Enjoy God's Journey! / Mrs Eileen Abberger

 

Mrs Eileen Abberger

Pastor's Wife

Lakeview Baptist Church

Lakeview, MI

 

I love to sing.  I enjoy singing with God's people.  I love to laugh.  I enjoy laughing with God's people.  During a Sunday evening church service we were singing the chorus, "It's Been A Long Journey."  As we began, I sang, "It's been a long journey and I am so  'STRESSED'".    I didn't realize how loudly I was singing until I heard several people around me chuckling.  I chuckled along with them and then I was a good girl and sang the rest of the song correctly.

The Lord has a journey for us all.  It is a walk with God meant to be lived by faith.  Jesus came to bring us life -- but not just life; He came to give us an abundant life.  He came to give us an abundant life.  It is a joy-filled life the Lord wants us to live.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Satan wants to leave us without strength for the journey.  He knows that if we lose our joy, we will lose our strength.  That gives him an advantage over us.  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  True joy cannot be manufactured in the flesh.  But the good news is that we have the sweet Holy Spirit that comforts and helps us.

I'm not going to lie.  We have been through a long season of manifold trials. Psalm 40 describes exactly how I felt.  I was in a miry pit of clay.  Have you ever tried to climb a miry pit of clay?  I have!  You climb up, you slide back down!  You climb up, you slide back down!!    I have discovered that when I am in a 'pit', the best thing I can do is to dig a well and draw water from the wells of my salvation.  The Lord offers us grace and strength and joy in the midst of our difficulties.

Isaiah 12:2-3  Behold God is my salvation:  I will trust and not be afraid:  for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

                        Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Psalm 84:5-6  Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee:  in whose heart are the ways of them. 

                        Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well:  the rain also filleth the pools.

Strength and joy are closely connected.  If you want to make it our of the pit you must have strength.  If you want to have strength you need the joy of the Lord. 

Nehemiah 8:10b ...for the joy of the Lord is your strength

The following are suggestions I would recommend to find strength (JOY) for the journey.

1.  Abiding In Christ

The word abide means to remain attached.  We remain attached to Christ through His Word.  John 15 tells us how to abide in Christ.  The result is joy.  Verse 11 says, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."  Jeremiah 15:16 describes it best:  Thy words were found, and I did eat them:   and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

*read the Bible daily

*memorize the Bible

*meditate on the Bible

*obey the Bible

2.  Magnify God - Not Your Problems

I am not going to lie, the only way we can praise and magnify God when your heart is broken is to do it intentionally.  It is important to remember God's purpose for our trials.  It is what helps us to find peace.  Trials help us grow in our faith.  They purify us.  As we allow God to work in our hearts during difficulty, the more we reflect our Lord and the better we see Him. 

Psalm 34 and Psalm 103 are my "go to" magnify God Psalms.  I have memorized Psalm 103 and much of Psalm 34.  I quote them to God.  I pour out my praise and gratitude to Him.  It brings great comfort to my soul. 

3.  Praise God

Keep a praise journal.  Each day record the blessings the Lord has given you.  When I am discouraged I go back and read them.  It gives me hope that God wants to continue to bless me.  Isaiah 61:3 tells us to put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Our home recently caught fire.  My husband's dad had just gone to heaven.  His mom went to heaven six weeks later to the day and hour.  He was helping his brother take care of business.  I was getting ready to go to bed.  At midnight I received a phone call from someone needing some encouragement.  As we were talking I looked up and my woodstove pipe was totally on fire.  The fire reached two stories high.  It looked like the 4th of July in a scary way!!  After a few desperately frightening hours, I had to praise the Lord for that phone call.  Had I gone to sleep I, no doubt, would have perished in the fire.  The woodstove pipe ran right outside our bedroom wall.  I can live with melted siding, broken windows and the smell of smoke in my home.

4.   Prayer

Psalm 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life:  in thy presence is fullness of joy.

I love to turn Scripture into prayer.  I am sure it pleases the Lord when we love His Word enough to pour it out to Him in our hearts.  Psalm 63:1-8 is a wonderful prayer to cry out to God.  It is a privilege that the God of Heaven, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings wants to spend time with us. 

