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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Don't Give Up

For the past couple of weeks I have been pretty much sidelined with severe allergies and laryngitis. My normal routines of housework and yard work basically have been at a standstill. My favorite exercise of walking/hiking had to almost stop because going outdoors sent my body into a full attack. In addition, I had been trying to watch what I eat, however, when the doctor finally had to put me on a large dose of steroids to get the allergies under control, I started consuming foods I did not even like. Because I was feeling so bad, I had a full out pity party one day (well okay, it lasted a few days). Basically, I cried and gave up. However, after a couple of days of pouting, God basically gave me an old fashion spanking and set me back on track.

Don’t you ever just want to give up? Take ministry for instance. We strive to follow God’s plan for our lives and our church but somewhere along the way, someone puts an obstacle in our path that just seems too big to overcome. For example, it may be that you have visited a person in the hospital but because you were not there every day, they get upset. Perhaps, you felt led to led a small group study but someone gets there feelings hurt because it is not at a time they can attend. Sometimes, God leads you to a new place of ministry and from the start you face trials that wear you down. I know you have been at a point in your ministry life that you have wanted to give up because I have been there too.

Even the bible discusses spiritual giants who were at the point of giving up. For example in 2 Chronicles 15:7 God sent an encouraging message to King Asa saying, “But as for you, be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

Girlfriends, when we get discouraged, let us stay focused on what God’s plan is. Let’s not give up but continue to strive for His glory. I do believe that if we stay in line with God’s will our ministry will be rewarded.
Posted by Vickie at 6:59 AM No comments: Labels: Vickie Lee



“Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them.
And a friend will not say never, cause the welcome will not end.
Though it’s hard to let you go
In the Father’s hands I know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.”
Michael W. Smith

Last week I celebrated yet another birthday. I am not a big birthday person because I rather spend it quietly. I always look forward to the phone call from my sons who poke fun of me and make me laugh. However, it was when I opened my Facebook account that I was shocked. I had birthday wishes from friends all over the world. I knew then that I was a truly blessed woman.

Being a minister’s wife can be a lonely place. We are created to have friends but many of us walk through some days with no friend in sight. Of course, we have our Lord who never leaves us but sometimes we just need a girlfriend. We need her to sit beside us and let us cry. We need her to celebrate in the victories. We need her to laugh with us. We need her to accept us faults and all. That is true friendship.

God has richly blessed me with awesome friends through our 31 years of ministry. God knows I cannot do this impossible task without Him in my life and all my girlfriends encouraging me. I am so thankful for those girlfriends who are honest with me and tell me what clothes I shouldn’t wear. I treasure those girlfriends who think Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookies (or anything chocolate for that matter) make a great meal. I love my girlfriends who pray with and for me. I adore my girlfriends who just want to have fun because life is too short.

Over the years I have learned one important lesson in having true friendships as a minister’s wife. You must ask God to provide those special girlfriends in your life and you must be willing to be real with them. For all my girlfriends out there, I know our friendship will last forever and eternity. As my favorite poet/author, Walt Whitman, stated, “I no doubt deserve my enemies but I don’t believe I deserve my friends.”

Do you have a special friend in your life? If so, take a moment to post a comment about what makes her special. Then, take the time to write this girlfriend a note and tell her how much you treasure her friendship.
Posted by Vickie at 2:01 PM 1 comment: 

Last Season?

Over the last week, my grandmother, mother-in-law, and my husband's aunt have all been hospitalized for various reasons. My step-dad may also be facing a hospital visit in the near future. We are thanking God that everyone seems to be improving.
In the midst of keeping each other up-to-date, I was telling my mom that I had never experienced so many loved ones in such serious health circumstances all at once. That is when she commented that it is just to be expected as everyone ages. As a result, I have spent some time lately pondering how it is that I would like to age.
I would like to grow in wisdom. I want to be active and involved in the lives of my family. My husband and I have talked about "retiring" to Orlando where we would both work at Disney seeking to reach and disciple those who come from around the globe to work there.
When I dream about the future, I don't ever include hospital stays or the deaths of loved ones. The truth is none of US know what the future holds; we do know WHO holds the future.
All this said, I want Jesus to come. I do want Him to come NOW. I want to live this season as if it is my last. Only He knows if it indeed is. He may call me home before He gets here, but I already know that He is on His way!
What about you? How do you want to age? What do you hope to see/do before He returns?
Posted by Tara at 4:06 PM No comments: Labels: Tara Vinson
 I love spring. I love the weather. I love the blooms. I love the newness. I love Easter. I love the birds. I love spring.
I've always said that autumn is my favorite season, but after this winter I am not so sure that I have ever had a sweeter spring. Maybe part of my enjoyment of this season is more than just God's blessings of warmer temperatures and colorful flowers. I am really thankful for this season of life that I find myself in.
God has blessed us with good health and ample provisions. Wally and I have daughters we delight in and a realization of the gift of our marriage relationship. The busy-ness of the past month is behind us and we are in a place where we can look around us, breathe deep, and thank God.
I like being the mother of both a grade-school girl AND a creeper (since Piper is not quite walking, I don't think I can call her a toddler yet!). I am enjoying the challenges my ministry at the church. God is providing there too. I got to play in the dirt of my flower bed out back this weekend and have dinner with some good friends.
I am enjoying these blessings as they last.
Just as the heat, haze and humidity of summer will soon overtake these beautiful, blissful days of spring, soon ministry obligations, the girls' social calendars and the unforeseen responsibilities of God's sanctifying plan will replace these days of "extra" time and ease of pace.
I know that this is only a season and it too will pass.
Dear Lady, I don't know what season God has placed you. It may seem like a dark winter's night, or a spooky fall dusk. You may feel the heat of a parched sun-scorched summer afternoon. Regardless of the season of your world, take a moment and remind yourself of the things you know to be eternal, unchanging, and forever true. Respond as God leads you and trust Him to pull you through, for there is season for everything, every purpose under heaven. He knows where you are and He will guide you . . . to the next season
Posted by Tara at 4:41 PM No comments: 
Friday, April 9, 2010

