Today I want to share the story of Brian and Melissa Lewis. They joined the Home Mission family as associate missionaries to work as the Family Pastor in McKinney, Texas with Randall and Colette Wright. Since that time, they have been on an emotional/spiritual/physical roller coaster!

They started fundraising in January 2011 and on March 30th, Melissa was diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer so they suspended the move as she went through aggressive treatment. In September 2011, she received word that the cancer was not in remission and probably never would be so they resigned themselves that Texas was not in their future.

In January of this year, Melissa was given a break from chemotherapy and they decided that maybe they could still go. So Brian resigned from his position at Oaklawn FWB Church and they started fundraising again. He is planning to work as a teacher so he applied for a teaching job in Texas.

As they were preparing to move, Melissa had to have emergency gall bladder surgery and while in the hospital, they found she still has the cancer. They just moved to a rental house today (they had to be out of the parsonage) in Tennessee and are praying for God's guidance.

I have to tell you that it is so hard for me to understand so much of what is happening.

Would you join me in praying for Brian and Melissa and their family to have wisdom, guidance, and God's peace through all this?

Read more about her story at her blog --- lifeasalewis.blogspot.com. (She is a talented blogger and photographer.)

Eagerness

As I opened my Bible this morning to read my five psalms that I start my devotions with, I was a little disappointed that Psalm 119 (with its 176 verses) was included in them. Now I'm ashamed to admit it, but it takes such a long time to read that whole Psalm - not really, but it seems like it in comparison to the others. 

So I took my Bible outside and was reading it, but was sidetracked by a phone call. Then other things distracted me from reading the Bible. As I was piddling around the house, I turned on the TV and heard a man talk about being prepared for God's work. (It is so weird, but every time we turn on our TV, it comes up to this religious channel.) 

Well, I listened as he mentioned that we would all probably say we are prepared for God's work, but if we aren't daily disciplining ourselves...then we really aren't. He gave the example of a boy who wanted to play basketball with them, but after five minutes of playing was sick on the sidelines because he REALLY wasn't prepared. He had not been daily disciplining himself by playing/practicing and he couldn't take it. 

Conviction set in and I realized that I can be TOO haphazard about God's Word. Then I went back to Psalm 119 and one of the first verses I read was verse 36a: "Give me an EAGERNESS for your laws." 

Oh, how I need that! 

I'm not writing this to make you feel guilty (as if we need MORE things to make us feel guilty), but I want to encourage you to daily prepare yourself. Walking with God in His Word daily can make us strong and we can be ready for whatever comes our way.  

Give me an EAGERNESS for your laws, God. Yes, I really need that!

Encouraging Your Husband

What do you do when the pastor is discouraged and you just happened to be married to him?

I interviewed some church planters' wives and asked them some questions about ministry. I asked this question and I'd like to share some of their thoughts with you.

Judy Puckett, veteran church planting wife, said that recognizing discouragement is important - it often displays itself as irritability and being short with you or the kids for no apparent reason. In reading the stories of Moses, Elijah, and Jonah, we see that even the strongest Christians experienced times of discouragement. She said that no one is immune from discouragement and offered some great ideas:

Be sensitive and listen (more than you speak). “You seem to be on edge (or worried). Is something bothering you today?” Often, just allowing him to verbalize his frustration will solve the problem.

Encourage him to do things he really enjoys doing, like a hobby, or watch a favorite TV program. Something that takes his mind off his problems may help him to de-stress.

Keep quiet about other issues, needs, chores, and problems until a better time.

Meet his physical needs. Be loving by giving him a back rub or some other physical touch. Make his favorite foods. A little comfort food goes a long way.

Enlist help if the discouragement persists.

Brenda Lewis, another veteran church planting wife agreed and shared that increasing her prayers for her husband seems to help. She even prays that God will help her know what to do and direct her to scriptures that might help. She agrees that being together (they drink a lot of coffee together) and just talking helps. She's found that when one is down, the other is up and can often encourage the other.

There are many ups and downs when planting a church. Inevitably, our church planting husbands will get down - sometimes after a big victory. A little extra TLC can be just what they need!

Ladies Day at the Home Mission 2012 Summit

The theme for the Ladies Day at the Home Mission Summit on February 29, 2012 was If Shoes Could Talk. What would your shoes say?

Wanda Powell and Ida Lewis decorated the tables with shoe arrangements...





Wanda Powell welcomed the women and showed the first pair of heels that her husband bought her the first Christmas they were married. They are still cute and in style!



Sandy Atwood did a short skit emphasizing the need to be ourselves - and not always trying to fill someone else's shoes.





Debbie Burden challenged us to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace and be ready to share it with others. She even told us we had "beautiful feet"!!!



Here are some pictures of the lovely ladies attending...