5.  Patience

As I was standing on a ladder the day after my house was on fire taking down the smoke filled curtains to wash them, I became frustrated.  I had just made the curtains the day before.  A confession.......when the fire started, mu first thought was, "Oh man!!!  I've only had my curtains hanging up for three hours and my house is going to burn down."  Crazy, right????  But, I did work on them for ten hours! (hahaha)  As I was taking down the curtains,  Romans 12:12  kept running through my mind; "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer."  I took down the curtains and went outside in the rain/snow!!!  I leaned up against the house and confessed my loss of hope and lack of patience.  You see, this trial was only one trial of many more serious trials that had recently come our way, and God had VERY GRACIOUSLY proven His lovingkindness.  The Lord had just just spared our daughter in law and our grandson's lives  a month earlier. 

Psalm 62:1-8 is a precious Psalm we can pray to God when we are in a need for patience.

6.  Be A Light 

When we focus on the Lord and we receive joy, we become a beautiful reflection of Christ.  We become a light for others who are in trouble.  We will all pass through valleys.  We will all face difficulty.  It is important to remember that we are loved, we are not alone, and we have been given the opportunity to be more like our Savior.

 I Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed. ye may be glad with exceeding joy.

7.  Rest

I have OCD, ADD, ABCDEFG!!!!!!  In the past I tended toward being a "go til you crash and burn" kind of person.  In my desire to do a good job at whatever I attempted.  I overcomplicated everything.  I ended up becoming very sick.  I now have an auto-immune illness because I seldom let myself rest.  Resting is more than stopping to smell the roses.  Jesus rested to spiritually refuel in the garden.  He was alone with His Father.  Rest is refueling; physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.  We have all heard the expression, "we need to come apart before we come apart."   Everyone is different; and each of us find different ways to refuel.  The important thing is to allow our body, our mind and our spirit to rest.

Ecclesiastes 3:1  To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Rest is a gift from God!

Ecclesiastes 3:13  And also that every man should eat and drink, AND ENJOY THE GOOD OF ALL HIS LABOUR, IT IS A GIFT OF GOD.

The devil would try to make us feel guilty for resting.  God rested on the seventh day of creation.  God meant for us to enjoy our lives.  We cannot enjoy our lives if we are continually exhausted and emotionally spent. 

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   For my yoke 

                                is easy, and my burden is light.

I love the story of Ruth in the Bible.  It is a beautiful picture of the Sovereignty of God.  His hand was on Ruth's life.  He knew her heart, He guided her steps; He led her and blessed her and allowed her to be a blessing to each person with whom she came in contact.  What a testimony of grace.  What a loving God we have to serve.  May I challenge you to read the book of Ruth when you have lost your way on your journey..  Our God is an awesome God!



The Treasure Box / Mrs Donna Yannizi

 

Mrs Donna Yannizi

Pastor's Wife

Bible Baptist Church

Bradenton, FL

 

The Treasure Box

 

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy Heart with all diligence; for out it are the issues of life.

It has been said that the Heart is the seat of the mind...Jesus said, Mt. 15:18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart."

The Heart is the center of our Being ....  It's our Mind, Will, and Emotions.

That being said, we store a lot of things in Our Mind, It's an Attic were we are consistently storing boxes.(The events of our lives)

Some of the boxes that we choose to open when we make a trip to the Attic.( our mind and heart)

The Box of Worries------ this is the box that we open often!! It's our concerns..  Our Children, Finances, A Struggling marriage, Our Needs. Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God. What should  we do when we open this up?? Pray!!! And close the lid!!!

The Box of Hurts------- this is the box of past failures, heartache, disappointments,   rejection... Psalms 147:3 He Healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds. What should we do when we open this up?

Run to Jesus!!! ( His Word) and get the Balm of Gilead!!!  Rub it on your wounds..Jer.46:11  And close the lid!!!!

