I seem to frequently find myself on the wrong side of other people's assumptions. You see, it's not always a bad thing, people often assume that I am younger than I am, unless they see that I have four children, and then the automatically assume that I am older than I am. People sometimes assume that I know what I am doing, when sometimes I am just trying to make it to the end of the day. People sometimes assume that I know how to fix problems or find something, when the truth is I may have created the problem or lost said thing being looked for so I really am of no help.
The assumption that really gets me though, the one that makes me cringe, the one that have faced for several years now. The assumption that I am, "the youth pastor's wife." I guess in part this assumption is true, somewhat. My husband in the youth pastor, but not alone. I am not just "the youth pastor's wife."
I don't believe that anyone has ever referred to my husband as "the youth pastor's husband", and I don't forsee that happening anytime in the future either. Not that there is anything wrong with being the "youth pastor's wife." There isn't, I know plenty, they are wonderful women. I sometimes would just like people to understand that just because I am a woman doesn't make me any less called than my husband or any less important or effective. God has called and equipped me just like he has my husband and I am so blessed to serve side-by-side with such a wonderful man.
That being said, I am also thankful for a husband, who doesn't understand at all what it is like to continually be referred to as, "the youth pastor's wife", of course not, he's a man, but despite that is more than happy to listen to my frustrations and reassure me that no matter how ignorant some people can be, that doesn't lessen my call any either.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Not my words
Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. (Jeremiah 1:9)
I was reading in Jeremiah yesterday and came across this verse. I don't know how many times I have read it before, but for some reason, it really struck me this time. Jeremiah was resisting God, he claimed that he was too young and that he did not know how to speak. I sometimes feel as though I do not know how to speak. My husband has a way with words, and with people. He always knows just the right thing to say, and I feel as though I am always fumbling over my words clumsily. I find myself finishing a conversation or a lesson and comparing myself to how my husband might have handled the same thing. My words are not eloquent and they do not flow smoothly. But this verse was a reminder to me, it's not about eloquent wording. It's not about long prayers, praying in front of people is something I do frequently and also something I find the most frightening. It's really about the heart of it all. If I am really serving God and seeking his will. If my deepest desire is to please God and to share his love with others, then no matter how much I think I can't do something he will equip me for that. I mean, isn't that how God works? He asks us to do things that we can't do on our own, we have no choice but to truely trust him and give him all the glory. It's not about me and how utterly self concious I usually feel. It's about God, sharing his love and bringing glory to his name.
I was reading in Jeremiah yesterday and came across this verse. I don't know how many times I have read it before, but for some reason, it really struck me this time. Jeremiah was resisting God, he claimed that he was too young and that he did not know how to speak. I sometimes feel as though I do not know how to speak. My husband has a way with words, and with people. He always knows just the right thing to say, and I feel as though I am always fumbling over my words clumsily. I find myself finishing a conversation or a lesson and comparing myself to how my husband might have handled the same thing. My words are not eloquent and they do not flow smoothly. But this verse was a reminder to me, it's not about eloquent wording. It's not about long prayers, praying in front of people is something I do frequently and also something I find the most frightening. It's really about the heart of it all. If I am really serving God and seeking his will. If my deepest desire is to please God and to share his love with others, then no matter how much I think I can't do something he will equip me for that. I mean, isn't that how God works? He asks us to do things that we can't do on our own, we have no choice but to truely trust him and give him all the glory. It's not about me and how utterly self concious I usually feel. It's about God, sharing his love and bringing glory to his name.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
A place to start
Here it is. A new blog for me to write down my feelings about life in co-pastoring ministry. It is a huge blessing as well as being a struggle. I am priviledged to be able to work side-by-side with my husband, not just as parents, but also as youth pastors. Life most days can be a challenge for sure, filled with ups and downs, laughter and tears. We have been married for 8 crazy years that have brought us 4 kids, 3 states, and 4 different ministry assignments. We have learned from each experience, good and bad, that we have been faced with. I believe that there is always something positive to glean from every situation, sometimes you just have to look a little harder than others.
Being a woman in ministry can be a challenge itself, add the fact that I work side-by-side with my husband and the challenge grows that much more. While I am slightly more introvert and quiet (to a point, I do have my loud side as well), my husband is much more outgoing, a people person who has never met a stranger. It makes for an interesting dynamic, but it also helps us to balance each other out, we were made for each other.
As I start out on this new adventure of blogging I am excited to be able to put into words some of the feelings that swim around in my head on a daily basis and I tread in the crazy waters that are my life. What a joy it is to serve God and what a great honor it is for me to be entusted with my children and with the teens that we minister to. I want them to grasp the concept that being a Christian is not simply about going to church on Sunday mornings and coming to a few activities, it is about being sold out and completely in love. Being a Christian is much more than mediocrity.
Being a woman in ministry can be a challenge itself, add the fact that I work side-by-side with my husband and the challenge grows that much more. While I am slightly more introvert and quiet (to a point, I do have my loud side as well), my husband is much more outgoing, a people person who has never met a stranger. It makes for an interesting dynamic, but it also helps us to balance each other out, we were made for each other.
As I start out on this new adventure of blogging I am excited to be able to put into words some of the feelings that swim around in my head on a daily basis and I tread in the crazy waters that are my life. What a joy it is to serve God and what a great honor it is for me to be entusted with my children and with the teens that we minister to. I want them to grasp the concept that being a Christian is not simply about going to church on Sunday mornings and coming to a few activities, it is about being sold out and completely in love. Being a Christian is much more than mediocrity.
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