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

 “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, captured the essence of Christ-like service. She wrote of her struggle on occasion to graciously receive unexpected guests, considered to be an honor in the culture, while in the midst of managing a busy household. “I often see it as an intrusion rather than an honor. But I have found that each time God gives me what I need to step out and receive in love. He gives joy and a knowing that it is not myself that I am extending, but Him. People are not looking for us, they are looking for Him.”

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 in the days of the gladiators. The historical presentation and the clear presentation of the Gospel in Book 1 lead me to purchase Book 2, Echo in the Darkness, and Book 3, As Sure as the Dawn.  

A Voice in the Wind is the result of Francine River’s quest, “seeking the faith of a martyr.” Hadassah is this martyr. She struggles courageously to live out her faith as a servant in the midst of the pagan Roman household of the Valerian family. Although she is ridiculed for her faith, the Holy Spirit uses her bold witness and perseverance to eventually lead the wealthy Valerian family to faith in Christ, one at a time. The family includes two siblings, Julia and Marcus. Hadassah became the devoted servant of Julia, showing kindness and love to her in spite of her cruelty to Hadassah. Marcus was attracted to Hadassah’s physical beauty and her gentle spirit, but he could not understand her devotion to her God. He was a regular attendee at the games in the Roman arena, but after Hadassah was thrown to the lions, he was devastated and repulsed by the barbaric games. In Book 2, there is an amazing turn of events. If you read Book 1, you need to find out what happens in Book 2.

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

Make Life Simpler With A Salad Box

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 mustard

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.