As a Pastor's Wife

I love my job! I am my husband's wife. That's all, nothing more, nothing less. But being the wife of a pastor has unique challenges, as does being the wife of a plumber, doctor, mechanic, etc. I'm sure. But how often do you get introduced like this, "This is my mechanics wife?"

As a pastor's wife in the 1700's, before her husband was given an increase in salary, Sarah Edwards had to record every expenditure to make sure that she wasn't being frivolous with the family's finances.  That's Jonathan Edwards' home! Such scrutiny in a pastor's home is often painfully unfair. 

There have been times I have felt that scrutiny, whether it was justified or not. I have often taken things out of context and felt the pressure to perform as others would have me, even when it wasn't what I or my husband wanted. My children have often felt the uncomfortable realities of living in a glass house.

But it's still a job I love. The blessings outweigh the problems. I have first hand knowledge of people and can pray for them when no one else can. I may have to be on the phone for hours at a time, but I have God's Word to help me counsel. 

There are times like this wedding that I relish. Ray officiated the wedding of a young couple in our church family. We got to walk with them, like others in the past, through counseling and wedding preparations. God is glorified through them and I am greatly encouraged. 

A visitor to our church remarked about how involved I was in the lives of the couple. I keep thinking how sad I am for her own pastor and his wife, whom she shared has little to do with the church.  I understand that too. Sometimes, it's easier to separate yourself from people to avoid being hurt, used or even abused in some way.

But for me, today I thank God for this family of believers that He has placed me in. I wouldn't want to be anywhere other than Grace Community Church.

Scheduling Your Days

The last ladies Bible study from Proverbs.

Read Proverbs 31:10-31

I dare say most of you have grown up hearing about the Proverbs 31 lady, real person or not, she is one to emulate. She's the woman who has it all- adoring husband, precious children, beautiful clothes, land, you name it, she has it.

But what about her? A girl could think if I just model my life after her, then I could have it all too, right? Wrong.

After committing these verses to memory ten or fifteen years ago, I wanted to see how they had changed my life. Because that's one reason why we memorize scripture, to change our lives, for the good of course.

I'm a list maker, so I wrote out what my day looked like at the time and examined it next to the Proverbs 31 lady's day.  I know this isn't what she did every day, but it was a pattern. I walked step by step through my day and checked to see if it lined up with scripture. Somewhere on my blog there is the step by step ordering of my day back then.

My days were filled with many of the same things-

• Rising early to cook breakfast- read verse 15
• Walking for exercise- read verse 17
• Dressing my family- verse 21-22 (Scarlett, purple and fine linen)
• Gardening (at the time we had a big garden, but now it's just mostly my flower bed)- verse 16

But I wanted my life to be more than just doing the same things, I wanted it to have the heart change too. There has to be the heart change to go with the lists and schedules. You can't model your days after the Proverbs 31 lady without the heart examination.

Look at her heart-

• Trustworthy- read verse 11
• Does her husband good- read verse 12
• Industrious- read verse 24
• Strength, dignity, laughs at the future( no worry about tomorrow, and a joy in her life)- read verse 25
• Wisdom, kindness- read verse 26
• Takes care of her household, diligent- read verse 27

I want to encourage you to look at your days, consider how you spend them. Examine what you do on a regular basis and ask another godly person to help you look at your days. Are the days spent in vain toil under the sun, are you striving after the wind, do you look like the sluggard? Or are you enjoying the fruit of your hands, are you eating and drinking and finding enjoyment in your toil?

If there is a lack of joy or an abundance of frustrations in your days you need to do some more examining. I know I often to have to reassess my days.

First of all do you know Christ? Is He the One you turn to in praise or in need? Is He the One you want to glorify? Repent and turn from your sin, cry to Him for help.

But if you know Christ as your Savior, you can enjoy life with an above the sun perspective.  Why would we want to do that? Proverbs and all of Scripture is filled with the way to live but also the whys.

Why do we schedule our days according to Scripture?

• Read Proverbs 1:1-4 I want to know wisdom and understanding, receive instruction
• and 1:9- these words are a graceful garland around your neck
• Read verse 2:5-7

This is just the beginning of Proverbs, search the whole Bible to find other reasons why.

The third question of the children's prove it catechism asks why did God make us and all things?

• Read Romans 11:36

This goes back to the question how can you glorify God? Answer: by loving Him and doing what He commands.

• Read Deuteronomy 6:5,6

Verse six goes back to the top of what we are talking about. These words shall be on your heart. Read them, memorize them, study them, model your life by them, schedule your days by them.

Ray & Lori - 25 Years

Twenty-five years to the man I love. Thank you God!

Adrian and Rachel Rink's Wedding Video

Wedding Pictures

A Real Life Princess

From the time Rachel could walk and talk, she loved horses, as most little girls do. She would run across the yard as a four year old with her pretend horses, "Strawberry and Black." (She kept them in her pocket when she wasn't riding.) At ten years old, she worked at a rescue barn in exchange for riding lessons. That ended up by her getting her horse, Wolfgang, which was the love of her life until last year.

