10 ways to enjoy SPRING

Oh boy another 10 things list! Yes, it is another 10 things list. The best ways to enjoy Spring. It passes by so quickly, You really don't want to miss out on these 10 ways to make it special. 

So counting down!

#10

Enjoy the rain and break out the rain boots and umbrella. Go crazy and drag your kids outside and stomp through some puddles together. You will be so glad you did. 

#9

READ A GREAT BOOK:  Most people think this is a summer activity. But throw a great book in your bag and when you are sitting at a soccer game for your kids or waiting for them to finish piano lessons you can read something awesome! Here's one of my favorite authors:

Brandilyn Collins Kanner Lake Series will keep you captivated. 

Oh, I just saw one of her newer books! Now I know I"m going to enjoy Spring!

#8

TAKE YOUR KIDS HIKING: This is a terrific spring activity. Before it gets to hot you can enjoy the cool spring days. Wear those rain boots and grab a stick to jab at rocks and look under old logs together. 

Hiking Sticks

#7

DISCOVER A NEW TEA OR COFFEE SHOP IN YOUR AREA:

I love this one! there's nothing greater than finding a new spot to hang out with friends or my kids. I've discovered two great tea shops right here in my own town. 

#6

GO FOR A LONG WALK THROUGH YOUR TOWN: It's strange how you can live in a town for many years and never actually walk it's main street.The alley ways of my little town are charming. 

#5.

SPRAY PAINT OR PAINT SOMETHING: As long it's not raining spring weather is perfect for painting projects.  It's a cheap activity too. Just 4.00 for a can of spray paint or a small pint of paint. 

I'm working on a project right now to build room dividers.. Post upcomig about that. Here's part of the process: I'm also making potted sticks.. that's a post upcoming as well! 

#4.

Pick Blossoms off a tree and fill a vase with them. 

The fragrance is wonderful! I made the numbers throughout this post with the blossoms from my crab apple tree. 

#3. 

OPEN YOUR WINDOWS AND PLAY MUSIC!

This is one of my favorite spring things to do. It's amazing how fresh air and music can get you into a cleaning mood! 

#2. 

DO SOME SPRING CLEANING: Once you have music blaring and your windows open you may as well clean some stuff. Do that dusting that's been piling up. Re-arrange some furniture. Throw some stuff out! 

#1. 

HAVE A GARAGE SALE: Yes, Now! Don't wait for summer. Spring is a great time for a garage sale. You'll be surprised how many people are just itching for a great sale. You can make bank if you sell coffee and donuts on a cool garage sale morning. 

So there ya go! That was painless huh? Just pick one or two of the things above and you'll find you can make the most of Spring this year! 

A pastors wife point of view

Do you trust the 20/20 vision of the Lord? 

I've been a pastor's wife for over 20 years. Before that, I was a pastor's kid. So you could say I've been in ministry all my life.

There was a time when I looked at the role of PK and PW and saw only hurt and betrayal. But God saw clearly while I looked at my life through a dirty pair of glasses.

If you wear glasses you understand that dirty glasses are of no use. Spots, grime and my kids fingerprints often drive me to cleaning my glasses on the hem of my blouse.

So here's the short story: 

Jesus doesn't wear glasses. He sees everything crystal clear.  

He has more than 20 20 vision. He has x-ray vision. 

He sees through the hard things of our lives. 

Nothing is unclear to Him.

I'm not just preaching to you. I know what it means to loose everything. I've laid in a corner of an empty parsonage, weeping, alone, desperate for someone to console me, questioning God's plan, rubbing my tear stained eyes on the hem of my blouse and shouting at the empty walls, "I don't get it! Why?"

My heart has hurt as deeply as yours. But my dear PW we can't see clearly because we don't have the eyes of God.

"Now we see things imperfectly like puzzling reflections in a mirror. But then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

I want to see clearly. Don't you? But for now we have to trust that God's vision is clear and he's leading us with confidence through this life. 

As I sit here I am struck by the importance of this last statement. See if I keep trying to clean my glasses and fix my vision, I'm really saying to God that I don't trust Him to lead me safely. I think I could do it better, if I could just forge my own way. 

