My Bible

I was looking at my Bible yesterday during my devotion time. Bob preached on Wednesday night about the value we place on our Bibles and how we take it for granted. My Bible is so personally mine. I know it. I know it well enough that in my mind I can see where certain passages are...which side of the book it is on, where on the page and if it is highlighted or underlined. I have notes from personal studies and notes of different preachers...some points of sermons but always preacher's name, date, and title of sermon or verses used. It is MY BIBLE. I'm thankful for it and that I have it and don't have to hide it. I got it Feb 18, 1998. I try to often thank God for it when I have just read it.

It is not my first Bible. That one had my name on it in silver letters as a kid and I received it for memorizing scripture at a small VBS I attended. I was so excited about getting it. I was about 10 and didn't know enough to value it back then. I do still have it put away in  memory box somewhere.

My Bible has been used to lead others to the Lord, to debate correct doctrine with others, to admonish and teach other ladies and kids and many teens. It has been my source of strength, peace, and knowledge and wisdom. It is timeless and always relevant when I read, search and study with an open heart and mind seeking truth from God. I cannot imagine living daily without it as a part of my life. If for some reason I do go a day without getting into it, I feel so out of sorts. My day just doesn't go as it should.

Is your Bible personally yours? Is it precious to you? How much do you value it? How well do you know it?

What is Normal?

What is normal? I think "normal" in society and the world is ever changing at a rapid pace the past few years. I look at things around me and think often "that is NOT normal" but in actuality it is. You see strange and appalling things more and more. 

In each person's life "normal" is different for everyone and for every family. Traditions and habits and styles of people and families are different for each one. Sometimes, life takes a dramatic change and there becomes a "new norm". I remember when my mom got cancer. Life become very different in a hurry...for her, for my step-dad and for all of us. We suddenly had a new norm for our lives. Norm was pain med management, feeding tubes and driving to chemo and radiation and watching my sweet mom deteriorate as the cancer, radiation and chemo stole her health, memory, and dignity. It was hard but for 14 months was the normal for our family.

Society, our current government, Hollywood, and the media keep telling us that "Normal" is what they say it is and that we must accept that or be called haters or racial or bigots. 

For some children, normal is being hungry, abused, different boyfriends or girlfriends constantly moving in and out, drunkenness or drug use of care givers and seeing what the government can give you. Unfortunately, when this is normal for them as children, it often becomes normal for them as an adult and then is passed on to their own children. 

For some children, normal is a loving home where there is respect, church and the Bible taught. I didn't grow up in church but I was taught to pray and fear God and was taught respect for elders and authority and a good work ethic and paying my bills and being on time. Meals were always ate together as a family and talking together was expected. I was surrounded by love and laughter with my cousins as my first and best friends and my grandparents were a huge part of my life. I was a country girl and practically raised on a river bank going camping, fishing, swimming and playing every sport imaginable with my cousins. I would never know how to survive in the city hardly. I am 48 years old and have never taken a public transit bus or subway or even the St. Louis Metro Link. (Nor do I ever want to!) Normal for me was going barefoot, Pepsi, Koolaid, riding in a pickup (back and front) and boat rides and getting good grades in school and becoming a responsible adult.

Some children have normal as being sports driven and that is all that matters. ... To excel and be all you can be in a sport. 

For some, good grades and achieving a higher education and becoming important is what is driven into them. Their normal is studying constantly, taking tests, going to college and climbing the corporate ladder. 

Even though there are many "normals" out there and some would say that no one can judge another person's normal, I believe it doesn't take a psychology degree to recognize "off" or "odd" or even down right "crazy"...in other words, "Not Normal". It is not normal for a person to desire or to walk around with 30 piercings on their face. It is not normal for people to be going around beheading people because they are angry or for a religious cause. Those who desire to have genocide of certain sects of people as a control issue or to weed out undesirables is not normal!!! 

Some days, I am sooo ready for Jesus to come and call us home to Him by the trumpet sound that I can't hardly stand to go another day in this wicked world. Some days, I am ready for a Heavenly Normal with streets of gold and the tree of life and no more aches and pains and seeing my loved ones again. Some days, I just can't wait for that new Norm! 

I'm concerned for my future grandchildren (Addelyn Jane who is on the way in March and any others) and the world and country of the USA that she will be living in. What will be her norm? I'm fearful of what she will be allowed to live through. I know that as a child of God I am on the winning side and that someday my "normal" will be wonderful but I learned very young that you'd be surprised what you can live through! 

I know that this seemed very random as a post and maybe the thoughts a little scattered but I have been thinking lately about normal and what the world tells me it should be and quite frankly I don't like it.

