Thoughful Thursday...Ponderings from the Accidental Pastor's Wife

Miss Kitty and I had an interesting time pondering things today..the topic was -being the "pastor's wife". The words themselves conjure up some rather interesting images and emotions.
Over the years I have had my own exposure to pastor's wives and each one left their own mark on my heart. As for "accidental", well, I didn't become one on purpose (at least not my purposing).
In all the various ministry roles my husband and I have filled over the years, none of them ever gave me the impression that one day he would be a pastor and I the "pastor's wife". Believe me, it was quite a shock! Yet, our path gave us input and shape we would not have had otherwise. The people and situations that brought us here were all vital in their own unique ways.
Upon realizing my new station in this life, I must admit to some huge issues of inadequacy. In my attempt to place myself in the "pastor's wife" mold I had seen around me...I knew I just didn't fit. This realization scared me half to death! Prayer, scripture, friends...where do you find the handbook for who and what the "pastor's wife" is? Join me, won't you, each Thursday, as I share the thoughts and funny incidents that happen along  my own path to being the pastor's wife.


Today, Miss Kitty and I had some interesting insights (the Lord can use anybody, can't He?). As I consider my own place, role and identity, please consider your own pastor's wife. Seek to understand and love her for who she is to her family and to you.

First...she is a sinner, a product of fallen man. When my husband become a pastor, I did not lose my fallen, sinful nature; I am not magical- a super-saint- no way. Prone to wickedness- let me tell you. I still struggle with weakness, sin, idols, pits- just like you, just like your pastor's wife. Now, she should be saved by grace; a believer in Lord Jesus- striving to live and walk in His word. We are believers on the same path you are.

Second...she is your pastor's wife. Important role here...my primary job is to fulfill the needs of a wife so that your pastor may serve the people. Tending his home, washing his laundry, cooking his meals..honoring his convictions; some of my daily duties. I love my husband and seek to lift him up (not tear him down), to meet his emotional needs (he needs encouragement and love just like you), to assist his ministry as he needs (praying for him is top priority), and filter through the un-necessaries so that he can do the necessaries (whatever pops up that is in my ability to handle). I must be available to him and have a right relationship with him for these needs to be met.

Third..she is the mother of your pastor's children. Her job is to nurture, train and meet the needs of their children. Another important role here..she is still a mother with the same responsibility to teach her children as we all have. My children may be teens, but they need my time at any age. Teaching them is a help to my husband, my church, and the world around me. Until they leave home, they are a priority in my life.

It is a calling, I believe, to be the wife of a pastor; the Word says to be equally yolked one to another. When my husband shared his call to ministry with me- I was petrified- but immediately began to pray (like never before) and seek for my heart to be equally yolked to his. God has given me a passion for my husband's pastorate, a love for the body of believers he serves, and a desire to harvest alongside this wonderful man. In this, my identity is slowly becoming clear. I am the "pastor's wife".

Consider today- will you pray for your pastor's wife and the important role she carries in the life of her home; the home of your pastor? I promise you, she will appreciate it.

simplychele
the accidental pastor's wife :)

Happy Birthday!!

Leviticus and simplyjen

Our little goatmama is turning a year older today! Happy birthday girl! She's a needlecraft artist, master gardener to be, lady goat herder, organizer extraordinaire, head muckateer, and an awful good cook...the walking encyclopedia of nutrition and plants....all around busy gal (wish I had her energy). For her special day..cake will be eaten (cheesecake- Godiva style!)..shopping will be done (western wear!),.dinner will be eaten (her request) and Twizzlers will be on hand (her favorite). Join us in wishing her a special 15Th birthday.

simplychele 

Let Us Not Forget

In Remembrance by nraescaife

Another holiday weekend; another traffic jam, or family gathering, or church function, or--you get the picture. Often times these long weekends are more a bother than a holiday and that should not be. Seems we have forgotten why we have the holiday to begin with.As for me and my house, we aim to remember why holidays became holidays, stayed holidays, and what the purpose is.

The Fourth of July was intended to be a celebration of our nationhood; the passing of our Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress. The early celebrators held mock funerals to symbolize the death of the monarchy rule over our country. In the past, this holiday was celebrated with parades, orations, community gatherings celebrating the birth of this new nation. However, recent celebrations verge more on self indulgence and expensive fireworks displays.

