I'm On a Boat!

If you’ve never had a rough week, you may want to avoid reading this post because it will probably make no sense to you.  For those of you who can relate to having some less than perfect days, you may continue.  This past week was a difficult week for me.  Let me admit in advance that I know it could be worse. Yes I have had worse weeks and I really do have a lot to be thankful for.  But, look, it still wasn’t my favorite week of all time, okay?  As a minister’s wife, I am probably supposed to say that everything is always great and days are always sunny and there are never any tough times.  Well, in previous posts I have already explained that I am not the ”Picture Perfect Pastor’s Wife”.  That’s another blog by someone else.  This is the “Flipflop Pastor’s Wife”.  So, moving along. 

A few months ago, God called us to a new ministry.  We knew there would be obstacles.  We prayed and had precious people praying for us.  We knew we were following God’s call on our lives.  There have been great times, and there have been not so great times.  But, God continues to be there through all of them.  He is faithful, even when my faith is weak. 

This past week, as I was having a “flipflop pastor’s wife’s pity party”, God, once again, spoke to me through His word.  While studying in Genesis the last couple of weeks, specifically the story of Noah, God has revealed some pretty cool lessons to me.  In a way I have never realized before, I am kinda like Noah’s wife.  You see, when Noah first began building the boat as God commanded, I’m sure his wife was a little nervous.  She probably even questioned what was going on.  But, she got on the boat.  Therefore, I assume she supported him and was his helper.  And I have a feeling when that first drop fell from the sky, she was pretty proud of her man.  “Oh yeah, that’s my man!  My hero!  I am so blessed to have Noah- thank you God for allowing me to have a REAL man who obeys you and trusts you. That’s MY man!”  Then, the rains came down and the floods came up, the rains came down, and the floods came up, and… okay, you know the song.  But then, when the rain stopped, it was time to wait. And wait. And wait.  I am pretty sure it was stinking pretty bad in that boat by now.  She was probably getting tired of being stuck in a situation that seemed like it may never get any better.  She probably thought, “Alright Noah, what’s up with this? We are on the boat, the rain came and has stopped.  When is this water gonna dry up already?”  I can imagine her frustration with all the animals and the work that had to be done, but seemed futile.  And you know how women get when we haven’t had enough vitamin D!  But then, that day came.  The dove came back with the dry leaf!  Just as God had promised!  He has blessed Noah’s faithfulness.  Then, the dove left one day, and didn’t come back!  Blessed be the name of the Lord!! 

Genesis 8:1 says that ‘God remembered Noah’.  He did not forget him or forsake him.  And He won’t forget you or me!  Isn’t that great to know?  He doesn’t forget us!! I know that God is faithful.  I am excited for the day that the dove doesn’t come back!  I know it’s coming!  As a pastor’s wife, I want to be the one who is cheering her husband on even when the waters seem to be taking a long time to recede.  I’m still learning, but I want to be the one who trusts God even when everything around is stinking and a lot of work needs to be done.  I need to be reminded every now and then to get out of my pity party and get in the boat!  There’s nothing more beautiful than a rainbow!

What is that smell? Is it Notre Dame?

