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November 13, 2012
NEW HOME FOR HEARTLINE BLOG
We would like to announce that the Heartline blog has a new home.
The address is:
You can also find us on facebook
The address is:
You can also find us on facebook
September 7, 2012
FOCUS
So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!
Whether you have
been one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2
years, or 65 years, we all have need of
TRUTH spoken to us which render us:
hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We pray that you will receive just that (and
more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely
insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.
WORDS TO INSPIRE
A Time Traveler
“So teach us to number our days, that
we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.”
~ Psalm 90:12
My first encounter with the death of someone close to me was
when my Grandma Lee went home to Jesus. As a young woman in the first years of
marriage and teaching, I found myself shook, coping with the reality and
finality of dying and life as I’d experienced it taking a dramatic shift. We’ve
each been in that moment, some at much earlier ages and some with a great deal
more tragedy and suddenness involved. We’re left with unfamiliar emotions,
trying to stand in foreign territory. And the voice that God used to place me
back on stable ground was that of my Grandma James.
“Amy, this
is the way God’s planned it. All of us, Grandma Lee, you, me, Grandpa – We’re
leaves on a beautiful big tree, honey. We have our time to blossom and shine,
and then when the time is right and our season is over we wither and fall off
into the breeze.”
Her message was to accept, to trust, to love, and then to
LIVE fully during our season. And boy did she ever take her own wise advice!
TIME. We all have it; we all spend it. Believers and
nonbelievers alike. I am struck by that
simple concept frequently. Every one of us, without exception, is spending
their commodity in either pointless or meaningful ways. We squander or invest
it. What will we do with the time we’ve been given? What will we allow God to
do in us? Through us? How will we spend it, and will it matter? Yes there’s a
heavy sense of responsibility here, but isn’t there an unbelievable OPPORTUNITY as well?
The psalmist’s cry in Psalm 90 is to JOURNEY WELL in the
time that he has been granted. Knowing that the number of his days is limited,
he asks God for a heart of wisdom in order to use them well and live with the
right priorities. The words from a childhood song come to mind: “This world is
not my own, I’m just a passing through.” I am a time traveler. I am granted an
unknown number of days to love my God and impact the world He has placed me in
as I pass through it. Last night my eldest son and I were talking in depth
about the year ahead and where we felt God wanted us to focus and invest our
time and energies, knowing that we can’t do it all, yet we deeply want to do it
well. This verse speaks to me about seeking God’s wisdom in these choices,
allowing Him to craft and designate my priorities, and then surrendering the
outcomes to Him. I’m asking Him to direct my eyes, heart, and mind to that
which matters most to Him. Proper alignment.
And I pray as the psalmist did, that as I travel through
this life, with whatever number of days I am given, that I too will journey
well.
NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD
BEING
STILL IN HIS PRESENCE
In the stillness of the morning I
sit and listen outside by my
table. I hear the sounds that God has
given us. A few birds are starting to
wake up and the breeze is coming over my face.
There is a sound of leaves rustling in the trees. I am only listening to the sounds that God
has provided.
Sometimes I find it very hard to be quiet. I think that I am not being productive unless
I am busy. God wants us to be
still. Guaranteed I do not always have
the large amount of time to just sit and be quiet in His Presence. But even the little amount of time is what
He wants of me.
What is being still in His presence? That is a pondering question. Have you ever waited for something in
anticipation and when you received it it was so exciting? It is the same with being still in His
presence. If you sit and meditate on the
Word and pray listening to the Holy Spirit waiting on Him you will feel excited
or peaceful or thankful. Whatever it is
that God wants to tell you He will in His time during that time of
quietness.
If I took more time to be still in the presence of God I
would probably hear more from Him. He
longs to talk with His children and to teach them. God has so much to teach me. In order to receive those teachings I need to
be quiet in His presence and listening.
Psalm 37:7a “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Sometimes I have to wait for a while to hear
what the Spirit has to say but the important thing for me to remember is to “be
still and wait patiently for Him”
Being still in His presence is not having an agenda of my
own. It is being in God’s agenda. When we are still in His presence we are
waiting on Him for the answers and it is not according to our agenda. My agenda is let’s do it now Lord. But I know that I must wait on Him. His perfect plan is the best. His perfect agenda is the best. If we believe that God is in control then we
will also believe that He will teach us by us being “Still in His
presence.”
So let us make the time and discipline our lives to spend
the quiet time with our Lord and wait “Being Still in His Presence”
CHECK IT OUT
CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY
I was about to return home from the West Coast on a red-eye
flight. Having finished reading my
current book and anticipating being awake for most of the night, I searched
through the shelves of books at my son’s home.
They are all avid readers and I knew I’d find something interesting and
worthwhile to read. Their open minds
were evident as I went from shelf to shelf, finally settling on Cry, The
Beloved Country by Alan Paton. What
piqued my interest to start with was the date it was written – 1948. The book opens with Notes on the 1987, 1959
and 1948 editions. I was ready to read
a good classic.
