The Preachers Wife

Lots of stuff happened this year! I can’t believe it’s over!!!

Top 10 of 2008

1) first full year as a married woman

2) put a new roof on our house

3) Hubby had surgery

4) some friends and loved ones went on to be with the Lord

5) saw several saved

6) went to South Carolina

7) travelled throughout KY for preaching appointments

held a youth revival and saw a young girl get saved

9) went whitewater rafting (so fun!)

10) had our first wedding anniversary

I hope 2009 brings many more exciting moments and blessings! Spend tonight praying out the old year and praying in the new just like me! What a better way to welcome a new year that the Lord has blessed us with?

You know, I’m always deeply amazed at how blessed we are. We don’t have a lot, mind you, but we always have what we need. Cash flow has been little, what comes in goes right back out, however, the Lord stepped in. He is so good to us. I know I have done NOTHING to deserve the generosity and love He has shown me. I learn more and more each day that I really don’t know anything. Whatever arrogance I had in my early 20’s about always having an answer and knowing it all is gone. I know less now than I did then. I now know and believe that I am nothing, only through Him am I something. I’m still dirt and mud formed by the master potter.

Thank you Lord for your many blessings! Thank you Lord for letting me realize how little I am and how BIG You are.

Learning When To Speak

She openeth her mouth with wisdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Proverbs 31:26

Our mouths are quite a unique feature of the human race.  It’s the only aspect that can cause a great deal of pain, can soothe, or uplift an individual.  This particular body part can get us in a great deal of trouble when used improperly. Waves of despair and hurt can be tracked back to one misstep, one slip of the mouth.  If you’ve ever been it’s target, chances are you have, then you know how badly it can hurt your life, friendships, ministry, marriage, children, and your reputation.

We see here in the first part of the verse that the virtuous woman opens her mouth with wisdom.  She knew when to speak and when to keep herself quiet.  She didn’t have “loose lips” and spout out whatever she felt whenever she felt it.  Imagine if you did that at any given time.  Chances are most wouldn’t care to be around you too much.  Learning discretion and reverence for those in your presence lifts up your Father in Heaven.  Jesus wasn’t degrading people as he walked the earth.  He was a thoughtful man who considered the feelings of the others around him.  Unfortunately, our society teaches us to say whatever we think.  That’s incorrect.  Sometimes saying something just because you feel it is very harmful.  Imagine if those who are in your company said whatever they felt about you.  Would you care to be around them?  Be kind and considerate, it will take you far with others.  Your self-control may help others come to Christ because they don’t see a hot-head or loose lips claiming Christ. 

Let us look at the second part of that verse, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  We can’t expect to get through this particular verse without expecting a mention of gossip.  First, let’s just say it doesn’t matter who you are (Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34) male or female, rich or poor, saved or lost.  Gossip is a hurtful and harmful aspect that everyone faces at some point.  It’s absolutely tough at times to avoid because we are curious creatures but the affects are truly devastating.  The virtuous woman had the law of kindness in her tongue which means she didn’t cause harm with her mouth.  Sometimes we have every good intention, we truly want to help.  Yet some how, somewhere those good intentions were twisted and turned into all-in-all gossip.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s no one’s business.  

Consider your mouth and your speech, watch what you say and how you say it.  Being a good witness for Christ and for other Christians is to set an example that “I don’t do that because my Creator didn’t.”  If you need help, ask your Father, he’ll gladly help.  Find yourself on your knees somewhere and ask for that heavenly reminder to keep your speech in check.

I can’t believe it! This year has absolutely FLOWN by. For whatever reason, it seems like yesterday Hubby and I were waking up wishing each other Happy New Year (we were too tired to watch the ball drop). I’m always amazed at how quickly our days go by and how quick I am to forget that today is a gift. This year, though it had some heartache, trouble, and pain, was a blessing and a gift from God Himself. Soon enough, I’ll spend my last day on earth and step over into Glory. Until then, I think I’ll enjoy the rest of 2008, if God allows. And, I’ll spend time enjoying 2009.

So, I’m taking the day off, sorta. My mother-in-law and family are coming over to exchange presents. Plus, I’m feeding my poor brother-in-law since his father and step-mother will be out of town. Bless his heart I hate to think he’s eating Hamburger Helper every night. (Can we say, YUCK?!)

So, I’m taking a very, very short break. And, then it’s up. Off I go…

Christmas to me is more than Santa, Christmas trees, snow, and yes, even more than presents.

Christmas is a time to look back to a time when a scared young woman travelled many miles only to give birth in a manger.  A time when my Savior was born into a wicked world that would one day beat him, crown him with thorns, mock him, and kill him. But my Savior, as he lay in the manger, knew one day He would defeat Hell and the grave. For He knew, on the third day He would rise again. 

