After cooking up about eight pounds of ground beef (and getting a lovely facial in the process!), singing some old songs of the faith to a large group of homeless people, praying for their hearts to receive the message my husband preached to them, and then assembling about 100 Sloppy Joe’s, I found myself at home fixing lunch for myself and my  husband.

As I worked in my kitchen, I thought back on the blessing of being a part of a church that has the heart to reach out once a month to the homeless.  We get to serve them a hot meal and show them the love of Christ at The Melting Pot.  Many of Jesus’ miracles and times of teaching were around a meal.  I love that we get to do what Jesus did – to provide for their physical needs, and also give them the spiritual food that will benefit them for eternity!

What a blessing to be a part of a church that is willing to reach out, to get their hands dirty, to rub shoulders with people who aren’t like us, but who have the very same needs for the Gospel!  A church that is healthy will share the Gospel to a lost world! 

The night before we went to The Melting Pot, we had a fun ladies’ event at a painting studio.  There were over 20 ladies, church members, and guests, alike, who gathered to follow directions and paint a picture together.  None of us are Van Gogh’s , but we sure had fun brushing, dobbing and stroking paint onto canvases while we laughed, encouraged one another and bragged on our neighbor’s talents!  A church that is healthy can laugh  and fellowship together without the worry of not fitting in or not being good enough.

Last night I got to serve in our children’s ministry, Pioneer Clubs.  There are about 30 adult workers – it’s incredible!  Everyone has their own part in the ministry – activity leader, snack provider, Bible teacher, memory teacher and on and on. It takes all of us to get the accomplished results.  It takes everyone using their particular gifts to make a ministry like this happen, and bring children to a closer walk with Christ.  A healthy church will encourage each member to use their gifts for God’s glory.

Another blessing is my relationship to the pastor of my church – we’re pretty close.  =)  Being married to a pastor is a blessing.  It doesn’t make the Christian life easier – we both have to pursue a relationship with the Lord every single day.  But my life is full of up-close experiences in which I get to see God at work!

I get to hear what the Lord is doing in his heart in reference to his sermon preparation, his own prayer life, answers to prayer, and the work of God in the church ministries, which he oversees.  My heart is so very grateful to be married to a pastor – a man who has given his whole life to the work of God in His Church.  Why?  Because a healthy church will have a pastor who is seeking God in his own personal life, and it will overflow onto the church body.

Here’s what God’s Word says about the pastor:

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

I see his heart for the church.  I hear him pray for his sheep, for the ministries that are taking place in the Church, and for those that are outside the Body of Christ, who need to be saved.

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness for the Body of Christ that assembles at Boones Creek – inside and outside the church building.  I’m thankful I can be a part of such a place that serves the Lord and gives me opportunities to lay up treasures in heaven where moth and rust will not corrupt. I’m thankful for God’s gift of the Church.

Are you a part of a fundamental, Bible preaching church?  Are you active?  Are you using your gifts?  Are you given opportunities to serve?  Are you hearing the Word?  If so, be sure to thank the Lord and your pastor; it’s truly a gift!
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” I challenge you to find a place like I have described.  You’ll soon find the blessing like I have described as part of your life as well!

Lovingly,

As a young teenager, I was at home with my mom one afternoon, merrily going about my normal after-school routines – changing my clothes and hanging my coat up, when something happened that terrified me so much that I remember it as though it was yesterday.  I had popped a round sour ball candy into my mouth and was sucking on this candy while I picked up my coat and went to hang it on the hook on the back of my bedroom door.  I tipped my head back to reach up to the hook, and at that moment the sour ball slid down my throat and got lodged in my wind pipe.

 I could not breathe.  

In a moment, I ran into the kitchen where my mom was preparing supper.  Motioning to her, I tried to tell her I needed help.  This was the day before the Heimlech maneuver, so she did all she knew to do – she pounded on my back.  It didn’t help.  In my mind I was sure that ambulances would have to come and get me – that this was it for me.  Then she told me to do something, she gave me counsel – she told me to put my hand down my throat and try to get it out.

I was desperate.  I did it.

The Sour ball literally went flying across the room.

Air.  Sweet air.

I could breathe again.

Ever since that day I have eaten

not one

sour ball candy.

Though I haven’t partaken of the sour Death Balls, there have been times when I have experienced the same choking – the feeling that “I cannot breathe!”  It can come at times of trials.  It hits suddenly, and even if you know that, “if you’re not in a trial now, one is coming,” it can feel suffocating.

Recently, I was in this very place during a trial and I was gasping for air – spiritual air.  In my fleshly heart I thought, “The ambulance is coming.  I’m not going to pull through this!”  But then the Lord stepped up beside me and gave me counsel – He brought His Word to my mind –

“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

“But Lord, I want to trust you!  I don’t want to show small strength!  I want to be strong in You!”

That was when I “stuck my hand down my throat” and got rid of the troublesome thoughts.  Of course there is not way to change a situation – a sickness, a sin, a trial – but we can change the way we respond to it.  Please understand that the difficult situation isn’t the Sour Ball – our response is.  If we respond in our flesh, we will choke.  Our flesh wants to get angry, lash out, blame God or someone else, give up, run away and a hundred other selfish actions.  But if we grab a hold of our response and think biblically instead, we will find God’s grace to start breathing again.

Air.  Sweet, spiritual air.

Keep breathing.  We will make it.  We will go on – whether it feels like it right now or not.  We’re gonna make it.  In the long run, (eternity) everything will be okay.

With a heart for those of you in a trial,