Renewed: Day 32, Redemption

"...those lessons were costly. And the church - have they learned anything from this? Or will they repeat the same process with another pastor two years down the road: hope, disillusionment, blame, conflict, gone? It's out of my hands now.  God, I want to believe nothing is wasted with you. But what was the purpose...

Renewed: Day 31, Giving our hearts back to God

I am nearing the end of this project - writing along with reading through this book; processing through as we neared the end of our last church and entered the interim wilderness. Has it been helpful? I'm still considering that as past hurts were unearthed and re-examined simultaneously with the stress of the current ministry...

Renewed: Day 28, Prayer

"Prayer is the bright thread connecting all my armor, giving it power and ensuring my victory. Help me to persevere in prayer at all times, in all circumstances, with all kinds of requests, and for all your people. Remind me prayer changes me." (Renewed, Leigh Powers, pg 117) When we started at our last church,...

Renewed: Day 27,Worship

"...when I've spent the week weeping over the broken relationships and strife we seem unable to overcome, on Sunday mornings it's hard to worship." (Renewed, Leigh Powers, pg 111) This describes my battle most Sundays since September of last year. Once you know that your congregation has people in it who don't want your husband...

Renewed: Day 26, The God who Fights for Me

"The hardest part about this is having to remain silent. It's one of the unspoken rules of being a pastor's wife: You can't fight back. ....Hold your tongue and hope the truth will come out in the end." (Renewed, Leigh Powers, pg 106) Sigh. Why? Why do we have this unspoken rule? I guess it's...

Renewed: Day 25, His Daughter

"There's the nagging voice that lurks in the dark corners of my mind, easing out into the light when I'm tired or stressed or afraid. 'You're not good enough. You'll never measure up.' .... There are other voices too. ...Sometimes they come with a smile and a handshake on Sunday morning. ... And sometimes all...

Renewed: Day 24, Our Provider

"Worry finds ways to creep in around the edges on days like these." (Renewed, Leigh Powers, pg 98) As I write, my pastor-husband is attending a board meeting with our District Superintendent in attendance. In two Sundays, our AGM is after our Sunday morning service. The treasurer wants to cut my husband's paycheque and subsequently,...

Renewed: Day 23, Faithfulness

"Whatever comes, remind me of your faithfulness. If it feels like I'm standing alone, remind me you are with me. If I'm reviled, remind me you were too. If I succeed, remind me the victory is yours. And if I don't, remind me my ultimate victory is found in you. You are faithful. I put...

Renewed: Day 22, Courage

"Give me the courage to cling tighter when I want to run and press in when I want to push you away. Help me accept that the "why" questions may never get answered. You have told me who you are. Let that be the only answer I need." (Renewed, Leigh Powers, pg. 92) That picture...

Resting

This past Autumn, a few of us at our church prayer meeting were given similar thoughts on the need for healing in our church and community. We weren't sure what it all looked like, but my pastor-husband began to research different options and we all began to pray about it. This week, we are holding...