I am a co-heir with Christ!

Thank you Sharon Jaynes for this mornings post http://sharonjaynes.com/the-horsehead-wallet/#comment-16251!  It is simply the ribbon on top of the package that the Lord has been building in my heart for this post.
In a recent small group (Navigators 2:7 series-I highly recommend this!) we are working on our testimony in 4 minutes.  One of our senior group members shared a wonderful tidbit from his life.  He said he and his wife were struggling financially because of some medical bills at one time.  It came down to the fact that if he paid his tithe for this particular month, it would literally take their bank account to a zero balance.  Being the provider of his household, he really struggled with the decision.  But he went for it, paid the full tithe, and lived on faith!  Of course, they survived and never looked back!
Then yesterday a dear friend and I were visiting and this same subject came up.  She and I both have experienced being a single parent in our lives.  One story she shared was a memory she had about $6.  That was her tithe from a $60 paycheck.  She had diapers to buy.  But on Sunday it just so happened that the $6 was all she had left.  She prayerfully placed the $6 in the offering plate.  On Monday her tax refund check arrived - 3 weeks early!  We both laughed at that story!
In thinking through my testimony, I was reminded of a time early on; literally the first time I realized God provides... allow me to explain.  I had two children and was really struggling financially at the same time that the Lord was calling me.  I had begun attending a biblical church right after a time that I had swallowed my pride and actually applied for food stamps-only to be denied.
The Lord was truly dealing with my hardened heart at this point in my life and He began to soften me to the point I could trust Him.  I wasn't the type of person to ask for help easily and I never let on to anyone about my struggle.  But lo and behold, the next month (after starting to faithfully attend church) my food stamps came through!  Now let me tell you, I had literally been to the point where the only means I had for food was WIC vouchers.  I will never forget the envy I felt when grocery shopping and only being able to get the items listed on the vouchers while others filled their carts.  So when those food stamps came through I was thrilled and realized that they had come straight from the Lord!  This was the first time that I gave God the credit He deserved!
Despite these stories of trust, my friend and I both shared memories of times that we didn't tithe... literally gave in to the temptation to not tithe.  We both agreed that those were always the l-o-n-g-e-s-t times between paychecks!
My husband always reminds me that God doesn't test our faith so He can see if we have any.  He tests our faith for our benefit, so WE can see if we have any!
Does God need our tithe?  Well no, he owns the cattle on a thousand hills! What He does want is our trust and our devotion and our willingness to serve Him with the bounty (financial and physical) which He provides.  Nothing is ours, it is all His.  Once a Christian gets a firm grasp on that reality; I believe that's a pivotal point in ones faith experience.
Our selfish hearts wish to have us believe that we earn the money, we hold the talent, we have the knowledge.  But the truth is, God provides all of it!
So today I am going to remember this every time I pay a bill; thank you Lord.  When I fill my gas tank; thank you Lord.  When I meet a deadline; thank you Lord!  It's all for His glory!

Uncluttered Lives

One of our Core Doctrines in the BIC is simple living "We value uncluttered lives, which

free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully". I have been a member of a few churches in my day and I must say, this doctrine was a new concept to me upon joining the BIC.  I had to really think about this one.

Let me explain... I'm not the best housekeeper.  I'm not the worst either.  So at first I thought 'if I have to be a better housekeeper, I better not join"! Thankfully my loving husband (who is very 'uncluttered') explained that this is referring to the heart, mostly.

In today's world, clutter happens.  The amount of junk mail that my household receives in one week is staggering.  At this very moment, there are three days worth of mail for me to sift through to make sure I don't throw away something important!  Then there are the weekly trips to the grocery store and the endless bags that ensue. (Ironically, while we were honeymooning several years ago, my husband and I both expressed how we wanted to save the planet by eliminating all grocery sacks from our home and only use the reusable ones!  That didn't ever amount to much being as I constantly either leave the bags at home, or in the trunk of the car - and don't remember them until I'm standing in the checkout line)!

