Tag: #atozchallenge

The A to Z of the Pastor’s Wife – D is for Disappointment

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff, Life as a Pastor's Wife3 Comments

DD is for Disappointment

This is probably my greatest fear in this role; that I will let everyone down. The folk in church, the hubby, the oodles of people who are praying for us, and God himself.

I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

But I probably will…

  1. Cos I human and therefore, imperfect
  2. Cos people will have expectations and I may not be able to meet them all
  3. Cos I regularly disappoint myself, I can’t see that changing.

Not sure I can do anything to avoid the desperate Ds, all I can do is do my bestest and keep praying.

Today’s post is short.

Hope you’re not too disappointed. 🙂

The A to Z of the Pastor’s Wife – C is for Calling

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff, Life as a Pastor's Wife4 Comments

C 2016C is for Calling

I have a theory about this calling thing.
I’m not convinced that the call is the same for both spouses when it comes to church leadership.

I think the calling of a pastor is so much more clear-cut. Often there’s a contract or some form of  official agreement, there’s a title and a role with (fairly) explicit responsibilities. For the other half, it’s not the always the case.

All marriages, churches and callings are different. So I can only speak for myself. I’m not sure I feel called to be a Pastor’s wife, I’m not even sure if there is such a calling. The only calling I’ve even been sure of (apart from God), is my calling to Rich.

Now before anyone sets their hair on fire. I’m not barefoot and tied to my kitchen sink. The beloved is on constant bin, dishwasher and grocery shopping duty. And yesterday, as I was in agony with a stupid shoulder injury, the pastor preached two sermons and  insisted on sorting lunch and tea. Regardless of his current title, I’m his priority. So this is not a 1950s ‘pipe and slippers’ situation.

There are things I can do. I get the opportunity to use my gifts regularly. I get to sing and talk and lead services; and make cake! (yummy poppyseed cake). Maybe part of my role is to lead by example and use the gifts God has given me, in the church.

As far as a ‘ministry calling’ goes, the only one I’m really sure of is the one to help him to be the best that he can be. Sometimes it’s about practical stuff, sometimes it’s about keeping the knuckle-head stuff out of his way. Most times, it’s standing back, and making room for him to read, study, prepare etc. After that, I’m not really sure what my calling is.

I have an unfulfilled maternal instinct that could run riot if I let it 🙂 Who knows where it might get a chance to flourish. I’m part of a great team of leaders and their other halves; and it’s a joy to work with them.

I’m know I am where I’m supposed to be and ultimately, I am called to follow Christ.

Surely there is no higher calling.  🙂

The A to Z of the Pastor’s Wife – B is for Balance

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff, Life as a Pastor's Wife8 Comments

B 2016B is for Balance

One of the things I’m trying to work out at the moment is how to manage my time. We don’t have children, so we’ve only really had to worry about ourselves and each other. Life is busy for most people I think. I’m trying to be a writer, I work, I have a home and a husband to keep in some semblance of order. Though I have to say, he does his fair share and more.

But now… well, things are different now.

A new group of people has been added into our mix. There are others we have to consider when thinking about how we spend our week.

When Rich started working for the church, I was commuting to a full-time job; out of the house for 9-10 hours a day. Most of my shifts were late finishing and I worked Saturdays every so often. I had no idea how I would manage. I knew I’d need to be around more. I WANTED to be around more, but did not know how I’d do it. Immediately I started to look for more local, part-time work. In a flash, I had a part-time job, a short walk from the church. It was amazing, and in a later post I’ll tell you the full story.

So now, it’s easier to sort my time out, but… I’m still learning the balance.

The wife
The PASTOR’S wife (she’s a whole other wife!)
The domestic goddess (hey! stop laughing!)
The 9-5 worker (well, 9-2 😀 )
The writer (not recently, but she’s back now)
The child of God (mmm have a feeling that should be higher up the list…)
The musician (practise has been a bit thin on the ground)

Who and what gets my time first? OK I know there are a couple of obvious answers in there, but how do i balance it all? That’s my thing at the moment; learning what my priorities are. And I think it all ties in to another issue that’s rolling about my mind at the moment.