Comments on the cover of the book reviewers of The New York
Times and The New Republic proved to be so true: “A beautiful novel, rich, firm
and moving… its writing is so fresh its projection of characters so immediate
and full, its events so compelling , and its understanding so compassionate
that to read the book is to share intimately, even to the point of catharsis,
in the grave human experiences treated.” (The
New York Times). From The New Republic:” …an impassioned novel
about a black man’s country under white man’s law is a work of wearing beauty… a
deeply moving story of the Zulu pastor, Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom, set
against the background of a land and a people riven by racial injustice. Remarkable for its lyricism, unforgettable
for character and incident, Cry, the Beloved country is a classic work of love
and hope, courage and endurance, born of the dignity of man.”
If you want your mind to be stirred, your heart to ache for
another human being, this must be your next read.
Pastor Kumalo leaves his small burro in Natal
for the city of Johannesburg
Pastor Kumalo’s journey into Johannesburg
brings the landscape of South
Africa
This is a story of a father searching for his lost son, a
lost sister, a lost brother. The father
in the 15th chapter of Luke in the parable of the prodigal son will
come to mind--a father with his forehead pressed to the windowpane, waiting,
watching, hoping. But Pastor Kumalo must
return home to his wife with hard news and together they face the reality of
their son’s circumstances.
I’m so thankful I “stumbled” upon this book! It has been
good for me to be a part of Pastor Kumalo’s story. You will feel likewise, I know.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME
IN DUE SEASON
Zig Ziglar is known for his illustration of the Chinese
bamboo tree. Waiting for the Chinese
bamboo tree to grow can really test one’s patience, as it is known to lie
dormant for five years with no visible signs of growth. The wise farmer knows this and continues to
cultivate the soil around the tree, water it and keep the area free of weeds
even though signs of life may be non-existent.
Children and young people can sometimes be like the Chinese
bamboo tree. As parents, we may be
faithful in reading God’s Word to our children. We may be faithful in our prayers for them,
and daily striving to be a positive
role model for them, walking our faith walk with conviction and humbleness. However, sometimes, we may feel despair in
our hearts if we don’t witness a change of heart, immediate spiritual growth or
a desired level of spiritual maturity in our children. Though it would be easy to be discouraged in
such a time as this, we cannot lose heart.
Sometimes the transfer of a personal and vibrant faith is immediate;
sometimes it is slow and filled with setbacks.
I think of the verse in Proverbs 22:6 which says, “Train up a child in
the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Your
steady, unwavering confidence in your child and in your faith in Christ will be
a strong, powerful testimony to your child and will help them spiritually
mature and grow in the faith. The seeds have
been planted. Now, we are simply called
to be faithful in the watering and cultivating of the soil of our children’s
hearts. As it says in Galations 6:9,
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if
we do not lose heart.”
IDEAS THAT WORK
HIGH CHOLESTEROL
After having your full-blood work up, you and your
doctor discuss the report and he/she says, “You have elevated
cholesterol.” The next thought running
through your mind is, “What can I do to lower it?” The conventional medical method is for your
doctor to prescribe medication to lower it.
There are other options.
To get to the root cause and make permanent changes,
many may need to change their lifestyle – diet, exercise and supplementation.
LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is the bad
cholesterol. HDL (High Density
Lipoprotein) is the good cholesterol.
The total cholesterol should be 200 mg/dl or lower. Borderline High = 200-239 mg/dl. High Risk = 240 mg/dl and above.
Causes:
Poor diet – refined, fatty, nutrient deficient food – excess amounts of
animal protein. Stress. Lack of exercise. Environmental pollutants. Trauma.
Inflammation in the body.
Hereditary factors. Smoking. Obesity (20-30% overweight). Alcohol abuse. Fat metabolism problems. Diabetes.
Hypertension/Blood Pressure problems.
Long-term birth control use. Drug
use – especially steroids and diuretics.
Abnormal lipid profiles.
Supplements to Lower Cholesterol:
1. Vitamin C
(1,000 – 3,000 mg daily or more) + Lysine (500 mg daily)
2. Magnesium
(350 – 800 mg daily or to bowel tolerance)
3. Calcium
(1,000 mg daily)
4. Essential
Fatty Acids (Omega 3, 6, 9 – Udo’s Oil 3.6.9 Blend – best 1 T. daily)
5. Lecithin
(350 mg daily, 3 times a day with meals)
6. Fiber –
Psyllium Husks and Flaxmeal (35-50 grams daily with 1-2 glasses of water)
Botanicals to Lower Cholesterol:
1. Garlic –
crushed – important for full benefit.
Can be juiced and/or cooked (1-3 daily)
2. Onions –
cooked
3. Green Tea –
(1-3 cups daily – squeeze bags to get full benefit)
4. Fenugreek –
(1 t. daily)
Diet and Lifestyle to Lower
Cholesterol:
1. Detox is
helpful.
2. Vegetarian
Based Diet – High in veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts.
3. Two Fish
meals a week.
4. Reduce
stress – meditation and massage.
5. Loose
weight.
6. Avoid
smoking.
7. Moderate
exercise.
8. Avoid
drinking.
9. Avoid
coffee.
