My children were not born into a pastor’s home. Sadly, they knew life with us before Jesus reigned, although I am happy to say that was not too many years. Life where Daddy is in ministry, and in our case, when Daddy is the pastor, was a new learning curve for us all. I was unaccustomed to people paying so much attention to my children, and so were they. In the earliest days of ministry, I had a secret hope: that my children would become adults and still like the church. I understood so little of what that really meant. Today, I would rephrase my hope for my children – that I would never discourage their relationship with God, and not be part of anything that detracts them from Him. I would not want to be that millstone around their necks, as in Luke 17:2: “Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim...

II Peter 1:3, 10-12. “seeing that His divine power has granted everything pertaining to life and godliness…therefore, be diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you…therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things…” Have you ever made a list of things that encouraged you? Invest in a review of God’s goodness and encouragements through your life in ministry. If you are just beginning this journey, take note of the special insights or people, books or poems that God brings across your path. God reminds me of people that encouraged me. One woman is forever nameless yet unforgettable. I recall meeting her and being captured by her Godly countenance. Being with her made me think: wow, I want to be like that!  She seemed to radiate God’s presence and reflect his attitudes. She was winsome and compelling, and meeting her changed me. The hour I spent with this woman affected my life...

Books I Read Say....

When I was a young minister’s wife, there were few printed materials to offer advice. Books or articles I read seemed to point to some perfection that was so out of reach for me; it seemed unnatural. My life was had changed drastically: I was in the trenches now. My days of walking on the mountaintops, when nothing touched my joy of this new calling on our lives seemed to slip away. Life changed, and I wondered, what is wrong with me?? I found myself working a fulltime job, and although my work was in a ministry environment, it was so different from anywhere I had been before. I no longer had hours per day to devote to spiritually uplifting things. That’s when I read a new book, about the abundant spiritual life. Now this famous author knew about spiritual things, and I recalled knowing that abundance in my life, but that...

No matter how wonderful a person, place, or thing is, there seems to be something connected to it that is just not fun. Every fulfilling thing has another side, a requirement: it takes effort—I call it grunt work!  It’s in the details, and requires you to think-through, organize, plan, prepare—in other words, work. It requires we expend effort. Ministry is a joy, it fulfills as we walk the mountain peak of spiritual exhilaration.  However, “Monday comes” and the work side must be attended to. I believe one four-letter word constitutes the work of ministry: t.i.m.e.  The very nature of ministry means setting self-interests aside and engaging with God for the good of others. Ephesians 4:12 reflects the work of ministry:

• Time with God; receiving something valuable to give others.

Ephesians 4:12 clarifies our assignment: we are to equip others for the work of ministry, work being the product and accomplishments of ministry. For others to step...

Like any other new thing we encounter, we anticipate what we know and plan how to handle the known challenges.  The early season of ministry has so many new things for us. As my husband and I entered our formal full time service, it corresponded to his first semester in school.  Were we both in for new and unexpected things. My husband felt the weight of our family and circumstances because we relocated for him to attend school. He had no concept of he would face the first semester or even the second. No one told us that college demanded equal study time to time spent in class—or how to balance school demands with family needs. It was hard for me to understand all his new demands because I had my own unforeseen tests. I wish I had understood more clearly. Reflect with me from today’s...

My husband is THE minister, but hey—what about me? Where do I fit in, and do I even count at all? Seems there are so many expectations, including own expectations, so how do I know what to do, or be? My husband often referred to the “BE” theory - - God created the world and spoke all that is into existence, and Genesis 1:3 says, “…let it be.” I believe God designs us to BE and that precedes our actions. So the question for you today is what do you be? What does it mean to be a minister’s wife? You are his family, his closest companion. You are the privileged person who witnesses his private struggles when no one else sees the pain or heartache, or difficult choices. You are the dinner date for the many and various special occasions. No one can fill God’s purpose for you but you; you cannot copy any other person. You...

Would you believe that doing whatever necessary for us once meant freezing eggs?  Yep, when it was necessary, we froze eggs. In our early days of ministry, the economy was similar to 2011. Life was uncertain. Gasoline prices spiked. People traded large vehicles for small cars. Most people who also lived on campus did whatever they could to provide for them, and to save and conserve. My creative husband went to the chicken farm nearby and bought eggs – lots of eggs! We learned that scrambled up eggs could be frozen and used later, so we packaged them in lots of two for cooking or baking, and larger packages for morning breakfasts. It was a lot of busy work yet somehow we felt good doing whatever was necessary to facilitate our new life in ministry. What challenges do you face because you “were led” of God to where you are now? John 4:4 says Jesus Filed under: Daily Devotions

I think in fairly simple terms, such as—in God’s world there are only two families, and two spirits. There is the Holy Spirit, and the unholy spirit. The unholy spirit is of Satan, the ruler of this world, and his job is rob, kill and destroy you. Therefore, you will face opposition, and disappointments. This usually comes when you least expect it, and from people you never dreamed would hurt you. Yes, our enemy Satan is still engaged in his primary work, “to rob, kill, and to destroy.” It is so easy to acknowledge opposition and think it only comes from those people! Or, maybe you blame circumstances or lack of money, or the changes all around you for the difficulty you face. However, have you looked a bit deeper to understand where the attack springs from and why?  If you become discouraged, you will back away from your ministry for a day or so....

  When you are a new pastor’s wife most everything is a first occasion. If your husband is a pastor, then you have a new pastor too! I hope you love the messages God gives your pastor/husband.  One student wife confided to me, “I just hate how my husband tries to preach.” Now that would be a terrible problem! If this is you, pray earnestly that God will teach and groom your husband into the man and speaker He approves. Below is a list of lessons I learned, listed in random order:

• Never analyze my husband’s sermons on Sunday night. Save all comments until some other time. The best advice is just pray for him!
• I never knew preaching would physically tire him so much. After church is over on Sundays, he is pretty spent.
• Mondays might be a down day. After expending spiritual and emotional energies on Sunday, guys need to recharge on Mondays.
• It is impossible to...