The Box of Secrets (Guilt)-------This is the box that only you and God Know about... It's the things we have done in our past that we wished never Happened and

we can't change it.. It's past history!! 1st John 3:20-22 For If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.  1st John 1:9

If we confess our sin,  He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalms 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in light of thy countenance.

Quite often as women, we open the lid to our past and we have a difficult time forgiving ourselves for the things we've done. maybe, a past inappropriateness,

an abuse, rejection etc.  What should we do when we open this up??? Remember the Word of God and the many verses on forgiveness of sin!!!! And close the lid!!!!!

The Treasure Box-----Or the Heart Box ...This is the box of The Good memories!!!!  The Special occasions/ Events, the people and places in our lives!! 

Our childhood, wedding day, the birth of a child, our Salvation Story, the many Blessings and miracles from the Lord!!! What should we do when we open this up???? 

Keep it Open and keep storing the good stuff!! Never stop!! Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the just is Blessed:

Mt.6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Don't close the lid!!! Keep it open!!!

Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.  (Stop and Think about it)

When we visit the Attic of our mind and heart, let's remember to keep the worries, the hurts, the secrets and the guilt storage boxes closed and maybe even move them into the JUNK TRUNK and FORGET about them!!!!! Let them Go!!!! Only, remember the Good One!! The Treasure Box!!

 

My Whole Heart / Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Mrs Vicky Mutchler

Pastor's Wife

Grandview Baptist Church

Beavercreek, OR

 

 

My WHOLE HEART!

February is a month of “hearts”, Valentines and LOVE quotes. Who doesn’t love all the red and pink hearts?! The heart reminds of us ….LOVE!

In your life a HEART is vital! And yet many seem to exist without one! No LOVE, COMPASSION or CONCERN. How strange it is to even meet those that do not even LOVE themselves!

* As a pastor’s wife….with YOUR WHOLE HEART….. PRAISE!

Psalms 9:1b  I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy          marvellous works.

We have so much to praise the Lord for. To appreciate, to be grateful...to give thanks!

* As a pastor’s wife….with YOUR WHOLE HEART….. LOVE!

Mark 12:33  And to love him (God) with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Love GOD.

Love others.  Our children. Your church… your ministry!

Love yourself! (love covers a multitude of sins...even with yourself!)

* As a pastor’s wife….with YOUR WHOLE HEART….. SEEK GOD!

Psalms 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Spend time with God. Sounds easy enough….but even as a pastor’s with we can get so “BUSY” with the ministry that we forget about the relationship. Are you an acquaintance or a friend of God? Busyness does not equal holiness. Remember when Jesus said that “Mary had chosen that good part”?!

Keep your heart toward God... tender and teachable!

You are HIS CHILD! He LOVES you and wishes to LOVE and serve others through you!

 

 

Mrs. Vicky
Have a super day!

Pride / Mrs Chrissy Teis

 

Mrs Chrissy Teis

Pastor's Wife

Open Door Bible Baptist Church

Howell, NJ

 

 

 

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

I was recently faced with a situation that required me to eat some "humble pie" I didn't want to, but I did and the taste wasn't good.  I never saw the situation coming and honestly had a hard time wrapping my mind around it, but there is was....staring me in the proverbial face.

I counseled with my pastor/husband and as is his gracious way with people he advised me to eat the pie and give it to the Lord.  Through this time I realized how prideful I had become.  When I think of the sin of pride I often equate it with boastful, loud people who constantly talk about themselves and their accomplishments, leaving the Lord out of it all.  I don't do that, or at least I try not to, but here is where pride has been revealed in my own life.  

I care deeply about what others think of me, and not just me, what you think of my husband, our church, & ministry.  This doesn't initially seem like a prideful thing but when it comes to where you care more about what others think then what the Lord says, then it is pride and it is sin.  In my situation I was more concerned about how this person had perceived me, then that I had offended someone.  I prayed about it and asked forgiveness and that burden was lifted.  We are by nature very selfish and prideful people, when we can see who we are, it helps us to rely on our Saviour.  I have asked the Lord to continue to shine a light on these areas of my life and to humble me in His way and not my own.  I want to encourage you to not let pride get in the way, it can sneak around in unsuspecting forms.