 

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Today I turned 48. I have been thinking lately about all the things I have done and been through in my life. (Quite alot for someone my age I think) In one month I will be married for 28 years and I raised a son and daughter to live for the Lord. I have my first grandchild on the way in March 2015...a girl, Addelyn Jane! Can't wait to meet her!

I have been in full time ministry with my husband since February 2003. I was a pastor's wife for 3 years, an associate pastor's wife for 1 1/2 years, and then a church planter's wife for 7 years (All the same husband!!! LOL) and now am a pastor's wife once again at my husband's first pastorate. (as stated in a previous post)

I lost my mom to cancer in 2011 after a long battle and my dad died when I was 12 years old from a massive coronary heart attack. My mom was re-married when I was 17 to my stepdad who has been my father longer than my dad was my father.

I was in a car/train collision when I was a senior in high school (see previous post for more details if interested) and this changed my life forever in many many ways.

I love teaching women and kids at church and planning church events. I like poetry, reading my Bible and listening to good preaching and debating about anything I am passionate about (ex. politics, Bible, creation, global warming, rights and the USA, etc.) I can nearly quote the first five seasons of the Andy Griffith show, and also enjoy The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, The Cosby Show and The Facts of Life show. I love aprons and collecting them and enjoycreating things in the kitchen. I like working side by side with my husband on nearly anything!

Followers of this blog (which I know are few) have seen many of my seasons of change. I just wanted to get another post in for October and give a quick low-down on me for those who do not know it already. Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world.

Happy Birthday to me! I just heard my niece Amelia sing to me. She is sooo cute! I miss her bunches!

Ministry Field Perks

After being in the ministry in 3 different states, I can assure all that every ministry field has its perks and its downsides. I want to share some of those for our current field of Cleveland OK.
1. Perk - speed limits are 65 mph unless right in town & 75 mph on most turnpikes (toll roads)
        --Downside - Road Conditions (and I don't mean winter conditions!) They pay a much higher sales tax than in MO or AR and the roads are horrendous! Gravel and black top!

2. Perk - being at a church with people we served once before gives us faster acclamation time and sooner to be accepted as pastor and pastor's wife (most people say that it takes new pastors about 3 years to be accepted fully)
          --Downside - We have changed in view and age and so have those who are still here from when we served previously (having them understand how and why our views have changed in 10 years is going to take teaching)

3. Perk - Sunsets & Sunrises - they are very pretty in OK (tho I like them in MO too but don't really remember them in AR --could be cuz I was so very busy there!)
           --Downside - ground/soil is not as rich as MO so I'm interested to see how the garden does next summer - there has also been a drought here the past few years

4. Perk - being closer to my son in Texas 
            --Downside - farther from my daughter & Amelia and both Bob and my families

5. Perk - Living here before helps us know where things are (streets, businesses, etc.) & also the culture of the townspeople
            --Downside - explaining to those same people why we would move back here when we are not originally from here! lol

6. Perks - the town has grown in many ways (businesses and new folks) Yay! they have a Wal-mart Market and a McDonald's!!! Two other good restaurants - Mexican and our own church member's place "Josie's Express" where you can get American, Mexican or Asian (owner is Fillipino!) All good food and cheap
            --Downside - with the pipeline work all around near here, there are alot of people only here short term

I am sure if I sat here longer I could come up with many more perks and downsides but I will stop for now. I just didn't want to go a whole month and not post on my blog. I know how busy it can get -- we have been slowly moving for 6 weeks now a little at a time and trying to get things in order at church and our apartment and get our MO home on the real estate market, but I do not want to become guilty of neglecting my blog.

R E S P E C T - Find Out What it Means to Him!

Bob recently taught (part of a message) on the differences in what women & men want from a relationship. He elaborated on that women generally (when polled) want to know they are loved unconditionally while men want a wife to respect them. How interesting this is when God in His Word places commandments concerning these very two things! Husbands are commanded to love their wife (Eph. 5:24) and wives are commanded to reverence their husband (Eph. 5:33) In other words, respect!

I thought I would post some things to make ladies think about whether or not they have been respecting their husband. Often times things we do or say can actually be disrespecting our husband and we do not even realize it.

I cannot take credit for all of the things I will mention because I have sat under some good speakers and teachers from which I have gleaned wisdom. I often am reminded of these because I am sometimes guilty of some of the things I will mention. So, this is a good reminder for me too!

One of the biggies is do not second guess or question his decisions (especially in public). When you do this, the man feels as though you do not trust him or that you do not think he is smart enough to handle a situation. They are commanded in scripture to be the leader and caregiver and provider of the home, wife and children. If you feel there is a mistake being made, approach the subject with caution after you feel he can be approached and at an appropriate time. Think about it ladies, when you are making a mistake in the rearing of your child at the moment, do you like one of your lady friends to point it out at that given moment? No! We will be more receptive after the urgent moment has passed. Now, sometimes it is necessary to correct immediately but this should not be a thing that happens regularly or often. Usually, my rule of thumb is to ask Bob if he has prayed about a thing or situation. If he tells me yes, then I submit to his authority or leadership whether I agree or not and then I pray for God to help Bob in that decision or change his mind if it is not good for us. Prayer changes people and situations!

