READ, READ, & READ SOME MORE

People perish for a lack of knowledge. Make sure you are always reading your Bible and reading something edifying and/or related to your area of ministry. You won't grow without a proper diet. Make sure you intake spiritually healthy food for your soul.

Here's what I'm currently reading:

Unrealistic Expectations

By Roline Thomas                                           

6/2/2011

In the church there are those who believe the pastor’s wife should have much Bible knowledge, pray a certain way, look a certain way, talk a certain way,  and/or dress a certain way. As a pastor's wife it seems like everyone has a plan for my role in the church. You should sing, you should play the piano, you should work with the kids, you should wear a hat! When did God leave the Throne and give these people the authority to tell me what to do?! Expectations of church members are often too high for ministers, preacher’s wives, evangelist, etc. Actually they are usually UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.

For a few years I stopped attending the midweek Bible Study. My children's homework and "at home time" was more important. Since dad is required to be at church, I stayed behind with the kids. I KNOW my kids benefited greatly from my move. However, I had to listen to the "sly remarks" from several members about my absence. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.

I am a hat wearing DIVA, and wear one nearly every Sunday. This older sister came to me and told me a Pastor's wife is suppose to set the "dress tone" for the church and she should wear hats. This same lady doesn't wear hats. I wonder where was this "hat law" that she was reciting to me. And why should a Pastor's wife set the tone for attire?---people should be themselves, not someone else. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. 

We are to please God and God alone. Since he doesn’t place unrealistic expectations on you, why try to meet another’s? Ministers, and wives who fall into the trap of allowing others to determine your ministry-that is what you are to do in the church-do not know their God given purpose. You must not allow outside people to influence you. No one has the authority to tell you your purpose. You must seek God for direction in ministry, otherwise you will find yourself trying to meet UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.

Creating Balance Between Home and Ministry

Originally posted 9/2006

A women's primary role is to her home. The home is a great task alone. However, many women today are called to the ministry. Whether it is teaching, preaching, ministering music, etc., many women are called to areas within the ministry that requires much preparation.
There is an old saying, "There aren't enough hours in a day!" God knew what he was doing when he gave man 24 hours per day and created our bodies to rest at least 8 hours of that day. That means we have 16 hours of wake hours. If you daily feel overwhelmed, not rested, and stressed by all the assignments you have taken on, then perhaps you are doing more than

what God has intended for you to do.

Here are some keys to getting balance:

1. Don’t over commit yourself. When asked to do something in the church there is an option opposite to yes-----NO. The person asking for your time is most likely not aware of your previous commitments. It is your responsibility not to take on more than you can handle. The truth of the matter, you will not be able to adequately give attention to an assignment of you are overloaded. Consider scaling back on some of your commitments. How is this done? Ask yourself these questions

a. Is it worth my time?
b. What will be the impact on my family?
c. Is it a part of my purpose?

2. Prioritize your activities. Disorganization in our scheduling of activities will allow non-essential things to crowd into our date book before the really important things. (So you have a date book that you regularly upkeep? ) Decide what is most important to you. I usually place quiet time with God, my husband, and my family above church work. As ministry workers we must be careful of spending too much of our time ministering to the needs of others while never ministering within our own homes. The family comes first.

3. Keep a monthly calendar. Know what other family members are doing. Have a weekly schedule of activities. Have weekly planning meetings with your spouse to determine who will be where and what activities the family will do together. This is a must for my husband and me. We are an extremely busy family, therefore everything must come together on a calendar.
When we did not sit together and plan out our calendar, he would forget to tell me about meetings our even upcoming out of town trips. I thought he was being insensitive, but he really just forgot. Now that we meet each week, I am not surprised when he misses dinner because of a meeting, or he knows when he needs to be home with the kids because I have an engagement.