Jesus calls us to trust him completely. 

A trust fall so to speak. 

Will you fall into Him? Will you allow your glasses to be dirty and trust that His are clear? I'm praying that you will. 

I love you dearest PW

Under the same wing,

-Joleen

Just for fun Thursday!

                                            What caption would you give this picture?

Click our comment button below and tell me what these birdies are talking about!

Inspire Bible Scripture Lesson

I love my new Inspire Bible by Tyndale Publishers. The artistic opportunities presented by this revolutionary presentation of God's word catapulted me into a month of blissful creativity.  I began to color and glue and paint and draw without giving much thought to the life giving text beneath my fingers. 

Then my friend, Laurie Yost, sent me a picture of a beautiful church near her. I loved it so much that I asked her what verse I could put on it. She replied, "Psalm 37:7." Together we created the beautiful picture below. 

As I pondered this captivating image, my heart ached strangely. 

I long for the closeness and serenity with God that this scene imparts. 

I looked at my new Bible. It sat open to Psalm 37. All of my inductive Bible study method training kicked in. What if I studied this passage inductively and added the art as I studied? 

Instead of the art inspiring me to think about the scripture, I could let the scripture inspire the art!

I feel like putting that last sentence in all caps. But, I think you get the impact this made on my heart. So that is what happened this morning.

 1. I spent time reading the passage and observing the text.

 2. I asked myself the 5W's and an H (Who, What, When, Where, Why and How). 

 3. I studied the context and other passages that helped me to interpret what I was reading. 

 4. Finally, I asked the Lord to show me how to apply these truths to my life.

If you are interested in studying with me, I encourage you to join either our 2 Timothy or Philippians course on this blog. We are on day 14 of Philippians. I will start using my Inspire bible a bit more with those lessons. It really is an awesome resource. 

Here's a few pictures to show the creative process that followed my study. You are welcome to print the church picture at the end of this post and use it in your bible. 

Note: I put the key commands and their vs. in the left hand column.

I drew the church first  and sketched in the trees. 

I love Prisma color markers. Here I'm using a subtle grey as the base color for my church. 

I use a combination of colored pencils and Prisma color markers when I draw. I'm not very scrap booky in my approach this time. I just really wanted to let the text speak on this one.

Don't be afraid to draw right over the words. As long as you don't use dark colors you should still be able to read the text. 

Now, I'll show you a simple approach for the other page. 

 I simply printed the church picture and wrote verse 7 out in the NLT version. 

I adhered the picture using cream colored masking tape. It gave a nice clean appearance. Then I used my Prisma color pen to give a base color over the verse. 

Colored pencils brought out the words in the verse.  

 If you are longing to let Scripture inspire your art and your heart come back next week as I hope to give one of you your very own Inspire Bible. 

Under the same wing,

-Joleen

10 ways to love the church you're in

Ten ways to love the church you're in 

BE YOURSELF

Are you creative and outgoing or quiet and introverted? Either way, embrace who you are. God will show you how to love people in your own unique way. Don't worry about what the last Pastor's wife or your Senior Pastor's wife is like. 


Being authentically you will keep your heart open to loving the church you are in.

FIND YOUR NICHE

You do not have to, nor should you do everything. Even if it's a small church. Just say no to things that seem to suck the life out of you. I know there's times to be sacrificial but committing to run the nursery, sing in the choir, organize the ladies luncheon and be on the missions committee is not sacrificial, it's downright insane! Pick one area that you really love. If what you love is soap making then invite college girls over to make soap! If you are an introvert then pray about that one woman who may also be an introvert whom you can connect with and be a blessing to. 

Finding your Niche is crucial to keeping your heart open to loving the church you are in. 

Pray for your Church

Yes, I mean it! Pray for the people you see every week. Pray for the children. Pray for the pastor! Pray for the music director. Pray for the tech. people. Pray for the elderly. Pray for the young families. Pray for single women. Pray for the single men. Pray they will find each other! Just pray. 