Food For Thought / Rebekah Tastet

 

Rebekah Tastet

Pastor's Wife

Sierra View Baptist Church

Reno, Nevada

 

It isn’t too often I come across a situation that sobers me. 

Recently, though, I did. 

 

The situation was one of a lady living alone – a mere seventy years old.  Perhaps seventy sounds ancient but the older I get, the younger it sounds. [Symbol]  Her health is not good but her mind still there.  She appeared to me as a person of much potential. 

 

There was one factor that makes her life a sad, depressing portrait to me.  She is an alcoholic.  For no other reason, she drank continuously.  Her coffee cup was filled with whiskey which never ran dry.   It is very clear she is addicted. 

 

I relayed my experience to my husband who in turn explained that was the story of his Papaw – his dad’s father.  His grandpa lived with them for a time and he constantly drank.  Was never without a drink.  His dad also an alcoholic. 

 

After returning home from her home, my mind couldn’t forget the whole scenario.  This woman lived in a gorgeous home – yet confined herself to her bedroom and her bottle.  How did she get to that point?  I don’t know the story of how her addiction came to be.  I do know that addictions always must begin somewhere. 

 

You get to that point by starting.  Taking that drink.  Sneaking a pill.  You just have to start – one time.  Maybe you were just a teenager. 

 

Then slowly, justification takes over.  You don’t need it – you just enjoy it.  I can make these decisions for myself.  It doesn’t hurt anyone. 

 

Ask my husband what alcohol did to his family – his mom left his dad.  Divorce – broken home. You never walk away from alcohol without consequences.   

 

What did I take away from this experience?  I mean, why even write about addictions?  This is a blog for predominately pastor’s wives and ladies in ministry.  Is it even relevant? 

 

To me – yes.  It reminds me that as a mom – there is always someone watching me.  The decisions I choose for myself are also decisions I am choosing for my kids.  If I choose alcohol, they are more likely to also choose alcohol.   

It also reminds me that there are those in our ministry and beyond that are watching me.  I am an example to many.  A liquid is not worth my marriage, my family or my ministry. 

And it reminds me that nothing good ever comes from alcohol.   

 

Just some food for thought from a pastor’s wife’s perspective.  God bless! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Becky Tinsley / Indian Hills Baptist Church

 

Becky Tinsley

Pastor's Wife

Indian Hills Baptist Church

Shreveport, LA

 

 

My name is Becky Tinsley "newer" Pastors wife of Indian Hills Baptist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana. My husband and I have truly enjoyed being the pastor of the church this past year and a half. We've been there for a total of 13 years. Being in this position has changed both Don and I for the better. But the changes that have taken place in us are the same thing the Bible talks about that God wants in all Christians not just pastors and pastors wives.

LOVE. One way to show compassion - when somebody is not there on a Sunday that's normally there send them a text message and just say,"hey I noticed you weren't there today! We missed your face friend! It's one thing to receive a message from your pastor of course he's going to notice that you weren't there but to receive it from others in the church would make me feel special....

VISITATION. Knock on new doors! You can make visits all day long and visit your bus kids and your Sunday school kids but if you want to help grow your church knock on a new street every Saturday. One thing I started telling people is that if Sunday mornings are hard for them because thats there one day off to sleep in then come on Sunday night or Wednesday night. We've had good church attendance on our Sunday night and Wednesday night crowds.

Be your church's DORCAS. Do special things for others all the time. Bake cookies for that older gentleman that may never get anything homemade. Slip a $20 bill in a birthday card for that woman that doesn't have much. Give your nicer clothes that your kids never wear to some of those bus kids that look like Raggedy Ann and Andy. Pay attention to people.

Be a WORKER. Teach your children to be workers. Let them help you clean up after a food and fellowship activity. Change the trash, run the vacuum cleaner, sweep the kitchen, clean the windows...nobody has to ask you to do any of those things! Help in the nursery and be faithful. You may not want to do it because you don't want to miss the church service but that same lady that works in it all the time would like to be in church too. Run people home and give others a break that do that every Sunday. If you know somebody lives out by you offer to take them home for once... 