 But clutter of the heart is not so easily noticed nor recognizable.  How often do I let the 'stinkin' thinkin' in... those thoughts that pop up when I am tired and overworked?  I am beginning to see that 'uncluttered living' requires a concentrated effort to free oneself of mental as well as literal stuff.  And to do this in order to be available for the service of the Holy Spirit.
So lets evaluate this doctrine, one step at a time; first we must VALUE uncluttered living.  In other words we must recognize the beauty in living an uncluttered (or less busy) life.  To recognize that less is best, whether were talking about shoes or types of cereal or material possessions.  But I believe this also refers to how we spend our time.  Are we freed up in our day to meet someone at their point of need?
Uncluttered to free us to love boldly... if I'm too busy doing everything, I rarely take the time to consider those around me and their need of bold love.  I consider 'bold' love that which I couldn't do in my own strength, but through the Holy Spirit.
Uncluttered to give generously... are my resources so tapped because of my own selfish needs and wants that I am unable to give my time, talent, or treasure to those in need?
Uncluttered enough to serve joyfully...here again, am I so busy doing stuff that I have no more time to serve others in the name of Jesus?
The more I thought about all of this, the more I realized my need to do some housekeeping in my heart and in my agenda.  Thoughtfully (and prayerfully) considering each day how the Lord wants to use my day; literally, the day He has supplied!
It's really not difficult once the right perspective is achieved.  I can be clutter free when I remove 'self' from my plate.  The plate that the Lord provided should be filled with what He would place there!

Lunch mingle

Well today marked the first official 'monthly lunch' of the BIC Kansas Pastor's Wives!  We met at The Dish in Abilene, KS.  Although not everyone could make it, it blessed my heart that we at least had all tried to get together.
Its amazing when we talk about all the different hats that we wear as Pastor's Wives!  Also how much stuff we do purely to help out our husbands and our church family.  Personally I have been struggling with being able to actually worship on Sunday because I am so heavily involved in ministry (and because I am the church administrative assistant).  I have decided that I need to be more diligent in not 'talking business' or even worse, 'conducting business' when I am at church on Sunday.  I am simply going to have to say to everyone who is asking things of me to send me an email or put a note on my desk or in my church mailbox so I can focus on worship and can get to it during the work week.
One of the Wives whose husband pastors a striving 'fledgling' church said how difficult it is right now because they aren't to the point where they have deacons yet to help share the work of ministry.  It is hard on both her husband and herself.  She too has lots of 'where is the stapler and can you help me make some copies' statements on Sundays.
All in all, I really like the idea of getting together on a regular basis, we Pastor spouses.  I say 'spouses' because in the BIC not every Pastor is male... there are actually Pastor husbands out there that I certainly don't wish to exclude, but am pretty convinced that they may not want to mingle with a bunch of women!
I have been sorting through thoughts as to whether or not this blog and my facebook group should be BICPSC (BIC Pastor Spouse Club)... not convinced yet that I need to change anything.
The goal is to have a 'safe and private' place for spouses of Pastor's to share burdens and lift each other in prayer without the threat of being exposed.  Not that we have anything to hide, but at times, being a pastoral couple (i.e. family) is like living in a fishbowl.  People are watching... its a vulnerable spot to be in.
That's why I like to remember Jesus in all things... how would (did) he handle being in the frontline of ministry?  He did it with both grit and salt... he was a servant's servant that truly pierced to the heart of the people he ministered to.  He was always thinking about 'the big picture' at times even to the point of being misunderstood.  But it didn't slow him down one bit.
Now, truly, I am not God and will never be entirely like Jesus.  But He is my guide in ministry.  I want to mirror His heart to those around me.  And especially to my comrades in arms (meaning fellow ministry spouses). So at our lunch we swapped a personal and a spiritual prayer request with each other for the month, until we meet again.
This first lunch meeting was a blessing and I look forward to many more.