Yokemates

She was wiping tears away as she walked quietly out of the sanctuary. I understood. Her father had just passed away, and we were singing of Heaven. “Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder at the mention of His name.” For a moment, I continued singing and then I considered checking on her just in case she needed anything – even just a hug. I slipped out of the sanctuary and found her in the hallway with tear-filled eyes but a welcoming smile. She shared that the first hymn of the morning had been played at her father’s funeral earlier in the week. Then, when the Revelation Song began – that was it. She needed a moment to gather herself and reign in the overwhelming emotion that had come bubbling to the surface. I gave her a hug. She breathed deeply and wiped a few more tears away. Bittersweet moments. The promise of heaven partnered with the reality of letting go of the known for the unknown. Was that what it was like for Mary, the mother of Jesus, when Gabriel broke the news to h...

I am so thankful to see God’s mighty hand at work in my life even though it is not uncommon to sense an unwelcome tug toward discontentment from time to time. Some days, thankfulness comes very easily. Other days, it is an intentional choice. Having a thankful heart keeps my priorities on track and keeps my focus on the One who deserves all our honor and praise! One thing I am thankful for this year is that I have never had a doubt that God placed a tremendous call on my husband’s life to be a pastor - and oh does he have a pastor/shepherd’s heart! I am also thankful that he was called to be a ‘preacher,’ a name many of the locals have come to call him through the years. I can’t say I ever doubted that part of the call, but there have been several specific moments that God confirmed in my spirit that he has been called not only to pastor, but to preach.   One of those moments surfaced after we had weathered some particularly rough ministry years, and God gave me a new pray...

E very Sunday morning I have a choice – and so do you. How flexible will I be? When the exit timeline takes a hit, do I have the tools to quickly recover? What damage will be done in my Christian witness or personal sanity when the unexpected delay hijacks a peaceful home? How quickly will I embrace a ‘make it work’ mindset so that I can successfully get out the door? While embarrassing to confess, my recent ‘make it work’ moment brought me face to face with whether or not I was going to choose an ungrateful attitude. What was so traumatic? Well, as I was in the five minute countdown to head out, I realized that there was no electricity running through the bathroom sockets. Apparently it had been disconnected when our doorbell was replaced earlier in the week. How the bathroom and the doorbell are connected I don’t fully understand, but I needed those last few minutes to finish my hair and get out the door!  Silly vanity, I know. This schedule delay and the energy it took to d...

Do you find Sundays are both a blessing of soul and a challenge to your heart and mind? It is no doubt a challenge in all of our lives to successfully prepare and get ourselves – and our family – out the door and ready for a morning of worship and ministry. Some Sundays come with more challenge than others. When I'm in the shower and the phone rings, I never know whether to brace for chaos or a simple request. Did the computer crash? Is there water in the basement? Or, will I hear my husband’s calm voice saying “Making sure you were up!” Whether everything is running smoothly or if we're feeling a bit frazzled, I’m convinced that the enemy is always watching for ways to throw a kink into our day of worship. I'm sure it comes as no surprise that some Sundays I'm much better prepared than others. Can you relate? The goal is always to find ways to bless and encourage those I encounter each Sunday, enter into a time of corporate worship and to participate in or lead a ...