Last Sunday marked our 2 year anniversary as pastors of New Life Church, and I just love this cake that the church made for us.
Anniversary's are good times to stop and reflect, (last year) and I have been doing a lot of that, this month, thinking about some surprising things I'm discovering about myself.
I think the most surprising discovery this year is how much I enjoy this job called
"pastor's wife." This has been a year of discovering new joys. In Jeremiah 29, God promises "I know the plans I have for you." He not only knows the plans, but he purposed them--tailored them just for me, and he always does more than we can ask or imagine (because of his great love for us, Eph. 3).
Earlier this year I began to realize just how much my heart is growing and expanding for my community and for this ministry to Santa Barbara that God has called me to.
Over the last 2 years my heart has been enlarging with compassion. And when I look back, I can see that my heart change is rooted in obedience to God’s word. When Dale and I were assigned to take over leadership of the church, I was very worried about the HOW. How could I (fill in the blank)?
But in the middle of all my questions about how, the Lord spoke just one scripture to me, Luke 16:10. “One who is faithful in very little, will also be faithful in much.” So I made my decision to trust God with each little step—just one day at a time.
And with each step of obedience, the Lord has drawn my heart closer and closer to my community. He’s connected my heart to the heart of my community—to my neighbor’s heart. And yes, I still have a long way to go! I don’t think that I can really call my self yet a “good Samaritan”
But our hearts always follows our actions. So when our actions line up with God’s words, and we act faithfully in each small step where He directs, then our hearts become energized with the joy of the Lord, and the sacrifices of time, resources and energy are surprisingly delightful.
Micah 6:8 says
I actually think it works the other way around—at least from my experience—as we walk in humble obedience to God’s word, he gives us a heart of compassion that changes us from the inside, out and causes us to act toward others with justice and mercy.
I think the most surprising discovery this year is how much I enjoy this job called
"pastor's wife." This has been a year of discovering new joys. In Jeremiah 29, God promises "I know the plans I have for you." He not only knows the plans, but he purposed them--tailored them just for me, and he always does more than we can ask or imagine (because of his great love for us, Eph. 3).
Earlier this year I began to realize just how much my heart is growing and expanding for my community and for this ministry to Santa Barbara that God has called me to.
Over the last 2 years my heart has been enlarging with compassion. And when I look back, I can see that my heart change is rooted in obedience to God’s word. When Dale and I were assigned to take over leadership of the church, I was very worried about the HOW. How could I (fill in the blank)?
But in the middle of all my questions about how, the Lord spoke just one scripture to me, Luke 16:10. “One who is faithful in very little, will also be faithful in much.” So I made my decision to trust God with each little step—just one day at a time.
And with each step of obedience, the Lord has drawn my heart closer and closer to my community. He’s connected my heart to the heart of my community—to my neighbor’s heart. And yes, I still have a long way to go! I don’t think that I can really call my self yet a “good Samaritan”
But our hearts always follows our actions. So when our actions line up with God’s words, and we act faithfully in each small step where He directs, then our hearts become energized with the joy of the Lord, and the sacrifices of time, resources and energy are surprisingly delightful.
Micah 6:8 says
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
I actually think it works the other way around—at least from my experience—as we walk in humble obedience to God’s word, he gives us a heart of compassion that changes us from the inside, out and causes us to act toward others with justice and mercy.
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