thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

Over the past 2 and a half years I have been in the process of discovering the new me. Of course I am doing it kicking and screaming as I "Just do the next thing" (Elisabeth Elliot). God guided me gently and allowed to be surrounded by a loving church family and people that helped me with things I didn't think I could do.

I have found that I really didn't know how to minister to those who lost spouses when I was a Pastor's wife. Of course, I knew the right words to say but it wasn't until I was on the other side of the coin that I realized I didn't have a clue! The people that helped me the most in that aspect were those who had lost spouses as well. that's why God gave us II Corinthians 1:3b-4 "...the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." I have been blessed and encouraged by the ladies on this site who have been where I am and have shared their journey with me.

As pastors'/missionaries' wives remember the widows in your church. Don't feel you have to do it all yourself....but create a culture among the people in your church of having compassion on others and putting that into action. Remembering special occasions or "just because"

moments with flowers, a card, a call, a text; planning ahead for someone to help with yard work, snow removal, and the hundred and one other things that come up (especially if the widow was a spoiled wife like me!); inviting them over for dinner, games, or an outing (Psalm 68:6); helping with children so she can have a "sanity day or hour"....lots of ideas. The main thing is TO KEEP IN TOUCH. Finding a new identity is brutal but made so much easier with genuine, caring, friends.

For my fellow widows, I have recently been looking at I Timothy 5:10 (and that is a whole other article!) and it inspires me to keep doing what I can in ministry even though I am not "the Pastor's wife" anymore. ( I did eventually find I needed to move to a new church where I could continue my journey but this is a personal choice that is different for each "former" pastor's wife). Galatians 6:9 is feeling more a part of my life again.

In closing, in the middle of my identity crisis one thing has NOT changed. I am still the beloved daughter of my heavenly Father who will never leave me nor forsake me and who DAILY loadeth me with benefits. I am a masterpiece in the making.

When There's No Peace / Rebecca Gage

Rebecca Gage

Pastor's Wife

First Baptist Church

Decatur, TX

When there’s no peace....

   Awhile back I heard this song and it talks about how we have no peace, when our world is filled with trouble, we can have peace. Not the peace that you get after the kids go to bed(although that’s nice too!),not the peace before a storm rolls in, not the peace that comes as you fall asleep; but deep lasting peace.
   Peace so strong that it covers all the noises that wreck our spirit, peace so strong nothing can blow it away, so strong that it is unexplainable, it passeth all understanding.
This peace can’t be bought, sold, or exchanged. It can’t be traded.
     Without this peace we are but little birds, blow asunder in the strong winds, we are like the light feather that spins and falls to the ground. Without this peace we have no joy, no lasting happiness.
    This world throws its fancies at us telling us to trust its false voice of peace. The life of money, fame, is shown as the ultimate of achievement in today’s voice of peace and satisfaction.
  Our heart constantly looks for and longs for deep fullness in our lives, something to fill the emptiness and sadness. We all need it!
     The One who gives us this peace is waiting with open arms and a ready hug to give us this peace. Jesus Christ is the only One who can give lasting peace, real peace. His peace passeth all understanding . Philippians 4:7 says it will keep you.... keep you! What an amazing promise.
   Remember sweet Christian, when you are feeling low and like no one sees or cares, run to Jesus. Run to Him, for He alone gives lasting and full peace.

A "Yes" Person to God / Mary Frost

Mary Frost

Pastor's Wife

Shawnee Baptist Church

Louisville, KY

A “Yes” Person to God 

Do any of these conversations with God resonate with you?

“Do what!? I don’t think that fits in my comfort zone!”

“Wait a minute…I didn’t ask to be that or do that!”

“God, this is how I want to be used, and this is how I would prefer not to be used.”

“God, I have a list of things I think I am good at…Can’t you just pick from that list?”

As God moves in our hearts and lives, it is so easy to question, deliberate, and worry instead of act. Our response too many times is often “Wait”, “Maybe”, and sometimes even “No” when it should be “Yes.” There are so many examples in the Bible of people responding with fear. Moses made excuses. Gideon felt inadequate. Jonah ran. Sarah laughed. In the end, these and others came to understand that God’s plans are so much better than we can imagine, and He can use us despite of our fears.

This reminds me of something my mom used to teach us girls in the home. I can’t say I always liked it or that at times it drove me crazy, but it was engrained in us! Whenever Mom or Dad would ask us to do something, our response back to them was always to be, “Yes, I would be glad to!”

“Mary, please put the dishes away.”

“Yes, Mam. I would be glad to!”

“Mary, I would like you to go clean your room.”

“Yes, Mam. I would be glad to!”

Though I didn’t always enjoy saying that phrase or have my voice very “glad” when I said that I would “be glad to”, those words have been etched in my mind.

I can honestly say that God has asked me to do so many things out of my comfort zone. I wish I could say I have always had the right attitude and have never questioned what He what doing…but I must be real! There are times when I have not understood, wasn’t very comfortable, and frankly, times I was fearful of the outcome; but my mom’s words have been etched in my mind. “Yes, God, I would be glad to!”

God has so many wonderful things in store for the lady willing to say “Yes” to His purposes and plans. It doesn’t mean at times we are not fearful or that we don’t doubt His plans; but even in those times of doubt and fear, our response to God should always be, “Yes!” May we learn to respond as Mary did to God’s plan for her, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to thy word.” (Lk.1:38)

Is God asking you to do something out of your comfort zone? Has He told you to forgive someone? Is there someone He would like you to encourage or write a note to? Is there a class He would like you to teach or someone whom you should witness to? I pray you would be encouraged to step up, step out, and answer, “Yes, God, I would be glad to!”