Praying for your church will fling the doors of your heart open to love the church you are in. 

Forgive Quickly

We live in a fallen world with fallen people. We mess up. They mess up. We are all a mess. Don't hold onto offenses. If you've been hurt so badly that you just don't think you can forgive, ask the Lord how he did it. How did he forgive those who mocked him, scorned him, betrayed him, spit on him, crucified him? Jesus will show you how to forgive.

Forgiving quickly guards your heart so you can love the church you are in.

Put some wise phrases in your pocket

Unexpected requests, comments and statements can catch us off guard. It's best to have some wise phrases ready just in case. Here's a few for you. 

"I'm sorry, I don't relay church messages to my husband. I'd hate to forget or not be precise. I'm sure you understand."

"Yes, everyone's children are works in progress. Mine are no exception. I'm so glad they are normal!" 

"I know you care deeply about this church. I do as well. Let's commit to praying for this issue. I'm confident God will reveal His heart to us."

Keeping wise phrases in your pocket provides a way for you to love the church you're in.

Invest in people B4 programs

Wow, this is a biggie. Programs and people seem to be intermingled. If you are working in youth ministry then you are investing in the youth. If you are singing on the worship team you are investing in the whole congregation. But that's not going to help you love your church. You need to be intentional about people. Who are you caring for? Who feels comfortable calling you by your first name, texting you for advice or dropping by for tea? If there is nobody, I'd like to suggest it's because you are program driven. If you are exhausted and unable to welcome anyone into your real space of life, it may be time to rethink what you're doing. Invite that  woman to go grocery shopping with you. Text that youth a bible verse and tell them you are praying. Create time to be with people outside of regular church programs. You may be surprised how encouraged you feel.

Investing in people B4 programs will drive you to love the church you're in. 

 

Remember to say Thank You!

I'm terrible at this one. I've just been through minor surgery and felt the outpouring of love from my church in the form of meals, cards and caring emails. My next priority after this post is to sit down and write out my thank you notes. REAL PAPER, thank you notes. 

Saying, "Thank you" will remind you to love the church you're in.

Invite people over!

Oh dear, I heard that groan from my introverted PW's. It's okay to keep it simple. Just a cup of coffee or tea and a store bought cake or tray of cookies will do. Throw them on a pretty plate of your own and all will be well! As far as conversation, let your talkative hubby lead.This is why you need to invite people over at least once a month... ...Because they want to know you.  Also, if you've shared a meal or a cookie with someone you will feel more comfortable sharing your wise phrases if needed. Who knows, you may just find you really like the people in your church. It is true! Inviting people over fills your heart to love the church you're in. 

Protect your family time

This should come as no surprise. It's a doozie!  How on earth do you protect your family time? It is different for every one but here's what we do. 

No technology on Sundays. Sundays are crazy enough without fighting over screen time. So our kids know Sunday afternoons are time to chill, play games and/or nap. 

No technology before or right after school. Again, so much is going on we just had to put a stop to the madness. Once homework is done and chores, then we allow limited screen time.

Guy time and Date night. Since we only have boys, they have weekly "guy time" with their dad. Dave takes them each out for a treat or outdoor activity.  Dave and I also have a weekly date night. Sometimes we call it a couch date when we are penny poor or bone weary, but we still send the boys off to do something so we can talk and drink coffee and catch up. 

Protecting your family time will keep your heart fresh to love the church you're in.

Stay in the Word

This should go without saying, but I'll be the first to admit my dedicated time to bible study easily slips away in the mayhem of ministry. Don't let the happen! Allowing the truth of the Word of God to permeate your heart is essential to all nine of the points above. If you are needing some accountability join one of our free bible studies here at PW101. Links below. 

Staying in the Word increases your ability to love the church you're in. 

Wow, if you stuck with me all the way through this list you are already well on your way to loving the church you are in. I pray you will put these ten things into practice. Feeling overwhelmed? Start with the one that seems easiest and do that. I am so glad you are a Pastor's Wife! Let's lean into Jesus together and work for His glory! 

Under the same wing,

-Joleen

Philippians study

2Timothy study