The above lists are not exhaustive. You should seek professional medical advice preferably from a naturopathic doctor who is heavily
educated in lifestyle changes to gain health.
HERE'S WHAT'S COOKING
S'more Cups:
The campfire is
optional--these little treats can be enjoyed anywhere.
Ingredients:
7 whole graham crackers (1 cup/250 mL
finely crushed)
1/4 cup (50 mL) powdered sugar
6 tbsp (90 mL) butter, melted
4 bars (1.55 oz or 43 g each) milk
chocolate candy, divided
12 large marshmallows
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place graham crackers into a
large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs using a rolling pin.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter in Small Batter Bowl.
Using small scoop, place scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of
Mini-Muffin Pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until
edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles.
Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.
Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using shears dipped in
cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to
oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Remove from
oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from
pan. Cool completely.
Break remaining candy bars and place in (1-cup/250 mL) Prep
Bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth,
stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow in melted chocolate.
Turn top-side up and let stand 40 minutes-1 hour or until set.
Yield: 24 cups
Nutrients per serving: (1 cup) Calories 100, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1 g, Sodium 60 mg, Fiber 0 g
Skillet Lasagna
Ingredients:
1 jar (24-26 oz or 680-700 mL) marinara
sauce
3 cups (750 mL) water
8 oz (250 g) lasagna noodles
1 lb (500 g) bulk hot Italian turkey
sausage or sausage links, casings removed
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 oz (60 g) Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh parsley,
divided
1 cup (250 mL) fresh whole milk ricotta
cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 tsp (1 mL) coarsely ground black pepper
Additional grated Parmesan cheese
(optional)
Directions:
Combine sauce and water in (12-in./30-cm) Skillet. Cover;
bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, wrap noodles in clean kitchen towel and break
crosswise into quarters. Stir noodles into sauce. Cover; reduce heat and simmer
16-18 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. As noodles cook, place sausage into
(10-in./25-cm) Skillet; cook and stir over medium-high heat 6-8 minutes or
until sausage is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles using Mix ‘N Chop. Add
pressed garlic; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir sausage into noodles and
sauce. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese
using Cheese Grater. Chop parsley using Santoku Knife; set aside 1 tbsp (15 mL)
parsley for garnish. Combine cheeses, remaining parsley and black pepper in
Classic Batter Bowl. Scoop cheese mixture over noodles using Medium Scoop.
Cover Skillet and simmer gently 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and
ricotta mixture is heated through.
To serve, sprinkle lasagna with reserved parsley and
additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Yield: 6 servings
Nutrients per serving: Calories 470, Total Fat 21 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Protein 30 g, Sodium 1200 mg, Fiber 3
**both recipes
from the Pampered Chef***
TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER
Lord, the world is so much around me. I desire to have your wisdom but it doesn’t
come easy. I get so caught up in my
daily activities. I am so thankful
for the involvement , the activities
that I can be a part of with other people. But, I know Lord, that your wisdom
doesn’t come to me in the rush , the
business of all that. And you know Lord,
how much I need your wisdom. I know that the wisdom I need will be there as I spend
quiet time with you, in your presence, and at your feet. Lord, would you teach
me how to number my days , so that I may get a heart full of wisdom.
Slow me down, Lord, to hear only You. Amen
July 10, 2012
FOCUS
So, here I am, a pastor’s
wife?!
Whether
you have been one of us for 2 weeks, 6
months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life
transformational insights. We pray that
you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The
Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and
life-applicable topics.
WORDS TO INSPIRE
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in
humility count other more significant that yourselves. Let each of you look not
only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians
2:3-4 (ESV)
We
as pastor’s wives wear many hats including serving as an encourager, prayer
warrior and confidant. Though we may experience a unique role in our
congregations, our attitude in serving our Savior is no more than what Paul
encourages all believers to possess. He continues, “Have this mind among
yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, (Phil. 2:5ff).
My
life is not about me; it’s about the Lord. Isaiah’s saw God’s glory. His
encounter (6:5-8) with God’s holiness seared not only his lips, but his heart.
Isaiah’s humble response to his call to service: “Here am I. Send me.”
Contemplate the Lord’s unlimited goodness and mercy, His immeasurable love and
power, and our attitude in service changes.
Rhoda Jore, missionary to Uganda
May
God bless our service for His glory.
NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD
Being Emptied…To Make Room for God
What does “being empty” mean? Empty means nothing is left. So in light of this topic emptied means to
have nothing of “myself” in the way but only God. If we want to be filled up with God we have
to be emptied of self.
Sometimes God has to really work with me to be emptied so
that there is room for God. I like to
hold on to things. I like how it feels
though when I am emptied just for God. I
feel frustrated when I know the heaviness is upon my heart of holding on to
things. When I release them to the Lord
it feels so good it is like a big back pack has been lifted off of my back.
Sometimes I can pray myself and give God the situation and sometimes I
physically have to lift up my hands up to the heavens and say, “God I need to
be shown today that you love me in your own special way” “God I don’t know how this certain situation
can be fixed Lord but you do and I am just going to back out of the situation
and watch you work” “I am so lonesome
today Lord please let me feel your love to me.” It feels so good to let go. I know it is the verses I have quoted before,
Proverbs 3:5, 6, Trust in the Lord with all
of your heart. God
knew that I would want to keep part of my heart from myself so He put that
verse there for me with all my heart.