She had always dreamed of riding away from her wedding in a horse drawn carriage. She had to make a few sacrifices to make it happen, but it was well worth it. It ended the night beautifully! During the reception, all of the little girls were called to meet Rachel at the door and she surprised them with a ride in the carriage with her and Adrian. I have heard from many moms that it was the highlight of their daughter's life. One little girl said that Rachel was prettier than any Disney princess.

Rachel is back at it, keeping us up to date on Life as Mr. and Mrs.

I Can't Wait...

... to show these pictures. We haven't gotten all of the wedding pictures in but what we've seen are just beautiful! What a great day for Rachel and Adrian!

Pampering our Girl

As a mom I have had lots of ideas of things I wanted to with and for my daughters when they get married to make their wedding week extra special for them. On the day before Rachel's wedding, Ray and I tried to do some of those things. Because of how the week turned out there were things left undone, but over all I think it was a special time. Ray took her out to eat and ordered the biggest steak he could get for her. (Rachel is the kind of girl that when you take her out to eat, she'll order the cheapest thing on the menu.) They had a great time hanging out and enjoying one another.

In the afternoon, I went with her and the bridesmaids to get her nails done and Starbucks. Rachel's bridesmaids did a wonderful job of pampering her all afternoon and into the next day. They did fun spa stuff and simply helped keep anything stressful away from her. What a fun time for her!

That doesn't mean there was NO stress, it was just kept to a minimum.

Steaming her veil.

Cutting fruit for the reception.

Thanks to An Army of Ants

I haven't written thank you notes yet for anything that happened in the past few weeks but I feel like I have to say a big thank you here. I was talking to a family member and she was amazed at how our church family has helped us through so many life changing events lately. From meals, visits, gifts, prayers and everything in between, you have shown up! This family member said that after the wedding was over and she started putting things away, she looked up and saw what appeared like an army of ants moving. There were people moving tables and chairs and packing boxes and loading trucks. But that was only one night. You have overwhelmed us with ALL of the times you've shown up. When Abigail was born, you were there. During the Christmas season, when Ray was gone to be with his dad and family, you were there. When Ray's dad died on Christmas Day, you were there. For the week of Rachel's wedding, you were there. You did not leave us in our time of need that week and placed before many eyes an excellent example of how the body of Christ works. You sent gifts, helped decorate the wedding venue, brought countless meals, attended the funeral (and even babysat there), served in many ways at the wedding, cleaned up after the wedding, and prayed diligently. And then you asked how you could help! THANK YOU!

Wedding Showers

Rachel's aunts gave her a wedding shower and had everything perfect!

Aunt Amy, Rachel, Aunt Robin, and Aunt Anna

The wedding gifts were so exciting too!

Her bridesmaids gave her a shower that lasted all night long, and included lots of fun presents. I'm really thankful they included me!

There are two ladies I know and admire so much. (Don't tell, but I love their children like they are my own too.) They lived next door to each other for years in Honduras and became close friends. As God would have it, Melody's son married Maggie's daughter and now they have a great relationship sharing their children and grandchildren. I love to see pictures of them as friends before their children were married. Long term relationships like that mean a lot to me.

This past weekend Rachel's future in-laws came from Minnesota to visit Georgia. I had prayed that God would give us a good relationship and that He would be honored. The weekend went really well, and we are on our way to being great friends. We didn't have the privilege of living side by side because we are separated by half of the country. But I know that while we are sharing our children and (hopefully, lots of :) grandchildren, we can develop a wonderful relationship too.

I loved seeing Adrian interacting with his mom and dad and it made us love him even more. We went to Amicalola Falls and the place where the wedding will be. We got to talk a lot about the details of the wedding and stuff like that. While the girls went to a bridal shower for Rachel, Adrian and his dad worked on the kitchen in their apartment. Rachel has more fun photos of the weekend on her blog.

Guess What Rachel did on Vacation?

Admired how wonderful Adrian is... (He had these flowers waiting for her at the hotel.)

Shopped for her wedding to Adrian...

Talked to Adrian on the phone...

Thought about Adrian the whole time....

And ... she did find a little time for fun too.

All the Latest From Rachel and Adrian

Rachel and Adrian have set up two places to keep us up to date with all the latest news going on in their lives. I am thankful they are working hard to honor God.

This one has all the details about their wedding. Wedding website

Here is the place that they are documenting all kinds of fun stuff about their journey to married life. Blog

These are just a couple of their engagement pictures that Sarah took. She did a great job with them. There are more here.

Wedding Check List

• The most beautiful wedding dress ever bought - done
• The location of every girl's dream secured - done
• Registry for the greatest home ever completed - done
• Two bridesmaids' dresses bought - (only two more to go)
• Bible studies started for the most spiritual couple ever - done
• Bride and Groom still dreamy eyed - done

Left to do... Wow! The list is unbelievable, but it really is a fun process.

Rachel has found the dress of her dreams and Ray is giving her a hard time.