Christmas is more to me than the traditional meal and fairy tale often told by parents.  Christmas is a time to stop and remember that Jesus died for each of us.  Without Him, you are destined to spend an eternity in Hell. His life and His love were so great that He died for each of us. Young, old, boy, girl, it doesn’t matter. All that you must to is to have a sincere belief on Him.

Christmas is a time to celebrate what He has done for us.  Let us make sure to stop and remember that without Him our days would be dull and wicked. With Him our days are bright and full.

Since Hubby has to work today (yes, another holiday), I’ll be heading to my parents house later this evening. Before I go, though I must finish my list of things that must get done before Christmas Day.

1. Bake cookies for my Aunt and Uncle
2. Bake a cheesecake for Hubby and my Christmas Day celebration
3. Put together sausage balls for Christmas morning to eat while we open presents.
4. Bake some bread. (I’m thinking I’ll need another oven. Anyone willing to part with theirs?)
5. Run to the grocery store to get the Christmas roast.  Yes, I’ve procrastinated.

I have plenty to do today. So, I’ll get on top of it. Merry Christmas!!

If there is, bless your heart. Praise the Lord I finished a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I did a happy dance when I finished the last present and had it wrapped. My joy overflowed! I really enjoy considering those around us and what they might enjoy. And, for whatever reason, there is always those one or two that seem to never be excited about any present.  So, I’ve done my best this year to get something that I think will knock their socks off. We’ll see if the Bah-Hum-Bug bug bites again this year. 

As for me? I don’t think I’ll ever get over the whole presents thing. I’m such a kid. No joke, anticipation seethes through my veins as that first present is laid on my lap. Oh joy! Oh bliss! What could it be? And there is nothing more fun that running my fingers along the seam of some carefully wrapped present and ripping it to shreds. So, I’m thoroughly excited about Christmas. I could receive the most junky, unusable thing in the world but the fact that someone took time to wrap it up so that I could rip it apart tickles the child in me.

I adore Christmas!

Christmas is upon us! My shopping is done, my wrapping is done, one Christmas dinner is done, and I’m ready for Christmas Day!

This year, we started planning early, I mean early. 7 months before Christmas come upon us, we were already buying presents. Next year, though, I plan on making the goon majority of the presents with a few bought items with them. Really, who can afford to buy for 30 people every year? Well, no us at least.

I’m off to the grocery store EARLY this morning so that I can get the few little things we need for the rest of the week. I refuse to go later in the day due to the fact that the store is crawling with disgruntled parents, grandparents, and people in general- toting around their children (because they are out of school) trying to do last minute shopping and fighting for the last Barbie. No thanks.

In Time To Come 

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Proverbs 31: 24 – 25

We’re all looking towards the future, the new home, cars, children, grandchildren, retirement, a raise… it seems as though once one goal is accomplished another is already forming in our minds.  Once we’ve obtained that which we’ve labored for, we begin again the task of laboring for another.  We should all have goals; there should be some long-term and short-term goals that we are reaching for at all times.  The same goes for our Christian walk.  The Bible teaches, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).  The Word of God confirms that need in us to reach further and higher than we had previously reached.

Each of us at some point in our life have begun to build for something; building a checking account for the future home, building a relationship at work for a raise, building a relationship with our sweetheart for marriage. Whatever it may be we’re tucking away those things we need to be successful at our goal. Once that purchase is made, the sense of accomplishment pride and joy rise up within us.  We’ve done it!  All of this work, all of the sacrifices, all of the time and labor has brought forth my reward!  For the saved individual, our goals have similar rewards.  No, we won’t be driving around the most fancy car in Heaven or saving up to buy a home (mine has already been purchased and the master builder is under construction until I come Home) but the rewards we will gain will be definitely “out of this world”.

Some rewards we’re blessed to see and hold today.  Our Father is good and today He wants to shower us with blessings from above for all of the hard work we’ve done.  No doubt our rewards in Heaven will leave us in awe but the rewards here are pretty wonderful too.  Plus, our Father knows how to give good gifts! They come wrapped in the most beautiful dressings, with the most unique bow and name tag (To: My Lovely Child; From: Your Proud Father).  When you open it up, a smile begins to wrap around your face.  That’s a gift you always wanted but never could get for yourself.  You take the gift out of the box and show it off, others can see how this gift has affected you.  You’ve been blessed by the Ultimate Gift-Giver, and others want to be blessed too.  Our Father doesn’t mind, He doesn’t need to run to Wal-Mart to pick up another gift, He turns to their cabinet and picks out a perfect fit and sends it their way.  You’ll be a blessing to those who didn’t know that they could get blessed.  Your hard work and willingness to receive has had a chain reaction.

 In time to come, we’ll receive our ultimate reward. Until that day we continue to work for our reward.  The Bible promises in time to come we’ll reap what we have sown.  Sow good seeds, be a diligent worker, be “about the Father’s business” and the Father will make sure you are rewarded in time to come.