If you have ever experienced letting go of something it is a total feeling of
emptiness just waiting, watching or leaning on Him alone. No worries, no fretting just wait on Him for
each new thing. The song writer says
“Room for Jesus King of Glory, hasten now his will obey.” It is obedience on my part to leave it with
God.
What a victorious life it would be if I could continually
lean on Him alone each day and not allow the evil one to cause any disruptions
in my life. That is why we need to be on
guard. Be watchful. Then, listen to the Holy Spirit and
obey. God wants all of me. He just doesn’t want part of me. I have known that concept for a long time. Yet in my flesh, I don’t allow Him to have
all of me because either I don’t think He can handle it or I just want to keep
hanging on to it. Whatever the reason,
God needs to prune me so that I get rid of things so that my cup is empty of
myself and so that I can be full of God Himself.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus
sometimes it is so hard for me to lean on you.
My flesh wants to hold on to things or control my ideas myself. Lord it is such a heavy feeling to carry
these burdens around with me. I long for
the fresh, emptied feeling within my heart.
Lord please help me today to be watchful if Satan catches me in a snare
and if he does to immediately go to you in prayer with it. Help me also to listen to the Holy Spirit and
allow Him to guide each situation in my life.
Thank you Lord. This I pray
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
CHECK IT OUT
I
recently completed reading Francine Rivers‘ “Mark
of the Lion” trilogy. Although it was written in the early 1990’s, I first
became acquainted with it when I checked out Book 1, A Voice in the Wind, from my church library. The setting for the trilogy is first-century Jerusalem , Germania, Rome ,
and Ephesus
A Voice in the Wind is the result of Francine River
In
this trilogy, there is a stark contrast between worship of the one true God and
the worship of the Greek and Roman gods which were found wanting. A Christian
worldview and the development of the characters by Francine Rivers inspired me
to continue reading all 3 books. If you
like historical fiction, I think you will be as convinced as I am that these
books are worthwhile and will help you grow in your faith and courage to defend
the Gospel.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME
Calendars
and schedules are useful tools that assist us in our attempt to be organized,
but they offer us no help in setting our priorities and our limits! We need to be thinking and
praying about our priorities daily, BEFORE we come to our calendars!
The
book by Charles Bradshaw and Dave Gilbert entitled Too Hurried to Love,
share this thought: “hurried people are the ones who have said yes to so many
things that now they seem to be on the verge of panic! Just observing their
lives brings to mind the school-yard rhyme:
When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.” Psalm 39:4-7 encourages us to redirect our
focus on the eternal. Our Creator offers
us wisdom about calendars, schedules, priorities, and limits. He had the challenge of a busy life when He
was on earth too. The kinds of
complexities that tie most of us up in knots never seemed to concern
Jesus. He kept His life focused by
setting limits. He chose twelve (not
twelve hundred!) into whom He would pour His life for 3 years (note! end date in mind!)
Rather
than getting caught in the success trap that says bigger is better and that enough is never enough, he chose to own
only those things He could easily carry with Him as He walked. His ability to
set limits was the reason He could focus fully on the moment rather than fuss
around with a million worrisome concerns!
Let’s learn from His example—spending time with the Father, focusing on
eternal issues, and setting appropriate limits.
I’m
encouraging you, dear, godly woman! I’m praying for you to step out and follow
the One who knows each of our personal limits and is the Trustworthy One to
follow!
IDEAS THAT WORK
Idea Taken from Hallelujah Acres
When
you come home from work the last thing you want to do is chop up a bunch of
veggies for a salad. We feel the same way, which is why we invented “The Salad Box.”
The
salad box is a simple concept we created so that we could have pre-cleaned,
pre-cut veggies ready to go whenever we wanted – and it’s all in one handy box
that fits in our refrigerator. It brings the convenience of a salad bar into
your own home! You know everything is fresh and cleaned… because you did it!
All
you have to do is get a large, clear, plastic under-the-bed style storage box
and several smaller boxes to fit inside. All your veggies will fit into the
smaller boxes, one type of veggie per box. Put them all in the larger box and
you have a mini salad bar ready to go in your own refrigerator.
We
searched high and low for boxes that would fit inside an average refrigerator.
The best, large box can be found at Target stores, and the little boxes that go
inside are available at Walmart.
Here’s
how it works. Simply buy 4-5 days’ worth of veggies, seeds, nuts, water
chestnuts or anything you’d normally put in salads, stir frys, or pita wraps.
Designate an hour on one evening to wash and prepare all the ingredients and
put them in the smaller boxes within the large salad box and you’ll have
everything ready to go whenever you wish for several days and even up to an
entire week!