IF YOU ARE THE PASTORS WIFE BE S.W.E.E.T.

You are the spirit of the church. Don't take things personally. People are people. Most people don't act with common sense. If you're lonely facebook is a great tool. Find a friend that maybe does not attend your church but another church.  Don't wait for people to invite you to things, you invite them to your house or out to eat! Also lastly don't put on some authority figure act. You're just a servant. Be sweet, these people are volunteers.. most of them anyways... not paid employees. Your not "above" anybody. Your merely a servant with a good attitude hopefully. 

     Stop focusing on the negative in your church. There's positive too!! Focus on that!! You will be much happier that way and your church needs you to be happy!!!!!!!

Goals? Ain't Nobody Got Time for That!! / Mrs Amanda Rasbeary

 

Mrs Amanda Rasbeary

Pastor's Wife

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Wylie, TX

 

Goals? Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!

In casual conversation a while ago, I told someone that I was writing down my goals and she said “I don’t set goals because I am afraid I won’t meet them.” Since it was a casual conversation with a total stranger, I did not prod, yet I wondered why someone would let the fear of failure keep her from making plans for moving forward.

But then I asked myself, ‘Why do I continue to set goals even though there have been many times when I have failed to meet those goals? I have always been taught to set goals, but why do I really do it? Does it even work?’ So I have decided to answer my own questions and see if I could be a blessing to someone else as well as myself.

The reason that I set goals is that I believe it is biblical! The best reason of all is the belief that God will be pleased with my planning. Of course, Jesus said it best in Luke 14.

 

Luke 14:28-32 “ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”

 

It seems to me that Jesus is putting a whole lot of emphasis on being prepared. Didn’t he spend three and a half years training the disciples before sending them to evangelize the world?  If I’m going to be all God wants me to be, I have to be diligent to find and do His will- by setting goals.

 

Setting goals is more than just writing some of your ideals and dreams on a piece of paper. Good goal setting helps you to reach that ideal or dream by having a definite plan of action. Also, having to mentally reflect on your weak areas helps you to realize your shortcomings. If you honestly judge yourself, your self-righteousness will come down a notch or two, and you will become more open to change. Just the physical act of writing it down will help your goals feel real and attainable and give you something tangible to come back to if you feel yourself going a little off course. Goals also make you accountable to and dependent on God as you bring your plans to Him in prayer. There is nothing that will increase your faith more than setting a difficult goal, making and following a plan, and then watching God fill in the details.

Here are some practical ideas and helps to set your goals.

1. Aim for a goal in each area in your life. You have many roles: wife, mom, teacher, employee, employer, etc.

2. Be realistic! Hello! I am a 40 year old lady who has had 4 kids. I need to lose 25lbs but that isn’t going to happen in 2 weeks, or even 2 months!!!!

3. Make a plan to reach the goal. This may require some research. For example: the age-old problem of getting back in shape. What diet plan will you use? Will you exercise; if so, when and with whom? Who will hold you accountable? Oh, now we are getting personal!

4. Make the goal specific. Even give yourself a time frame. Not a broad, fortune cookie goal, like ‘I want to lose weight’, but ‘I want to lose 5 lbs or 5 inches and I want to do it by May. I will walk 3 times a week for 2 miles with my kids. I will cut out soft drinks and I will use this diet plan.’

5. When (not if!) your plans are messed up by either yourself or unforeseen problems like health problems, modify your goal but don’t give it up entirely. Don’t let the failed goals discourage you. Look at the goals you accomplished and reset the ones you failed at. The point was growth not perfection, right?

I want to live my life to please God and make a positive impact on this world. I believe the most efficient way to do this is to always be growing personally in every area of my life. I never want to be satisfied or to think I have arrived. So no matter how many goals I fail to meet I will keep trying again and again till one day I have victory. That may not be until I get to  heaven but at least I can stand before God and say I tried!

So come on, ladies- get out a pen and paper and start on your destination to a better you!