By Cara Croft
My dear sister, not only can it be true—it is true. You are worth delighting in. You are being rescued. God sees you, He hears your cries, and He takes delight in caring for you.
Please stop and take a moment. Don’t scroll on to the next blog or the next blog post/podcast/book/sermon/etc. Stop, take a breath and let it sink in for one moment that God delights in you and he will rescue you from whatever it is that is threatening to drown you today.
Read MoreBy Kellye Carmack
For those who are in Christ, our foundation is more than our past experiences or our present realities. We are rooted in Him and that root runs deep and strong. He is the source of everything we need for each new season. Our identities find security in Him.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
Prayer binds my heart to my church. It protects me from bitterness. It helps me to view my congregation as family, to step outside my own little world and serve others, to value their faithfulness to Jesus more than our “successful” ministry. Developing a habit of prayer takes time, and prayer itself takes time. But the investment is never wasted. While you might be praying for the Lord to change your church, you can be sure that He will use prayer to change you.
Read Moreby Cara Croft
It is important in this season of busyness, this season of hurry and tension, to take a moment and “be still” before God. There may be no “big revelations” from God, there may be no deep conviction of sin. This is just a time to be quiet, listen, and rest in the presence of our loving God.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
It’s rare that a new Christmas song finds it way on to my permanent rotation. I mean, you can’t beat the classic Advent hymns, right? Yet, a new song from Sovereign Grace has been playing on repeat in my ears the past few weeks, and I think it is particularly meaningful for those of us who are struggling in ministry.
Read MoreBy Kellye Carmack
This month on the blog we want to offer you a few practical ways to savor the birth of Jesus. We pray that each post in this Christmas series will lead you in a few moments of worship as you reflect on Christ this season.
Read MoreBy Cara Croft
Picture the farmer. He goes out and toils all day in the heat and humidity. He continues to tend his crops, trying to water them as much as possible since the sky seems to have dried up. He focuses on trying to save the crop so that he can harvest it in the cooler days. (I am no farmer, nor do I live near farms so some of these details I am taking my own liberty with interpreting) We work really hard hoping that someday soon those fall winds will blow through, cool off the heat and bring some relief. Yet the heat toils on.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
The friend seemed reluctant to admit it, but he told my husband that every day of ministry for him thus far had been sweet. “It’s like every day is summer,” he said. I remember how that statement mystified my husband. His friend had exuded excitement and passion about his church, but we were completely worn down and burned out.
Read MoreBy Kelly Carmack
In the harshest season of the year we find wonder, deep rest, peace, time to savor. These gifts wouldn’t exist without the harsh elements of the season, and our winters in ministry are no different. Perhaps those gifts in ministry are not as visible as the glittering white landscape you see out your window on a snowy winter’s day.
Read MoreBy Cara Croft
It is not just a sting of fire burning away sin, but it is also the warmth and comfort of His Spirit blazing within. Beloved children, God has started a new work in your hearts, let us rejoice and have hope that in this world not all is death. Even in the fall there is life and it is abundant.
Read MoreMinistry wives, as we wrap up a month that sometimes makes us painfully aware of our shortcomings and perceived failures in ministry, we encourage you to look for the gifts. If you’re really struggling right now, consider making an actual list of the gifts God has given you in your ministry. Dig deep. Think of ways God has sprinkled in spots of joy into your ministry, even on the toughest days. Thank Him for sustaining you thus far, and pray for Him to keep upholding you as you serve Him by serving your church. He loves you, He sees you, and your ministry matters to Him.
Read MoreBy Cara Croft
As a child, I remember watching my pastor’s wife. For some reason I was fascinated with all she did. She was a woman who played the piano on Sunday mornings, she taught classes on various crafts that she enjoyed, she organized women’s social events and she sat on the front pew at every service. Yet for all of my watching her, I did not “see” her.
Read MoreBy Kellye Carmack
God’s love is greater than any person or church can show you. Even the most meaningful human gifts pale in comparison to what He has for you. Let me encourage you to take a few moments to rest in His love for you. Meditate on who He is as your Father and Creator. Ask Him to show you how much He loves you.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
From where I sit, most of my ministry as a pastor’s wife has been unseen. If you asked church members what it is that I actually do, they’d likely reply with the things that are visible: I play the piano every Sunday, I volunteer at our weekly outreach program to kids in our community, I get the bulletins ready each week. Simple, visible stuff.
Read MoreBy Gillian Marchenko
I’ve battled mental illness for the tenure of my husband’s ministry career. I support him in his endeavors and participate in various ministries at church. I facilitate Bible studies, greet people on Sunday mornings, assist with children’s church, and am involved in discipleship relationships. Except when I’m depressed. Then I’m suddenly absent.
Read MoreBy Kellye Carmack
How will you get up on Sunday morning and serve your church when you are hurting? God is a rescuer, He wants to rescue you. Before you decide to give up, call out to Him for help. He can give you strength and endurance to faithfully serve in the hardest of places.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
There is a certain extent to which you can be sure that ministry will be lonely. And yet, I think most of us in ministry don’t necessarily want to quit because of that loneliness. I truly don’t want my husband to step away from ministry; I love that we get to serve the Lord in the local church. The joys of ministry outweigh the wounds. But the wounds do hurt. So, how do we serve Christ when we feel that persistent ache for friendship? Here are some things I’ve learned in my own ministry as well as from other, more experienced pastors’ wives.
Read MoreBy Glenna Marshall
Throughout my seventeen years as a ministry wife, I’ve handled my discouragement in some unhelpful ways. At times, I’ve withdrawn from my church, ranted inwardly, and succumbed to bitterness. None of those actions have served to rouse my affections for Christ or His Bride, so I’ve had to reexamine what it really means to cast my cares on the Lord.
Read MoreBy Brian Croft
Abide with Me was written by 19th century Anglican Minister, Henry Francis Lyte. Apparently, Lyte wrote this moving hymn just weeks before his death and it was first sung at his funeral. This hymn became a sweet balm to my soul in those very difficult, uncertain early years of ministry. It so beautifully reminds us of two important, timeless truths about God.
Read MoreBy Cara Croft
My prayer for you, dear reader, is that this hymn [It is Well] can be a source of comfort, encouragement and a prayer for us all.
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