Reflecting on Being a Pastor's Wife

I'm sure this topic will come in a series. There are so many things that can be shared. Tonight I want to reflect on the privilege it is to be married to a pastor. Or, should I say, being married to MY husband (who happens to be a pastor). It has always struck me from the beginning of our relationship back in college how passionate Rick is for holiness. He desires above all things to be pure and set apart for Christ. He longs for his likeness, lifestyle, and lip to linger on the Lord. He pleads with his fellow pilgrims to keep their eyes on the cross and to wage war against sin and the flesh. Therefore, it is only certain that he desires holiness for me as well. Because this passion is so tenderly (usually) mixed with true love for me, I am wooed by his life. He is an example that I wish to follow, and a friend that I am blessed to have. No, life is not perfect. Just hang around us for a day to see how human and imperfect we are as a family! But being around a man who is completely sold out to Christ is infectious. Living daily with a godly man who has washed me many times over with the power of Scripture is influential. Being married to a man who is passionate for holiness, integrity and purity is humbling and exciting. Though life has its numerous challenges, I wouldn't want it any other way. Rick is a called man of God who is living obediently and vigorously. And I am so thankful to be called Pastor Rick's wife.

Competition at Junior Olympics

Long Course Swimming season culminates at the Junior Olympics every July. All four of our kids have qualified times to be able to participate. It's a four-day meet that has morning preliminary races before the evening finals. Pretty fun. But what can be learned from competition?

Competition is hard work. Usually it involves an audience to watch the races. The right clothing is necessary to race efficiently and effectively. Then there's a commitment to practice as well as a commitment of time and resources. The mindset in the competition must be focused.

As a Christian, my life is like a race. I realize others are watching me (for encouragement, modeling, and help). I recognize the need to lay aside everything that would encumber me (which includes any sin that keeps tangling me up). I rely on the need to run the race with endurance (not quitting or getting too sidetracked). Essentially, my thoughts come directly from Hebrews 12:1. Then, in verse 2-3, I am encouraged to fix my eyes on Jesus. He is my example of endurance. Since He endured the cross, I also can endure in this life as well. His endurance is shown so that I would not grow weary and lose heart. (Oh, but I do sometimes!)

As I watch my kids swim this weekend, I am encouraging them to swim hard, swim fast, and stay very focused. Hopefully, they'll grasp the concepts. And most importantly, they'll correlate the physical and spiritual aspects of racing in this life, fixing their own eyes on Jesus to help them not grow weary or lose heart.

Great Expectations

This morning I've decided to take the step of actually returning to this site to add a post! It's been a little over a month since I've last written. I keep wanting, hoping, expecting...to write great things. But my great expectations have also been intimidating to me. Do I have the time? Will I have something worth saying? Does the reader care? What style, tone, voice, etc. do I possess in my writing? Suffice it to say, unless I begin I can never know nor improve! So I'm putting one foot in front of the other to take a step today.

As I am continually reminded, life is a series of choices and steps. After a foundation is built, it is essential to keep the momentum moving forward. I know the importance of laying one brick at a time, loving God with all your mind, planning for the future, evaluating the events, setting goals for future direction, reflecting on the goodness of God and His faithfulness, keeping a joyful spirit along the way, praying for more grace and strength to finish strong, coming alongside fellow journeymen to gain/give encouragement and hope, looking for opportunities to bless and help those in all kinds of need, maintaining the privilege of serving your OWN family (which is a top priority) first, and anything else that I may have left out for successfully maneuvering through life. I do not intend to sound as if I fail to recognize God's sovereignty in the affairs of my life. Please hear my heart. In my trusting of God, I want to do my part in this life. So help me God.

2 Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you WILL abound in every good work."

1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my dear ones, stand firm. Let NOTHING move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you KNOW that your labor in the Lord is NOT in vain." PRESS ON!