Who’s calling is this?

Richard is employed by the church. I’m not. But surely we’re both called aren’t we? This isn’t just his thing…. C is for calling – so let’s do that one next.

No post tomorrow as is the tradition of A to Z (Sundays off), so I’ll see you Monday x

The A to Z of the Pastor’s Wife – A is for Amen

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff, Life as a Pastor's Wife4 Comments

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome back I’ve had. You don’t know what it means to know that you are still here even after my months of absence. Thanks for the messages and tweets etc, to hail my return. I’m blessed.

And so here we to with 2016’s A to Z Challenge and my theme this year – The A to Z of the Pastor’s wife 🙂

A 2016

A is for Amen

‘So be it.’ That’s the translation of the word Amen.
‘Truth’ is another way it can be described.

After years of doubting it would happen, and I confess in some small way being reluctant for it to happen, I came to the point of saying “so be it” – AMEN, the beloved is gong to be a Pastor.

We were married 7 years before we had any notion of a calling to this type of ministry. I was 30 something, he was 40 something. We had just relocated to Ireland, I was happy to be home, but struggling emotionally. In the midst of all that, came a call to action.

My stock answer to the raised eyebrows of perplexity… “Believe me, there’s no one more surprised than we are.”

But when it settled, when it grew on me, I felt peace about it. That weird peace you feel when you’re scared and reluctant; feeling ill-equipped and out of your depth. Knowing that you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, even though you’ve no idea how to do it – or why you’ve been asked… it’s a fabulously bizarre place to be.

But I say – so be it, Lord!

It has to start there doesn’t it? I have to grasp this thing with both hand and say, “AMEN God, to the task you’ve called me to.”

All I have to do now is work out what exactly I’m supposed to be doing… 😀

A x

ps The pastor guest tells the story in more depth here if you’d like to read it.

The April A to Z brings me back

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Life as a Pastor's Wife10 Comments

It’s been a while. Too long! I am, however back and looking forward to delighting you all with my excogitations and ministrations. 🙂

I have decided to launch into my favourite blogging event of the year. The April A to Z Blogging Challenge. Last year I didn’t finish it, but it’s always one of the funnest things to do. It’s a great way to connect with other bloggers, find new people to follow and some new readers too. If you’re interested, you still have a few days to sign up before the list closes. I’m number 1,617! There’s room for one more…

a-to-z banner 2016 2

My theme this year is “The A to Z of being a Pastor’s Wife.” I have been a Pastor’s wife now for 4 months, so obviously I know all there is to know *coughs* and am ready to share my wisdom. 😀

OK so I still have oodles of stuff to learn. God has shown me things about myself that I had not seen before (or maybe things I had just ignored). I’ve also seen the beloved in a new light, and am learning to let him be my Pastor too. We live ‘on site’, which has its own blessings and challenges. And we are loved, so unbelievably loved, by people we’re just getting to know. It’s been an amazing few months and I’m looking forward to sharing some of my thoughts on these early days.

So! After a break from writing, I’m delighted to getting back into the daily habit.

I’m really glad you’re still here – oh faithful readers. Thank you! xx

And I’ll see you bright and early, on April 1st 🙂

S is for Syria, Sadness and Solomon

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuffLeave a comment

I’ve been desperately trying to avoid writing this one. But really – what else could ‘S’ be for but Syria.

My avoidance has not been apathy, it’s been helplessness. What can I say that has not already been said? And even if I did come up with something new, what would it be worth in the great scheme of what is happening across the Middle East and Europe?

The statues in the image below are part of the Irish Famine Memorial; a haunting depiction of the helpless, hopeless Irish people who had no option but to emigrate or die of starvation. The gaunt faces remind me of images of Live Aid in 1985. To think that hunger and death was once so close to home is still shocking to me.  It’s said that through death and emigration, Ireland lost about 4 million people.

irish famine syrian

 

I’m not sure who first made and posted the ‘photoshopped’ image above. I’ve seen it a few times on social media and grabbed this copy from the Irish Times website. But I have to say, it stopped me in my tracks when I saw it. I was all for helping Syrian refugees, “Let them in by all means – and fast. But hang on… what about the numbers, and what about the ones who are going to make trouble and what if there isn’t enough room for us all (to live undisturbed I mean…)?”

