Confessions (1)

Confessions

I have been a pastor’s wife (officially) for three years.  I know…it’s hard to believe that so much time really has past.  I intended to write a “things I have learned my first year….”  Post; but that didn’t happen.  Plus you probably would not have wanted to read what I had to say anyway.   Let’s just say it was a very short “honeymoon”.  When you are about to embark on this journey (becoming a pastor’s wife), you enter it with a little bit of nieveness and some rose colored glasses on.  I don’t mean to burst anyone’s bubble; but if you plan to be a pastor's wife here are a few things to remember...  Promises made will be broken.  Expectations will be disappointed (even the ity bity ones).  Hopes will be deferred leading to a “sick” heart. And last but not least, there will be surprises- some good some bad.  This new series will be a lot of fun, I hope.  I will do my best to make them positive and uplifting while being real; but not whiney (if that isn’t a word, it should be.) All names (if even given) will be fake; and some scenarios will be encoded as to not offend the offendor(s).  Enough said…let’s move on to confession number one.

 

Taxi!  This confession is neither the most important, nor one with the greatest eternal value. it is simply first because I received a phone call about half an hour ago (at the moment it is 7:17 a.m….Yes,  as in in the morning!)  Normally, I get up between 8:00 – 8:30 (I have become a bit of a night owl, so am no longer an early riser);but after getting off the phone I couldn’t go back to sleep.  So here I am venting…sharing with you all.

Newport has no public transportation. No buses, not taxis, no nothing; but it has about six government housing additions.  Living in these government houses are a lot of people with a lot of needs…one of them is transportation.  For some odd reason we meet up with quite a lot of them on a pretty regular basis.  Some of them never frequent our church on Sunday; but they know we have a vehicle that runs pretty well.  The call this morning was for a ride to the health department; but there have been others.  One that sticks out in my mind was the time when one young man and his girlfriend – two perfectly able; but non-working people  -  called us on Thursday evening at about 9:00 (that is just about the time my Honey returns home from dropping the kids off after Bible Club)  to see if  we would take them to pick up a pizza they had ordered.  I will confess that I didn’t handle that one very well.   Our first year here we (I use that term very loosely) always said yes; but with time and after a lot of prayer for wisdom we have learned that sometimes it is ok to say, "No, not this time. ".

Some may not ever understand; but each phone call you receive represents a soul.  Each ride you provide is an opportunity to witness, after all you have a captive audience.  They called you.  They are in your vehicle.  They have to listen to whatever you have to say.  Some, after the first “sermon”, never call again.  Some do, but eventually find some other person to tote them around; and some come to church, get saved, and begin to grow.  The Lord blesses and  provides them with a car of their own…then they never come back!  Really, it has happened!

What is the lesson in all of this?  As a dear friend once said to me (in my first year) Tinyla, sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.  I often feel like hiding away and becoming too busy with the kids, my house, or the garden; but instead I have to smile and be friendly and inconvenience myself for people who seem to be taking advantage of me. I have learned that whatever I do, do for the Lord and not for people.  With that heart attitude you will never feel taken advantage of.  We serve a good God! The Lord makes a promise that if we give it will be given unto us.  There is a very popular verse quoted in philippians about God supplying all our needs. This is a promise given to a giving people, not to people who never give.  That makes me excited!  Sometimes it may be your money…more money will come. Sometimes it may be your resources (diapers, food, etc)…more of those will come as well.  I struggle the most with giving my time.  Time is something that can never be refunded. I always have a list of things that I want done everyday.  When the phone rings, I may as well just cross one or all of them off and prepare to write them again tomorrow.  But, when I am walking with the Lord and my plans are changed, I easily remember the Lord’s promises and I know that He is setting my priorities, and with a little bit of wisdom I can please God, help others – deserving or not, and get everything that NEEDS to be done accomplished. 

 

Philippians 4

 

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Matthew 25:34 - 45

 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

I hope this helps someone.

Until next time,

 

KHATS 12- Learn to Cook

 

I am in the process of making a little cook book for a singe mom in our church.  (31 days - breakfast,lunch, and dinner for one month) this, for me, is a huge task. Sometimes I can be a bit of a perfectionist, especially when I am putting something with my name on it in print for someone else to examine and use.

My mother could not cook when she first started her family, but she is a GREAT cook now. My brother’s dad taught her. My grandmother grew up in an orphanage, and unless they had cooking classes, she probably learned later in life as well. I knew how to cook a few things when I first got married…like Top Ramen noodles and microwave popcorn! Oh, and a turkey for Christmas. Long story short - when my husband and I were dating I visited him for Christmas. Just before I arrived he informed me that he wanted me to cook the turkey and his sisters to make the side dishes.  I made an emergency call to my roommate and she gave me strict instructions. I followed them and it was the best Christmas turkey I have ever eaten!  (He bought a ring about two weeks later.).

Husband or no husband learn to cook. You and your kids need to eat more than instant meals and take-out. I will also add learn to cook healthy meals. They don’t need to be elaborate or gourmet; just simple and good will do.   If you can read and follow directions, you can cook! 

Proverbs 15:17

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Until Next Time,

KHATS (11) Wash Your Hands!

Tis the Season...to be sick!  When all the kids go back to school and are crammed into the same room there is one thing they are sure to share...germs!  My girls don't go to school; but they do go to Sunday School.  Every year about this time they get sick.  Two things I have tried to implement to keep the germs down are...

1.  Wash everyones hands as often as is possible and practical.  Every time we return home from going out I am trying to instill that habit into the girls to head straight to the bathroom and everyone wash hands.