Teresa Womack and Ida Lewis made a purse for each one - there was a surprise in each one.



We laughed, shared ideas, listened, prayed, and enjoyed being together!

How can you keep your time with God alive, fervent and meaningful?

It is so easy to let it drift into routine or even neglect it through busy-ness or other seemingly urgent things. It is easy for our hearts to get cold and even indifferent.

First, we must first recognize that there is a problem if there is no desire to spend time with God. We must pray and ask God to put a desire in our hearts to spend time with Him each day. That is the beginning point.

I love this quote by George McDonald.

“If I felt my heart as hard as a stone; if I did not love God or man or woman or child;
I would say to God in my heart, “O God, see how I trust You because You are perfect and not changeable like me. I do not love You. I love nobody. I am not even sorry for it.
You see how much I need You to come close to me, to put Your arm around me, to say to me, ‘My child.” For the worse my state, the greater my need of my Father who loves me.
Come to me, and my day will dawn; my love will come back, and I shall love You, my God.”

Second, we must make it a priority. Judy Puckett, a former church planter's wife says, "There is NO substitute for personal time with God. If you do not invest time in your spiritual walk with Christ, it will soon become apparent to everyone. You will lack the knowledge and depth you need to teach your children and others. You will lack the maturity to handle problems that are sure to arise in your church or in your family. You will lack the biblical worldview and guidance you need for life skills. And most importantly, you will lack the stability and joy that sustains you in difficult times. You can have all this by spending time in prayer and the Word."

Third, we must have a plan. We don't have to pray an hour a day, but having a planned time each day can help us follow through on what we know is right. Shortly after we were married, I noticed that the first thing my husband did was read his Bible. Some days I did, some days I didn't. After months of failure, I realized that I needed a better plan. I decided that I wouldn't read anything else BEFORE I read the Bible (magazine, other books, email, etc.). Some may think that is legalistic, but it has given me a good habit that pushes me to do what I know I need to do.

I try different things to keep my time with God fresh. I'll share one that has helped me. Often when I'm reading my Bible or praying, my mind begins to wander. Writing down my prayers, a praise thought about God, or something I got from the Bible helps me focus.

How do you keep your time with God meaningful?

Would you share what helps you keep your time with God fresh? Share a comment/idea below and I will choose one response and send you a $20 gift certificate to Amazon - so you can buy a devotional book or music or whatever you like to spur you on.

I know sometimes I may sound like a broken record because I write about this a lot. I really feel this is where we won or lose the battle for victory even in the smallest areas of our life. There is strength and power and love and guidance and all that we need... waiting for us. I need all the help I can get!

Phone a Friend

Who do you call (outside your family) when you have a big need or question about life/ministry?

Do you have other women you can call that have (probably) been where you are and can offer words of encouragement?

Do you women who can speak truth to you so you can continue to change and grow?

I remember feeling isolated and worn out in ministry. That doesn't mean you don't love God or love people. We all feel discouraged and need others to just listen and reassure us that yes, this will pass...God will work...you are not crazy...you will make it. And we need others to help us see where we can grow. Being in relationship with others and learning from them can help us see new ways to think and minister.

Recently my daughter asked to interview me as a part of her training with Campus Crusade. She asked me five questions about ministry and we had a meaningful spiritual conversation.

1. Describe for me one of your best years of ministry? What factors contributed to that being one of the best?
2. What unwelcomed assignments or experiences actually helped you grow and develop in ways for which you are now grateful?
3. Describe for me your relationship with a mentor of yours?
4. What have you done to remain clear about God's call on your life? Describe for me a time you doubted you where the Lord desired for you to serve? How did you move past that time?
5. Describe for me a time when you really had to live by faith or step out in faith to do what God was asking you to do?

I know personally that I don't have enough spiritual conversations with people and I want that to change. It seems we talk about food, the weather, the kids, etc. but not much about God and growing. I know we are all busy, so how can do more of this?

This year in the blog, I am interviewing church planter's wives who have been where you have been and can hopefully shed some light/encouragement/perspective to you. I am really going to write more often (pinky promise!) and hopefully we can build a community of caring women who can ask honest questions and get real encouragement.

In the meantime, why not phone (or facebook or email or visit) a pastor's wife and ask her one or two of the questions listed above? It may start a friendship that will be just what you need to grow and change this year.

Good news! A baby!

Our son, Nathan and his wife, Rachel who live in New York, couldn't be here for Christmas, so they came this past weekend. The first morning they were here, they brought a beautifully wrapped package to the breakfast table. I opened it and was DELIGHTED to see the picture above.

I AM GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!!!!

I've heard so much about being one - it's so fun, it's better than having your own kids, it's like falling in love over again, it's great to spoil them and send them home...I can't wait to love on and spoil this little one. It's hard to keep good news to yourself!