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Saturday, August 13, 2011

Divine Appointments

If we listen carefully when we are out in the public, we will more often than not hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us. If you are like me, you are always hesitant to respond because surely God would not use me to minister to someone, especially an absolute stranger. Believing God could surely not use us, then not allowing God to use us, has two effects. First, it robs us of a blessing and secondly, it deprives the other person of encountering God through us.

Since my husband is a pastor, it is very easy for me to "let him do all the work". He has a boldness like none I've ever seen when it comes to asking strangers if they have a personal relationship with God, and can easily provoke such conversations without intimidating the other person. It's one of the many things I love about him. He's both fearful and fearless. Why does this matter? Today, the Holy Spirit led me to boldly step out of my comfort zone and what a blessing it was.

My mom is an antique dealer. She has never been the type of dealer that went out "picking". Picking is when you go to people's homes and buy items in their homes to resale for a profit. Some pickers get leads on people wanting to sell items, and other people make cold calls at homes of interest. Today, she was invited into a home to see if she might have any interest in their antiques and asked me to ride along for her first picking experience. My oldest son Trey went with us as well.

When we arrived at the home we immediately wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. The home was a combination of two barns that had been moved to the property many years ago and were joined by a center part which was added. It was very rustic and while the home itself was unique, the junk around the yard was intimidating. We went in and knew at that moment we were in a picker's heaven. It only took about five minutes of looking to know we needed some help. I called my husband to bring his truck and trailer because we would be filling them up. Mom got a lot of great items but none of the stuff compared to the ministry opportunity God led us into.

The young lady selling the items was doing so because her mom was in hospice and her father was in a rest home. One was dying and the other was unable to care for himself. While we were waiting for my husband, the young lady began to share her parent's story with us. The more she talked the more her tears began to flood her face. We listened intently, empathetic to her situation, because four years ago we had stood in her shoes as my dad was lying in a hospice bed dying.

I felt God leading me to ask about her mom's salvation and she said her mother was a Christian. I then felt God pushing me more and telling me to ask her about her salvation. The entire time I felt God nudging I also felt Satan making me doubt myself and my abilities. I ignored Satan and listened to God and am glad I did.

She shared with me that she believed in Christ but that her faith was being tested by the trial of her mother and why God would allow her to suffer so much. She had cancer tumors on her spine that had actually broken her spine and she had not eaten in three weeks. I was able to share with her that it is always difficult to understand why God allows suffering of our loved ones but that we must have faith of the greater plan which we do not yet know. The most precious part of this moment was when I asked her if I could pray for her and she said yes. My mom, son, the young lady and myself all joined hands in the front yard amidst clutter, thunder in the background and the threat of rain. I prayed for this young lady and her situation, quoting scripture (if you know me then you know this was a total God thing because my memory is horrible) and asked God to give her a peace that only He could provide. I'm not sure which of the blessings I received today was the greatest. All I know is I am grateful and humbled by each of them.

Today was a divine appointment. It was not about picking or about antiques. It was about God sending us to minister to one of his hurting children, and trusting us to be obedient to his calling. I am so thankful God chose me to be his messenger today and that he sent me with my mom and son. Had he sent my husband with me, I would have never had the boldness because I would have once again, let him take the lead and do all the work.

I am the woman who walks by his side but must also walk with the Holy Spirit when your pastor is not by my side.

Friday, August 12, 2011

A "PK" Moment

We have a wonderful friend who has lovingly cared for our 8 year old son Gray every Thursday this summer. He looks forward to his time with her and her 9 year old son. He and Gray have become quite good buddies and look forward to their time together each week.

Yesterday Gray proclaimed to his friend that he knew what they were going to be when they grew up. This is where Gray reveals he is a PK. His friend is going to be a stripper and Gray is going to be his manager. His friend asked, "What is a stripper?" Gray told him a stripper was someone who took their clothes off and everyone gave them $20 bills, and they could make a lot of money that way. Gray then also shared that because his last name was Palmer, and Palmer's are famous people because everyone knows them, it would be best for him to be the manager.

Our wonderful friend upon hearing this story asked Gray how he knew what a stripper was. He is 8 years old...right? I have to keep reminding myself of this because I'm thinking he's closer to 20 right now. Anyway, he proceeded to tell her that his dad and mom told him about strippers. Gasp! Let me assure all of you right now that we have not talked to Gray about strippers, ever. Also, should he ever mention to you that he's been to Hooters with his dad, it's another conceived notion in his mind. He's never been there either with us or anyone else but it is a story he loves to tell about us.