I have a scentsy in my classroom, and my students love it.  For those of you who may not know what a scentsy is, it is a candle warmer that allows you to scent a room without a flame.  These are delightful!  (If you need one, let me know and I can hook you up with my friend Jessica who sells them)  Without fail, my students walk in and say, "It smells so good in here.  What is that?"  Yes, they know it is my scentsy, but they want to know what fragrance I am warming.  My answer is always the same.  I simply say, "It's me".    
Yesterday, as I answered with my usual "it's me", I couldn't help but think about 2 Corinthians 2, where Paul is telling the Corinthians that God uses us to tell others about Him and spread the Good News like a sweet perfume.   I can't help but wonder what my life smells like to those around me?  Is my life a pleasant fragrance that others enjoy and are drawn to?  Or does my life make others want to make the face I make when I open Rhett's bedroom door?  
In this portion of scripture, Paul says "to those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom.  But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume."  He is actually referring to something the people understood. In this day, after a victory a Roman general would display his battle treasures within a cloud of incense in a presentation for the gods.  Those who were victorious in the battle loved the scent and the fragrance was a smell of victory for them.  For those who had been defeated, it was a stinch of death and destruction.  
I'm not sure if you heard, but there was a football game last night.  The Crimson Tide once again brought home a national championship, defeating number one ranked Notre Dame.  In my first block class today, the Bama fans were smiling and talked about how they enjoyed the game.  Those (okay, I think there was one) who were rooting for Notre Dame, however, had a slightly different look on their faces.  Nevertheless, we all understand the very different attitudes associated with victory and defeat. 
I do not think Paul is saying here that we need to smell bad to those who are lost.  So, therefore, continue to wear deodorant, please.  I think he means we need to be representing Christ in such a way that when others are around us, they understand their need for Christ and feel the need to make reconciliation with Him.  We need to represent Him in a manner that reveals truth. 
May we remember that we cannot do this on our own, but when we deny ourselves and allow Him to fill us, we overflow with His love and power and others will notice.  No, not everyone will appreciate what and Who we represent, but their response is not our responsibility- our responsibility is to be obedient to Christ. 
The question for today is really not whether or not Notre Dame stinks, but what aroma are we giving off?  May we be the aroma of the One who is really #1. 

Hi, my name is Heather and I am insane.

As we embark on a new year, many of us have made New Year's resolutions that we hope we can keep.  Some of us have probably made some of the same ones we have made in previous years and have yet to figure out how to extend the motivation past the middle of January. Thinking about some of my past resolutions, I think several of mine have involved purchasing something with which to make my plans a reality, only to find those items collecting dust in a cabinet a few months later.  Whether is was an exercise machine that quickly turned into a nice clothing organizer or a blender that became a tool to make milkshakes rather than protein shakes, the good intentions turned into little more than unwise purchases and more items to add to my yard sale table.
So, what happens?  I mean, we have great reasons for creating our resolutions, and for a little while we have a passionate drive to reach our goals.  But what happens between January 1 and March 1 (okay, I admit, I rarely make it 2 months!) that causes our upward reach to become a nosedive?  I think it is because of insanity.  Yes, I think I am insane.  I seem to believe that I can achieve different results by doing the same things over and over again.  That is the definition of insanity, right?  What's up with that?  I want to get up early and exercise, I really do.  But, after about a week and a half of overcoming the pressure of the snooze button, I give in.  I press it.  And I like it.  And somehow in my feeble mind I think that maybe if I sleep faster maybe I can burn more fat cells and the exercise bike can have a break.
This year, I have decided I am not making any resolutions, but I do have a burning desire in my heart. My deepest desire this year is to be closer to the Lord at the end of 2013 than I am right now.  I want to know Him better and be more like Him.  We learn in His Word that when we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us the desires of our hearts.  I truly believe that if I delight myself in Him, He will not only change the desires of my heart, but He will change the heart of my desires.  My desires will be His desires, and His desires will be my desires.  And guess what?  I don't believe I have to drown myself in legalistic plans or programs to make this happen.  I don't even have to buy anything!  But, I do have to do my part.  I have to stay in His Word and get to know Him.  To know Him is to love Him, because He is love.  I just have to seek Him.  He takes great delight in us and He wants to be closer to us. I really believe that if we will just delight in Him, He will bless us by allowing us to be closer to Him and be more like Him. When we are more like Him, others will see His love and want to know Him.  He is contagious!
This is the beginning of a new year.  In the beginning, God created everything out of nothing. Let's allow Him to make something new with us. Will you join me this year as I delight in Him?   Let's allow Him to work out His resolution in us.  He doesn't need our help.  He made everything, and it was good.  He made you- and He makes everything beautiful. I pray that 2013 will be the year that we are blessed with the desires of our new hearts.