Here on the farm, our celebrations are simple. We make our past, our fallen heroes, and our current nation a subject of discussion, research and prayer. If family is near enough to gather, a simple grilled meal may be served- or a dessert gathering may be held. Often a small set of fireworks are set off by the children and the farm dad. This year, the weather has not been conductive to outdoor activities, and the holiday falls on a Sunday..which means most of our energies will be spent on worshiping and serving our Lord; honoring our veterans in attendance and praying over current service members.

Seems our country is losing touch with its roots; its history. Let us each try to recapture the fire with which our nation began..passing to the next generations..placing it in the hands of God. Have a safe and blessed holiday weekend.

simplychele

*note: The above picture is by simplynrae..a collection of memorabilia from her parents' military items. This is on the easel as a pencil sketch and possibly a painting....enjoy more of her beautiful patriotic works at http://www.ealadha.deviantart.com/ !

Updates....

The good news...Hurricane Alex did not produce any damaging weather to my area; it did do severe damage to areas south of us- including a few reported deaths. The bad news....I am battling a bug; started mild last weekend and has worsened each day- today seems rather awful...cough and sore throat (by the way..lost my voice)-no fun for me.

Today was rather gloomy; rain stayed around nearly all day (we could use it). With the muggy air aggravating my summer cold, I personally will spend most of my day just quilting in front of a fan. Watching the chickens venture out between rain showers to scratch around, sipping iced tea, trying to finish hand quilting Grandma's Fans- this is the plan for me.

Now the farmkids are busy working on combined musical arrangements (piano, guitar, keyboard), summer classwork, and a few new projects. Our artist has some neat pics ready, however, with her away much of the day for classes- I can't get them uploaded for posting. She has some really nice card sets ready for sale, a set of farm-style embroidery images, and is almost finished with a patriotic sketch (on top of all those writing assignments for college)- busy girl.  Our goat n garden gal is trying to complete a baby blanket that has pretty yellow rosebuds- and is testing a pattern for filet edged pillow cases. Farmboy, well, he feels like a caged puppy today- not at all pleased. He is working on his base guitar skills and drawing plans for some welding projects- using horseshoes.

Off I go to help my dear farm-husband by gathering some patriotic items for his Sunday sermon...some on the list: our personal copy of the Declaration of Independence, our copy of the Bill of Rights, our military memorabilia, and a flag. It is always so amazing to see how some of this comes out in the pulpit; isn't the Holy Spirit amazing?

Please pray for our neighbors to the south recovering the effects of the hurricane. and our servicemen and their families; join us as we remember them today.

simplychele

Yesterday's Noisy Visitor

The farmboy had been out gathering eggs yesterday morning when he walked under a tree..and something hit him on the head. It seems we had a rather noisy visitor up there in the oak tree- a pileated woodpecker measuring around a foot in length (crest to tail). He was making quite a racket up there and dropping an awful mess of bark on the boy below him. Our farmboy called us all out to view this special sight. I could not get a clear picture with my camera, so I have borrowed this one from All About Birds. Farmboy and I spent some time reading and found some interesting information about our unique visitor.

The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America measuring anywhere between fifteen and nineteen inches.  They have a cushion behind their beak to keep them from getting a headache, and have a tongue that can wrap around their head. um, wow! They are easily heard but difficult to spot. In their search for ants and beetle larvae they often leave rectangular shaped holes in logs or the trunks of trees-  toppling small saplings- and leaving a mess of bark chips in beneath their foraging. Their nests are found in the cavity of dead trees- unlined, except for a few wood chips- hatching one to six eggs in a clutch.

In past years, the pileated woodpeckers had been reaching endangered levels, however, it is reported that their numbers have increased in all habitat areas except for Arkansas. Here in our neck of the woods, they seem to thrive. We often spot several of various sizes throughout the summer months, and try to search them out when their hammering rings through our little farm yard.

Some may consider this noisy visitor quite a nuisance, however, the farmboy and I thoroughly enjoy the amazing handiwork of our Lord every time we hear the ringing of the pileated woodpecker; it is even more special when we get to see one!

simplychele and the farmboy