Then I saw that merged photo and I was moved to tears; because I knew, if they were Irish people I wouldn’t be asking any questions other than – ‘what are you going to do to help?”

I remember that scene in the Titanic movie, when they wouldn’t let more people on the lifeboats for fear they would buckle or topple over. Fear, grief and more than a little self-preservation put a limit on who could be rescued. I’m not judging, I’d have been the same, I’m sure.

So what is to be done? What is the answer? I believe the wisdom of Solomon is needed for this crisis. A whole nation of displaced, terrified, people are on the move looking for a chance to raise their families in peace and safety. Who am I to say they should be denied that? And as for the talk of those whose intentions are not for peace, but for getting their terrorist agenda in under the radar…? Well I doubt every Irish person who emigrated had the purist of intentions; but America and Australia and the other countries they fled to still stand.

Who decides who is worthy of a chance to live anyway – good or bad? It isn’t me. The instructions I read in my Bible are clear about mercy and love, about welcoming the alien and feeding the poor – it doesn’t say… “but only the nice ones.”

And still I confess there is a nagging feeling in my gut. One that scares me about a massive influx of displaced people – into my place. What will my world be like when the dust settles and the unsettled have settled?

You see…? I told you my words would not be worth much!

O is for Omni

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuffLeave a comment

Continuing with my April AtoZ (4 months later, but however) today’s word is ‘Omni’

The Oxford English Dictionary says that ‘omni’ means ‘of all things, in all ways or places.’ The all concept is attributed to God in a number of ways. It’s most often seen in these three characteristics: Omnipotent – all powerful, Omnipresent – ever everywhere, and Omniscient –  all knowing.

We see them attributed to God throughout Scripture – but I always remember the first time I realised that these three ‘omnis’ are packaged nice and neat together in one Psalm. It became my favourite Psalm that day. (Although, I have few favourites 🙂 )

Psalm 139:1-6… YOU KNOW EVERYTHING, and that sort of knowledge is absolutely out of my league
Psalm 139:6-12… YOU ARE EVERYWHERE, I cannot get away from you, no matter how hard I try
Psalm 139:13-18… YOU SEE EVERYTHING, from the moment I was made, every day since and all the days to come

The psalmist doesn’t stop there. He can’t get his head around the fact that there are people who still hate God – especially in the light of these amazing attributes. Describing God’s character in this way leads to a sudden outburst of defence of God, and frustration that He won’t just wipe away anyone who doesn’t worship Him. But then, the writer immediately moves to contrition.

Why the sudden jump? I reckon it’s cos you can’t (or your shouldn’t be able to) understand God’s fabulousness and at the same time let your heart be filled with hatred. As well as raising indignation in the writer, an understanding these ‘super-God’ qualities gives him an understanding of his own imperfection.

It’s a challenge isn’t it?! Other people’s non-interest or abject hatred of God can raise our heckles, but our knowledge of who He is should keep us in check. After the psalmist’s outburst about the sins of God’s enemies, he looks upon his own imperfect heart and asks God to cleanse him.

Psalm 139:23-24 
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

#thatisALL 🙂

A x

 

N is for Nephilim

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff1 Comment

NNow these guys  are interesting. I’ve read quite a bit about the Nephilim – and not everyone agrees who they are…

They first appear in Genesis 6…
When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

The discussion usually centres around ‘the sons of God and the daughters of men.’ Some sources say that the sons of God were fallen angels. Others say that they were lapsed followers of God who were attracted to women who were not followers of God, hence God’s frustration with their choice of wives.