The
salad box saves a lot of time and makes dinner prep a lot less stressful. Watch
part 1 and part 2 of our salad box videos for all the
details!
http://ampm.hacres.com/index.php/recipes/make-life-simpler-with-a-salad-box/
HERE'S WHAT'S COOKING
Strawberry
and Feta Salad
Ingredients:
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
2 tablespoons balsamic
vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 head romaine lettuce, torn
1 pint fresh strawberries,
sliced
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions:
In
a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the almonds, stirring frequently, until
lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and set aside. In a bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking
together the garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, raspberry vinegar, balsamic vinegar,
brown sugar, and vegetable oil. In a
large bowl, toss together the toasted almonds, romaine lettuce, strawberries,
and feta cheese. Cover with the dressing mixture, and toss to serve.
Garlic
Prime Rib
Ingredients:
1 (10 pound) prime rib
roast
10 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black
pepper
2 teaspoons dried thyme
Directions:
Place
the roast in a roasting pan with the fatty side up. In a small bowl, mix
together the garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme. Spread the mixture over
the fatty layer of the roast, and let the roast sit out until it is at room
temperature, no longer than 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Bake the roast for 20 minutes in the
preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C),
and continue roasting for an additional 60 to 75 minutes. The internal
temperature of the roast should be at 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) for medium
rare. Allow the roast to rest for 10 or
15 minutes before carving so the meat can retain its juices.
Allrecipes.com
TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER
Lord,
I come to you again, asking that you would give me eyes to see others as you
see them and to know my place in relationship to them. I am
no better than anyone else. I have no more to offer You than anyone else. Forgive me, again, for being so self-centered
and thinking that the world revolves around me.
Give me your heart, Lord. Filled with your compassion. I
cannot do this myself , Lord, It
must come from you. So I ask you for
it. I want to be empted, to
make room in my Heart for you and
for all those that You love.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
May 3, 2012
FOCUS
So, here I am, a
pastor’s wife?!
Whether you have been one of us for 2 weeks,
6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which
render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We
pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012
writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture
passages and life-applicable topics.
God bless you as you join us in
gleaning!
So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!
Whether you have been one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.
God bless you as you join us in gleaning!
WORDS TO INSPIRE
II Corinthians 5: 17-18 (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has
come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”
I am writing during Holy
Week. Throughout Lent I’ve been reminded over and over how great my need is for
a Savior. During Lent we’re encouraged to look at our hearts (as honestly as we
are capable of looking). I see my failure and sin all too clearly, and then
must also realize that is just the “tip of the iceberg” so to speak. We are
also encouraged to look at what Christ did for us; He suffered things we can’t
imagine as He gave Himself up to the Father’s perfect plan. Then we come to
these two verses. “The old has passed away; behold the new has come.” We aren’t
“fixed” in Christ. We are put to death and then we are made into a new creation, a brand-new person!
Praise God! It is all from God. Nothing is from us. He reconciled us to Himself.
Then He gave us a “ministry of reconciliation.” What is that? It is the
privilege of sharing this Good News with the world.
NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD
The Comparison Trap
Comparison Trap
is just that! It’s a trap. We, as women, fall so easily into that trap.
Maybe it’s because we’re more the “people pleasing-type” or because
we’re so relational but, for whatever reason, we become trapped in it so easily! We
don’t even have to wait until adulthood, nor even our teenage years to start
doing it! Many times it starts when we
are very young and we say “her piece is bigger than mine” or “why does he
always get______ and I get______? Then, as a young teenage girl, her comparison can become even deadly. It’s
a time when we may be seeking approval for our physical appearance and we compare ourselves to the world’s
“standard’ and find that we don’t match up.
So, we become anorexic to achieve that “standard” of approval. The results can be deadly. Even as adults we may still be caught in the comparison trap. We want the best for our children we keep
encouraging (prodding?) them so that they’re the best at ____. We know
they’re the best because we’ve compared them
to others and we know they are. (although we wouldn’t want to admit that’s what
we’ve been comparing/thinking!) How about our cooking? Do we compare how much better our rolls look
and taste then Jessica’s? Or how about our pastor-husband? Do we compare how many people are in our
church on Sunday and are in attendance at our church’s events as compared
to the neighboring church? How about us as grandmothers, do we compare how many grandchildren we have as compared to the Larsons? Let’s call it for what it is—COMPARISON! Let’s confess it for what
it is. Can we call it sin? It’s not being content with what He has
provided for us, or the way He has
uniquely created us. THERE’S DELIVERANCE
FROM COMPARISON! When we yield to Him. When we confess to Him. He says ”there
is great gain in godliness with contentment”
I Timothy 6: 6. In
Luke 7: 23 He again says “blessed is
the man who doesn’t take offense on account of me” I want what He calls great gain and what
receives His blessing. I don’t want what the devil, the world, and my flesh
tells me are my rights, what will make
me happy, nor even that “ I deserve it!” Ladies!
Let’s encourage one another in seeking His transforming work in our lives. He alone can deliver us from the Trap of
Comparison and set us free to live a Life of Contentment.
CHECK IT OUT
“Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit” by Francis Chan
Francis Chan’s book speaks directly, simply, and profoundly
to a tragic reality in many of our lives and churches—the neglect of the Holy
Spirit. In His absence, individuals and churches operate in their own personal
strength and accomplish goals that are merely ‘human sized’. When we begin
living in the power of the Holy Spirit, our churches and lives will be vastly
different. It is upon that premise that Chan discusses the work of the Holy
Spirit as presented in the Bible.