Oh how Satan does love to have a hayday with PK's (and their parents). When my friend texted me at work to share this story my response back to her was, "I don't know if I should say I'm sorry or laugh". She's great, she said she was cracked up. I thank the Lord every day for friends like her who instead of freaking out over what her child learned from another (and she probably did freak a little), she just takes it in stride. She is one of those friends that loves on my children and does not judge them for their faults, and I am forever grateful for her and for God placing her in my life. Sending love to my friend....she knows who she is!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

My Kids are "PK's"

My kids are "PK's". They have been since they were born. When my children were infants, they were "PK's" because their father was a policeman thus they were "policeman's kids". Our calling into ministry didn't change the fact my kids are still "PK's", just now they are "preacher's kids". To my children, it's like having two strikes against you. Why? I'm glad you asked!

PK's of any type, whether it be a policeman's kid or a preacher's kid, are held to higher standards than other children. It's not an opinion, unfortunately it is a fact we have experienced innumerous times in ministry. Let me share a few examples:

"I saw the pastor's child laying on the front pew sleeping during worship service. He should be setting a better example to the others, his father is one of our pastors."

"Their son got in trouble at school and that is just horrible. His father is a pastor and he should know better."

From my son, "people think I have all the answers and come to me for everything just because dad is a pastor. Mom, I don't have all the answers."

We are assured, as a family, that God has called us into ministry as a family. We do not believe God would have called my husband without having called and equipped the rest of us to be a part of his ministry. What concerns me, and what people overlook sometimes though, is that while God called us, our children must learn to walk with Christ just as any unsaved person, and they must come to "call upon his name so that they too shall be saved". In simpler words, our children while called to ministry with us because of God's plan simultaneously inherited this ministry and were not automatically saved as a result of it. Just as all believers must confess Jesus as saviour, admit he died on the cross and rose again on the 3rd day, so too must a preacher's child.

Please don't expect anything more of a PK than you do of your own children or would of someone else's child. They must walk with God in his timing for their life and not in our timing because of God's calling on our family. Also, remember there was only one perfect being on this earth and his name was Jesus. Just as you and your kids will make mistakes and bad choices, so too will a policeman's child or a pastor's child. Next time you are tempted to judge a "PK", first stop yourself. Next, pray for them, their walk with the Lord and for God to protect them from this unnecessary and hurtful judgement. Give them a hug and thank them for being obedient to God's calling on their family.

I am the woman who has an unlimited love for Christ, her children and your Pastor.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A Word Aptly Spoken

We all speak words. We speak them all day, every day, verbally and in writing. In fact, you are silently hearing the words of my heart now. Have you ever stopped to think about the timing of the words you speak? Are you one of those folks who will think about your words before you speak them or are you one of those folks who has no filters and what comes up must come out?


I tend to think about my words before I speak them unless you touch upon a subject I am sensitive about. I then become the filterless person who says exactly what she is thinking. A friend texted me a verse for encouragement this morning which sparked a fire within me to write this post.

"A word aptly spopken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" Proverbs 25:11

Why in the world would this verse spark a fire within me? As the wife of a Pastor, I see how much prayer time and study time goes into preparing a sermon for Sunday morning worship.
Pastors devote an enormous amount of time to prayer and study on a daily basis to bring honor to God every day of his life, but most importantly, to his congretation when he stands before them.

Our pastor has been on an 8 week sabbatical and the pastoral and preaching responsibilities have been shared equally between my husband, who is the children's pastor, and our youth pastor. The past couple of Sundays have been challenging for my husband. He has arrived at Church on Sunday morning, excited to deliver the message God has put on his heart, only to be challenged by Satan when folks begin to pour out their burdens or angrily share with him their hearts over something that has happend. Please understand these folks are not wrong for wanting to express their opinions, however, are their words aptly spoken when they are spoken before their pastor delivers the message God has given him? No. Are we being self-indulgent to think of oursleves first and taking away from the work of the Holy Spirit when we approach our pastors this way on Sunday mornings? Yes. Can what we want to say wait until after the message has been delivered? Yes.

I would like to encourage you to to think about your heart and attitude the next time you attend church. If you have something you would like to share with your pastor, deny yourself and offer to pray with and for your pastor before he delivers the message.

I am the woman who picks your pastor up when Satan has tried to knock him down.