It makes more sense that they were human. Jesus mentions angels in the NT and says that they don’t marry. (Matt 22:29) Also the beginning of the above section is talking specifically about the increase of human beings. The Nephilim are only mentioned briefly and are not talked about again until their descendants are mentioned in the book of Numbers, when the 12 spies went to check out the land (Another great story!). “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”” (Num 13:33 ESV) It’s important to note that this was after the flood, so these Nephilim were descendants of one of Noah’s sons. So… were Nephilim people of a particular stature, rather than of a particular tribe? Not sure, but they were obviously big guys! Later on we hear that Goliath, the Philistine, was another human of gargantuan proportions. So it wasn’t unheard of, or an ‘angelic’ quality to be big!

I freely admit that this a 2 minute thought on a well documented discussion about who these Nephilim were – and don’t get me started on the Rock Monsters in the Noah movie.

I believe that the more important point is the story that surrounds them. God continually calling His people back to Him, and all but Noah responded. The Ark was built and the rains came. No one, not even the ‘sons of God’ saw what was coming, or realised God’s judgement was about to fall.

The Nephilim were ‘heroes of old, men of renown’ – but they weren’t on the ark!
There’s another lifeboat coming, I intend to be on it – how about you?

M is for Macarise

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff7 Comments

MToday’s word is Macarise. It has nothing to with fast food production, pasta with cheese; or equally cheesy spanish pop songs. It’s even BETTER than those things 🙂

phrontistery.info defines it as: to declare to be happy or blessed. A macarism (the noun) is also known as a ‘beatitude – taking pleasure in someone else’s joy.’ So the word can also be used to congratulate someone on their joy.

Last year I did some research on the difference between contentment and happiness. You can be content ‘in every situation’ without necessarily being happy about it. I read somewhere (sorry I can remember where) that contentment is and inner state; more to do with how you feel about how things are. Happiness is a response to the receipt of something good. This is macarism – a beatitude – declaring happiness because of a blessing.

The added element of congratulating others on their joy – well it’s double prizes isn’t it. It echoes Romans 12:15, which says that we should rejoice with those who rejoice.

There are some obvious cases of macarism in the Bible. The two that spring to mind immediately are when Miriam grabbed a tambouine and danced and sang after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20ff.), and Mary’s own expression of joy; magnifying the LORD for His blessing upon her (Luke 1:46ff.)

My prayer for each and every reader of this post is that the Lord would give you cause to macarise today. 🙂 x

K is for Koinonia

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff10 Comments

KWelcome to the half-way mark of the A to Z Challenge  – or just beyond it. This is the start of week three and today’s letter ‘K’ is for another word I love – Koinonia.

GotQuestions.org explains the word like this: Koinonia is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Koinonia’s primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The first occurrence of koinonia is Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia.

Yesterday evening our pastor preached on 1 Samuel 20, about the covenant that David and Jonathan made with each other. He was speaking about the particular nature of their friendship and the covenant promises they made to one another. After making the agreement (it’s a great story btw, you should go read it), Jonathan says, “remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.” Their friendship and promises were in the context of their common relationship with God. During yesterday’s sermon, the pastor noted that this can be a lonely world, and surely all friendships are valuable. It’s not that we should disregard friendships with with those who don’t share our faith – it’s just acknowledging that friendships with other believers are different.

There is ‘koinonia’ 🙂

Have you ever looked around your church on a Sunday and wondered how you managed to end up part of such a motley crew? Oh… so just me then! Nah… I doubt that.

I’ve been in a few different churches over the years, having moved a few times. I’m always amazed at the mixed bunch I end up in. Quite often there are folk who I’d never hang out with in any other context. There’s nothing wrong with them; it’s just that because of different backgrounds, age, personality, likes/dislikes etc our paths would most likely never cross.

In our natural born family it’s a blood tie that keeps us together. Even if a family is not ‘together’ as such, a blood relative will always be one – even if you never see them. In the family of God, the fellowship, the ‘koinonia’ of the followers of Christ has that same sticking power!

If you’re a Christian then I’m your sister in Christ. If I drive you nuts that’s just hard cheese – we’re stuck with each other 🙂 Kinda nice tho’ eh?