Do not, DO NOT, say to your kids "Don't tell Dad about this"!!! (Unless it is a surprise for him) You are teaching your kids that you in a sense want to lead, that what he doesn't know won't hurt him, that he is not worth respecting as the leader of the home, and you are undermining his authority with them. This also teaches them to be sneaky and underhanded and that it is you and them against him. Also, if you teach them this, it will eventually teach them to be sneaky with you too!

Do not be critical of him to others. This is especially important to ladies who have husbands in ministry positions (paid or unpaid - ex. Deacons, Youth Pastors, Sunday School teachers). They are leaders over certain groups and when you are critical it shows others that you do not respect him. Then why should they follow or listen when he tries to teach or counsel?

Do not imply or make reference that he does not supply enough money to take care of you. Sometimes situations and life circumstances cause financial burdens and stress but sometimes we just need to buckle down and not spend! Men generally like to feel they are good providers. Maybe you don't get to have all you want but do you have all you actually need? When push comes to shove, you will be surprised how much longer a car, couch, washer, dishwasher or clothing can hold out until you are more stable financially.

Never NEVER compare him to another man (as though he isn't as good or physically fit or romantic) even if it is a celebrity. Do you want to be compared to Jennifer Aniston or
Taylor Swift or Sandra Bullock? Or do you want to be compared to you sister or friend who is a better housekeeper or cook? Nuff Said!

Welp, I think that is enough things to get your mind thinking and heart convicted about your words and actions. Hope this helps you realize if you are guilty of not respecting your husband. If you are guilty --- make it right. Apologize! It will make for a sweet night at your house!

What's Your Super Power?

Have you seen those t-shirts that are out there that say..."I'm a ________, what's your super power"? Well, I want one that says "I'm a Preacher's Wife. What's Your Super Power?"

What does it mean to be a preacher's wife? In no particular order, it means you are the master multi-tasker, emotion hider (put a smile on despite the circumstances), prayer warrior, counselor, husband/pastor encourager, role model, teacher of children, teacher of women, criticism taker, event organizer & coordinator, peacemaker, sermon & letter proof reader, and still keeper of the home and all that goes with it.

I'm sure I have forgotten a few hundred things but I think you get the picture that a lot of responsibility comes with the title. I have had a five month break from the role but am beginning again to take on that responsibility. I love the role but am not ignorant to what comes with it. I have over 10 years practice. I hope I am improving as the years go by.

We are headed back to Cleveland, Oklahoma and Grace Baptist Church (Bob's first pastorate). We have spiritually and geographically come full circle. We left Missouri in Feb. 2003 to begin life in the ministry in Oklahoma, after 3 years we moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas for Bob to become the associate pastor and learn and gain experience without going to Bible college, after 1 1/2 years we were sent out of that church to start Rock Solid Baptist Church in Cuba, Missouri. After 7 years the church closed and we are now headed back to Cleveland. So, spiritually and on the map we made a circle.

Bob and I are excited about this opportunity that God has provided. I pray that we be found worthy of the work God has placed us over. It is hard to leave family and friends in our home state but serving the Lord is the only way we know. God has paved the way there and has provided a job and income after we tried to do it our own way and stay where we wanted. Truth is, I was the hold up on moving back there quite some time ago, but that is another story for another post.

Welp, I have explained my Super Power (from God mind you), what is yours? I DO plan to have a t-shirt made!

Gluten Free Oatmeal Brownies

Now let me say right off this recipe is still full of calories but I discovered today that you can make them sugar free using Stevia in the Raw powder. They taste great with sugar or with the Stevia!

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter 
2 c. sugar, molasses or Stevia powder
4 eggs
1/2 t. vanilla or orange extract (I prefer the orange because they will taste like orange chocolate truffles)
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. baking soda
1/4 t. cream of tartar
1 c. oat flour (you can make your own in the food processor or blender!)
1/2 - 1 c. nuts (optional)

Preaheat oven to 325. Coat 9X13 pan with cooking spray or grease.
Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat. When completely melted, remove from stove. Beat in sugar or Stevia. Add eggs & choice of extract. Beat til glossy & smooth. Add cocoa, salt, soda, cream of tartar, & oat flour. Add nuts. Put in pan and bake for exactly 30 mins. Cool slightly and cut into squares.

***Check on them after about 25 minutes. If they are pulling away from pan at edges and middle seems set then go ahead and pull them at that point instead of waiting the 30 min. They will get too hard at edges if you do not.