It can wait...can it?

Being Mrs. Pastor can be challenging...ok that's not really true.

The right way to put it is: Being Mrs. Pastor is very challenging. Yes it is - ask me about it! The great part of that challenge is that God's grace is always available. For example, sometimes I have so much to do & at the end of the day I realize I've done more things that were not on my "to do" list than things on my "to do" list. I used to get upset about it but I've gradually taught myself to strike a balance - "flow" when I have to & be firm with things I have to do.

"To do" lists are endless - for as long as we're alive. Now, I've decided that all I need to do is distinguish between which things on my "To do" list are "have to do today" or "good to do someday." The point is not to put off things till an unknown "someday" because: "Someday is not a day of the week." (Anon) The other thing about the "good to do someday" list is to realise the truth in the Spanish proverb:

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.

One heart...

...though many hats.

Does that phrase sound familiar? Well, it does to me because it's the life I live...so I made up the phrase to encapsualte that reality :)

I decided to share this just after the world celebrates love and, unfortunately, lust in some instances. The greatest commandments Jesus gave us was to "go into all the world...and love God and also man, as we love ourselves" (my paraphrase).

As women, and especially as Mrs. Pastor, we always wear very many hats and we have to have those "hats" handy wherever we go.

You could visit someone as "Mrs. Pastor" and realize that the person just needs a friend who will reach out and touch them at their level, not someone who will "preach at" them. At other times, you visit as a colleague or sister and realise it's "pulpit" time or that it's time to share your cooking and cleaning skills. It's so unpredictable.

Balancing these hats can be tricky because you have to always "look your best" even as you wear multiple hats at the same time. I've found that the best way you look your best is in wearing each hat "with a heart full of love." Needless to say that is not the easiest thing to do...but we cannot stop trying...we just can't.

Sometimes, I feel the pressure of unrealistic expectations from people who are older than me...then I just have to put on "Mummy hat" and reach out to them. Then at other times I almost feel that people just want to "use" me so I put on my "waitress hat" and serve them to God's glory. It's not easy and sometimes not pleasant - so I just set my mind to please God. I simply remind myself that the bottom line is: whatever I do, I must do as unto the Lord and to His glory - irrespective of which hat I'm wearing. Let His love flow - from our hearts & hats.

What should you do for the church?

When writing the "What do you do in church?"* piece, I started asking myself:

"Besides what you do in church, what should you do for the church?"

I know it's not the easiest question to answer because a cart-load of answers ran through to my mind as I asked the question...and then I settled on one - which for me is the most important one. If I may rephrase one of my favourite quotes**:

The most important thing that Mrs. Pastor can do for the church is 

love their Pastor.

Besides that being the best thing you can do for yourself and you family, imagine how much more blessed the entire church is when Mrs. Pastor & Pastor have and also demonstrate true and unconditional love for each other. I can imagine what is going through the minds of those who celebrate St Valentine's day - you may want to douse your husband with love and gifts tomorrow. 

Now, there is nothing wrong with those "I love my husband" gifts and cards - I like them too. The only thing I find wrong is where these things only come up once a year or max 3 times a year which then includes their birthdays and Christmastime. I believe (& know) that every and any time is a good time to give to your husband - it could be an article or attitude wrapped with love. It doesn't need to be expensive to be valued, it just needs to be sincere and that is valuable...

So please don't go buying cards and gifts because this Mrs. Pastor said that what she does - do it because you truly love your husband. Give him more than "Pastor Treatment"***...give him SPA (Sole Precious Attention).

References:
*http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-do-you-do-in-church.html
**The most important thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother. ~ Theodore M. Hesburgh
***http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.com/2011/12/pastor-treatment.html

Which is better?

Not sure if you have, but from time to time I hear people say: "it is better to apologize later than to ask for permission first." I wonder who came up with that.

What do you think? Permission or Apology - which is better?

I "agreed" with it mentally until something happened to me last year. At that point I decided what was better and decided to share my TEA with you...