Throughout the book, Pastor Chan challenges his readers with
questions to reflect upon. I found these questions especially convicting. For
example, 1 Corinthians 1: 6: 19-20 states that as a believer our bodies are the
home of the Holy Spirit. Most of us have likely read that passage several times,
but Chan challenges us to consider this statement in light of the way we live.
Should there not be a huge difference in the life of a believer versus that of
the unbeliever, given the reality of the Holy Spirit inside of us? Yet, why are
so many lives of Christians virtually no different than that of an unbeliever?
“When was the last time I undeniably saw the Holy Spirit at work in or around
me? (p. 35) Is it possible that for many, our relationship with the Holy Spirit
is based upon head knowledge rather than a total submitting unto His leading
every day? Through the process of encouraging readers to ask hard questions of
themselves, Chan truly helps us gain a better understanding of what it should
be to have the Holy Spirit within us.
Pastor Chan also digs into the reasoning we have for
desiring to be filled with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. The
question we must address is it is one of selfish reasons ( for me and my
betterment), or for that of truly knowing the full experience of God in one’s
life, and how that experience reflects itself in a love of others and of
Christ’s church. A sure sign of the Holy
Spirit’s working in individuals (or churches for that matter) is that Christ is
magnified and not man. Further, Chan calls his readers to think less about
God’s will for one’s life for the future (which is often a veiled excuse for
waiting, doing nothing, and succumbing to fear of failure), and rather focus on
God’s will for their lives TODAY (p. 119ff). We are called to an active pursuit
of God and His will, not only for tomorrow, but especially for today!
Francis Chan does not allow us to use preconceived notions
of the Holy Spirit and His work. The author devotes an entire chapter (The
Theology of the Holy Spirit 101) to summarize the vital work of the Spirit, and
constantly references and expounds upon Scripture in his book. Further, the use
of human example (Esther Ahn Kim, Dave Phillips, Domingo and Irene Garcia,
etc.) and amazing comparisons in life (butterflies, tractors, and football) all
provide for an excellent and unforgettable understanding of the Spirit’s work.
Our church recently worked through this book and DVD study
guide in our Wednesday evening adult large group. It was a wonderful
blessing—one that I would recommend for you as well.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR HOME
Hi, I’m Rose, and I wish I could personally know and
fellowship with each one of you who is reading this article so I could give you
a hug, a smile, and an encouraging word.
The printed word will have to suffice, and that is the next best thing!
I have been married to my husband Tim for… let’s see now… thirty-one years I
believe, but when I married him I was just a “regular” girl who had no idea I
would be married to a pastor! Don’t get me wrong, going into full time ministry
was a joint decision and I showed my full support by cleaning houses and living
in poverty all through seminary, but after seminary I wasn’t sure how to fill
the role of “pastor’s wife”, especially because I did not grow up in a churched
home. I have learned a few lessons from
the school of “hard knocks” and from the best teachers, God’s Word and the Holy
Spirit, which I want to share with you today.
My first lesson is that our home should be a light to the
world around us. Acts
13:47:
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring
salvation to the ends of the earth.’” We have always made our
home a place of welcome, warmth, love, and unconditional acceptance. It is
perfectly fine to let people know that we are “regular” people who are saved by
grace, so fight the urge to give the impression of perfection. I have stopped comparing myself to others who
cook and bake and clean much better than I do. God made me with unique
strengths and gifts so I try to use what He gave me to the best of my ability.
Having a welcoming home has enabled us as a family to reach out to hurting
people, lost and lonely youth, and even homeless people. When people come to us with physical needs,
we often end up having exciting opportunities to share the Gospel. In order to be hospitable, I have had to
learn that special food, a fancy table, or fresh baked desserts are not
necessary. A spirit of love, a bucket
of ice cream perhaps, and a comfortable environment are all that are
needed. Of course, having an open home
requires some personal discipline. Just like Murphy said, “If it can happen, it
will happen”; therefore, try to be prepared ahead of time by yielding the habit
of procrastination to the Lord! I will never forget the ONE day I decided to
stay in my jammies a little later in the morning. That was the ONE day that one of the church
trustees came over and wanted to take a look at the parsonage furnace. You can bet that I resolved to be fully
dressed by 8 am from that day forward!
I have also learned that procrastination with housework will usually
result in more stress later when I am scrambling to tidy up because we are
having unexpected company. Keeping up
with some basic, daily chores, five minutes at a time, and teaching the
children to help with regular assigned chores, has enabled me to have the open
home the Lord can use.