2.  Put echinasea in their yogurt.  We eat more yogurt this time of year.  I read somewhere that we often harbor illness in our colons.  If you have a clean colon chances are you will be healthier. Yogurt helps keep you regular.  I have some echinacea capsules (immune system boosters!!!) and I open them up and pour the contents into their yogurt.  They are none the wiser, but hopefully they won't get sick as much.

3.  A lot of people are into hand sanitizers; but I have read and heard so many negative things about them that I just stick to good old soap and water.    Washing your hands often is probably the best way to keep sickness out of your home.

Until Next Time,

KHATS (10) - Make Life Fun!

We went to a carnival in our town and Aaliyah got her face painted.
It was so funny to watch her hold her face perfectly still until she
forgot that it was painted.

In our family my mom was known for making life fun!  Two fun things I remember to this day are ...

1. She always brought home the newest candy on the store shelves. If there was something new and unusual looking; or bright, colorful and sweet she would buy it and bring it home for us to eat.  We always looked forward to her coming home on Fridays because we knew she would be bearing gifts!

2. She made every holiday special.  My favorite holiday as a child was not Christmas; but the Fourth of July.  Mainly because I knew we would be cooking on the grill (I LOVE BBQ!!!), popping fireworks, and going downtown to see the city's fireworks display.  Mom would give us each an allowance and we could go to the fireworks stand and pick out whatever fireworks we wanted. All the cousins would come over and we would go to the country and pop away. At the end of the evening we would all vote on who picked the best.  That was FUN!

I try to make the holidays extra special as well; but I also try and make everyday activities a little more fun/beautiful. I have a couple of ideas I would like to share with you.

1.  Add flowers (edible ones! ie. roses, dandilions, and nastriums), bubbles, and/or fragrance to their bath water.  Just yesterday I added rose petals to the girls bath water.  They loved it!  (I always freeze the flowers my husband gets for me on special occasions and add them to my bath water when I get the urge. Yesterday I decided to treat the girls.)

2.  I bought some bright and colorful plates from Target or somewhere and at lunch I let Aaliyah pick which plate she wants to use.  (Nine times out of ten she picks the purple one!) Simple idea; but she thinks it is great that she gets to eat from her purple plate...and sometimes she will eat something she doesn't really like simply because it is on her purple plate!

Make Life Fun!!!

Until Next Time,

KHATS 9 / One Joy filled Mama!

Every Thursday night at our church the children quote Bible Verses.  I had previously decided I would start teaching Aaliyah Bible Verses at home when I started her "preschool" just after she turned three (we begin next week).  Sometimes the verses we learn on Thursday are rather lengthy and I didn't expect her to be able to remember them; but last week she surprised us all.  When Pastor asked if anyone wanted to quote the verse she raised her hand.  As usual Dad acknowledged her...we all expected to hear gibborish; but she said in a loud and proud voice, "Third John 1:4. (pause) Third John 1:4.  I have no greater joy (pause)  than to hear (pause) that my children (pause) walk in truth."

She got it and she earned a piece of candy!  I was so proud!  Maybe I am underestimating her abilities again.  I'll have to remember that in the future.  Lesson learned - Your little ones are listening to EVERYTHING that goes on around them and are learning.  Be sure to put Truth in their paths.

Until next time,

KHATS 8 - Guard Your Relationships!

Recently we returned from a trip to visit our family in California and Oklahoma.  While in California we were privileged to visit a friend of mine from college and her family.  We had a blast!; but one picture I took startled me for just a second....

 My heart leaped out of my chest when I saw Aaliyah "holding hands" with a boy!  He was guiding Aaliyah and his sister Selah back to us; but it still took me by surprise...I think mainly because I realized in that instant that it is only a matter of time before both my girls will be grown and establishing families of their own.  For Aaliyah it could be as soon as 16 years.  That may sound like a long time to you; but it doesn't to me. 

Here is my little bit of advice for you today....Guard your relationships.  Who you bring around your children will have a part in who they (your children) become.  Some people you have to be around, others you chose.  Choose wisely!


1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Until Next time,

Please Pray for Newport...

Deaf man named Kenneth that has been attending our servies.

We just returned home from a wonderful vacation to some good news and some bad.  The good news...our people were faithful even though we were not there!  It is good to know that there are people in  Lighthouse Baptist Church that are in it for Jesus and not for us. Even the deaf man that has been attending our services for the past two months came and sat in the services with no interpreter.   Our fish are still alive...and mysteriously we have four new {baby} fish; and our garden survived {for the most part...we lost our pumpkin plants to vine beetles}.  The bad news....four young people died here in Newport.  Three of them were babies.  One baby died of SIDS, two died in hot vehicles (one accidentally...I'll explain later and one accidentally on purpose - the parents left the child in the car to punish himwhile they went shopping in Wal-mart.).  The accidental death happened when a man went to work, locked up his vehicle and came home at the end of his eight hour work day at the hospital only to find out that his eighteen month old was in the back seat of his car asleep in the carseat.   The other person that died was a friend of one of our members and an aunt to another.  The young lady (age 27) was Saved and Baptised {at a different church} on Sunday and never woke up on Monday.  That is the Grace of God!  She had seven children (one of whom was lying on her breast when she died of an apparent heart attack in her sleep).  More bad news...a preacher in a neighboring town got up in his pulpit on Sunday, said, "I quit!" and left.  One of the families that recently joined our church came from his church.  How sad.   Please pray that the Lord will use all of these events to bring people to Him.