Who Ministers to You?

A group of ladies are studying the book of Acts during the week and we come together on Wednesday nights to share what God is teaching us about Him, about ourselves, how we must respond, etc. I love studying the Word like this and especially love having community with these women.

This week as I was reading, Acts 19:22 “wowed” me. It says, “And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him (Paul), Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.” Did you see it? I have missed it for years! God provided Paul with people who ministered to him! Paul who “strengthened the disciples”, who “devoted himself completely to the Word”, who “was sent out”, who “stood in the midst and spoke out”, who was afraid, etc. Paul did many of the same things your husbands do and HE needed to be ministered to….not always be ministering.

So I ask you: Who ministers to you and your family? I know that some of you can list names and see faces and that you are full of gratitude and thankfulness to those people. Give them a call or write them a note expressing your appreciation for that very special AND vitally important/needed ministry they have.

However, many of you have no one who ministers to you. You can name names and see faces of people who criticize and complain....but not minister. I know that because I have heard your stories. Wiped your tears. Encouraged you to not give up. Ladies, I am convinced that we MUST band together in prayer for God to raise up Godly people who will minister to our ministers and their families. The enemy is out to destroy us and we MUST have a band of warriors around us to keep us fit and in the battle.

Oh, Father, I ask that You would raise up people in our churches that will minister to our ministers and their families. That You would protect each minister’s family from the destruction of the enemy and that we would be strong and mighty and powerful for Your Kingdom and for Your glory!! Enable us to see faces and name names of those who love us unconditionally and minister to us. In Jesus’ precious, powerful name. Amen!
Posted by Dana at 5:17 AM No comments: Labels: Dana James



For the past several days my heart has been heavy and I was not sure why. . .but for some reason I had the sense that things just were not right. Do you know that gut feeling? Has this ever happened to you? Honestly, I did not know what to do with “it”. Ignore “it” and hope “it” will go away? Fret over “it”? Excuse “it” away? Talk about “it”? Pray for “it”?

For me, I did all of the above except the obvious…..pray over “it”!! Yes, I ignored “it”, fretted over “it”, and excused “it” away. Today, after a phone call from my husband, “it” became real. “It” came up during staff meeting and, in fact, there were lots of “its”! I listened to my husband share just the bare minimum of what “it” was. He did not have to tell me details, I do not require details…in fact, most of the time I prefer to not know details…..but I could tell by my husband’s normally cheery voice that something was amiss. I knew that I needed to fall on my face before God and pray for “it”! I have just gotten up from the floor….face down praying for “it”.

As we ended the conversation, I talked to my husband about my heavy heart and realized that I should have been praying over "it" all along instead of ignoring, fretting and excusing "it" away. Oh, forgive me Father!

Ladies, one of the most important ministries we can have is to pray for our husbands and their ministries. I just ordered a book that was recommended to me by a friend that I want to pass on to you. Not only is it a powerful tool to help us pray more Biblically for our husbands, but it is free!! You can download it free or order it for under $5.00. Check it out and let’s change the world for Christ as we pray for our husbands and the “its” they face!

The name of the book is Prayers of an Excellent Wife and there are also books for husbands to pray for wives and how to pray for children.

Posted by Dana at 1:40 PM No comments: 

In Our Shoes

This past weekend I spoke to a group of minister's wives in Newport, Tennessee. There was a nice group of ladies from all different churches in attendance.

I so enjoyed listening to them visit, laugh and joke with each other. They had some icebreakers to make it a little easier and even hooked everyone up with a prayer partner.

These ladies, like you, are a very special group. They have been called to an honorable role in life and a difficult one. Yet, I saw the time they spent with each other building them up, giving them safety to share and a feeling of real understanding for what they are experiencing.

The leader of the group shared with me that they had just completed a study together. They used the book, In Our Shoes by Jennifer Landrith and Rachel Lovingood. (I am not where I can check the spelling of their names, hope this is correct) This book was written specifically for minister's wives. It addresses the many issues that come up in our lives and suggestions for dealing with them.

I really recommend this book to you. I believe this group of ladies got more out of it because they did it together. If at all possible, gather some mw's on your staff or find some from the surrounding churches and dive in!

I think you will be stretched, encouraged and find out that you are not alone. There are alot of women out there who are in your shoes - seek them out and minister to one another.
Posted by k at 7:30 AM 1 comment: Labels: Karen