Second, and seemingly opposite from lesson one, is to set
and keep appropriate boundaries. My
girls love to tell the story of what happened to them during a time when our
little home mission church was keeping me busy with many needy women who were
newly saved and wanting my “ear”. The
phone rang a lot at my house and as a dutiful pastor’s wife I always jumped to
answer it, often abandoning whatever activity I was doing with my family. During one season I was trying to teach my
five young children that it is rude to interrupt Mom when she is on the phone,
so when seven-year-old Abbie came running in from outside with her typical
outburst of “Mom, Mom!” I calmly and quietly told her that she would have to
wait because Mom was on the phone. When
she interrupted again with “But…”, I reinforced my instruction with a strong
look and an admonition to wait. After my
third visit from Abbie, I finally asked her what the problem was, and I learned
that her younger sister had been hanging upside down by her knees from a tree
branch for quite some time because she was unable to get down. At that point I realized I had my priorities
in the wrong order, said a hurried farewell to my caller, and went out to
rescue poor six-year-old Sarah from what my girls call a “nearly fatal”
fall. Ladies, put your family above your
church needs and set healthy boundaries, while loving your church family and
the world around you with all of your heart.
If you need help, one of the few self-help books I ever recommend reading
is Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend. The book compares boundaries to fences, which we put up to keep bad
things out and to keep good things in.
That analogy has strengthened me many times. My husband needs to recharge with times of
quiet and solitude, so there are some days when my door is NOT open and I
graciously explain that we need some quiet time as a family or whatever the
case may be. Obedience can come in the form of the word “No” as well as in the
word “Yes.”
May your home be a place of rest and refreshment, first for
your family, then for the congregation, and finally to the world around you,
balanced by obedience and healthy boundaries.
IDEAS THAT WORK
STAYING HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING
As we find the need to travel once in a while, we
may find it challenging to eat healthy foods.
Here are some tips to consider…
Restaurant Dining
- Ask the waitress for a “To Go” box immediately. When your meal comes, put ½ of the meal in a box to take to the motel or car for another meal. OR consider sharing your meal with another person at your table. Typically, restaurants serve enough food to feed two people
- Avoid meals that are fried, high in fat, loaded with sugar and high in salt. Such foods cause high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
- Avoid “white” foods such as rice, potatoes, sugar, cream sauce, gravies, salt, etc. These foods also cause health issues.
- If your body does not tolerate certain foods, ask for them to hold that food or put it on the side. Restaurants are willing to work with dietary needs.
- Skip desserts or ask for fruit for dessert. While fruit contains fruit sugar (fructose), it is healthier than other desserts.
- Meat portions should be the size of a deck of cards. Most of the time, restaurants serve too large of a portion of meat. Eat half and box the rest.
- Soups are loaded with salt (sodium). Avoid these – especially creamed. Again, sodium and fats cause various health issues.
- Don’t give yourself permission to eat uncontrollably. “Oh well, I’m away from home.” OR “I’m on vacation.” OR “It’s okay once in a while.” These excuses could jeopardize your health – especially if you make it a long-termed practice.
If we pray about our food choices, the Lord will be faithful to direct us.
1Corinthians 3: 16-17 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God temple of God temple of God
HERE’S WHAT’S COOKING
Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 cup olive oil
1 cup sliced red bell peppers
1 small zucchini, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 small yellow squash, sliced
2 (4-x6-inch) focaccia bread pieces, split horizontally
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
1. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Set aside in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the grill for high heat.
3. Brush vegetables with olive oil on each side. Brush grate with oil. Place bell peppers and zucchini closest to the middle of the grill, and set onion and squash pieces around them. Cook for about 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes. The peppers may take a bit longer. Remove from grill, and set aside.
4. Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on the cut sides of the bread, and sprinkle each one with feta cheese. Place on the grill cheese side up, and cover with lid for 2 to 3 minutes. This will warm the bread, and slightly melt the cheese. Watch carefully so the bottoms don't burn. Remove from grill, and layer with the vegetables. Enjoy as open faced grilled sandwiches.
Strawberry Angel Food Dessert
Ingredients
1 (10 inch) angel food cake
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (18 ounce) jar strawberry glaze
Directions
1. Crumble the cake into a 9x13 inch dish.
2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Fold in whipped topping. Mash the cake down with your hands and spread the cream cheese mixture over the cake.
3. In a bowl, combine strawberries and glaze until strawberries are evenly coated. Spread over cream cheese layer. Chill until serving.
Allrecipes.com
TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER
Please join me in prayer.
Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit
within me. You, Heavenly Father are the
only one who can create this new spirit, this right spirit, within me. Forgive me for looking so much to others
around me to find answers to who I am and for my affirmation.
You alone, O Lord, are the only one who has the Truth about who I am and
my worth. Thank you for speaking your TRUE WORDS to me. I am your
child I am the Daughter of the Most High God! And you love me
unconditionally. Thank you, Jesus. Thank
you! Amen
Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit
within me. You, Heavenly Father are the
only one who can create this new spirit, this right spirit, within me. Forgive me for looking so much to others
around me to find answers to who I am and for my affirmation.
You alone, O Lord, are the only one who has the Truth about who I am and
my worth. Thank you for speaking your TRUE WORDS to me. I am your
child I am the Daughter of the Most High God! And you love me
unconditionally. Thank you, Jesus. Thank
you! Amen
March 15, 2012
FOCUS
So, here I am, a pastor’s wife?!
Whether you have been one of us for 2 weeks, 6 months, 2 years, or 65 years, we all have need of TRUTH spoken to us which render us: hope, grace, encouragement, and life transformational insights. We pray that you will receive just that (and more) through our various 2012 writers. The Heartline entries include timely insights into several scripture passages and life-applicable topics.
God bless you as you join us in gleaning!
WORDS TO INSPIRE
GOD’S WORD- Eternal Truth
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. To show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is blameless before Him.” 2 Chronicles 16: 9
I love this Scripture. It describes the reasons I feel confident in crying out to God.
I discovered this brilliant nugget of truth while searching the Scriptures in my girlhood. It grabbed my attention! With excitement I imagined the Living God from His throne in Heaven looking up & down, back & forth throughout the earth, searching for His child whose heart is blameless with sincere faith in Him. I pictured this one and that one, suffering, yearning, hoping against hope for God’s provision of mercy, healing and deliverance. With confidence in His Fatherly care, I lifted those names up to HIM.
And of course, I cried out with my own needs. I lifted my eyes to Him in full faith & dependence, and prayed for His mercy to fall upon me.
I believe that this Scripture has a threefold essence: (1) It reveals God’s heart of MERCY. (2) It promises HIS POWER. (3) It compels us to PRAY.
An earthly Father scans the playground to be sure his child is safe; a mother scans the lake as her child bobs up and down in the water; each one stands poised to jump and run to help if a sudden need arises! Each is alert to his child’s cry. But our situation is all the better. We are not at play. We are trudging through the slough of this dangerous world, often carrying heavy burdens. We have to climb mountains of difficulty as we scramble to hold tight to those entrusted to our care. We’re under attack all the way, dodging arrows and darts, and sometimes stumbling with pain as we succumb to them. Sometimes we fall. Often, we look up to His seeing eye and cry for help. We readily recognize that we are totally helpless without His deliverance. “O Lord, in the acceptable time: in the multitude of thy mercy hear me.” (Psalm 69:13)
God’s power is at work on our behalf. He is ABLE to save! He is ABLE to deliver us! We can claim the “exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” (Ephesians 1: 19,20) “His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places “ is ours!
I love 2 Chronicles 16:9. I do cry out to God for myself, but most frequently this scripture prompts me to lift others to Him as I place their names in this promise. “Father, I know that you are searching for your child who needs you desperately. Please show yourself STRONG on behalf of ____________ today. He needs healing, Lord. She needs wisdom, Lord. This family needs untangling. That situation needs deliverance. This needs your direct intervention. Please deliver him from danger. Please hold her in Your everlasting arms.”
At any minute God may break in. “God meets life,” writes Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest. “Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left.”
That’s the essence of my practical “living out” of this Scripture. It drives me to intercessory prayer. I pray with confidence! It is the Living God who makes this promise. I bow humbly before Him and wait for Him to show His mercy and power in the best ways He shall choose.
NEEDS OF THE REAL WORLD
SELF-CONFIDENCE VS GOD-CONFIDENCE
If I have so much confidence in myself that I leave God out on most parts of my life I will immediately experience as a child of God struggles within. God continually reminds me with a still small voice that I am resting in my own abilities or self-confidence and I am not asking or leaving situations over to the Lord. The thing we have to remember is that when He created us He did not create robots. He created us with a will. He loves us so much and wants us to follow His will but we have to turn our will over to His will. So in every situation in my life I must allow God to have a part in every one. He knows already the outcome of everything but He wants me to verbally by mouth or thought give that over to Him.
It is when I continue day by day doing everything on my own and not giving the day and the situations over to him that I feel frustrated, anxious, angry, worried, and stressful. I then have to learn that I need to leave every situation of my day or the situations that I know are coming my way tomorrow over to Him. I know that I have heard that saying many times by pastors and teachers but to listen to that saying and to do it actually myself is two different things. I need to give my will over to His will.
Sometimes, and probably more than I would like to admit lately, I get going doing my own will and don’t ask God what He thinks nor do I ask Him to handle certain situations. He allows me to go ahead and do my own will. Sometimes I listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to me to give that over to the Lord, quicker than others and sometimes I don’t. When I don’t then I experience my heart so heavy and anxiousness comes so strongly to my body that I wonder what is going on. Then I remember that I am handling the situation myself and I have not given it over to the Lord or asked Him to tell me what to do and my worry has overtaken me.
When I consistently give the Lord every situation of the day and the next day over to Him the peace that I feel inside me is so comforting. It is so peaceful. I sometimes say why do I forget this peacefulness so quickly and get into the stressful anxious worrisome body and heart. Why do I not listen quicker and react towards the Heavenly Father to experience His love and care for me and show His glory through the situation. I have experienced many times lately when I have not known what to do that I have just simply stated a small statement,” I don’t know what to do Lord, you are going to have to tell me where to go or what to do.” Then I just wait and each time God does give me the answer. It is in my mind a total miracle and closeness to the Lord that I cannot express in words.
I am learning to allow myself to have God –Confidence instead of Self-Confidence. It is a continual process for me and one that I am learning every day. I claim the Bible verses Proverbs 3:5, 6. Trust in the Lord will all of thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
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