Preacher’s Wife Teaching Life

I went to the store and bought some pants. When I got home and tried them on, they fit like I might be wearing my 10 year old nephew’s pants so I placed them in my car to exchange for a normal sized petite human being’s pants. I kept forgetting to return them for about a week or so until I finally took them back (with my receipt). I went to the customer service counter, returned the toddler pants, got cash back and went to find another pair in the size I needed. Apparently in the time I waited to return the pants, they had gone on sale so when I bought the new pair they were less expensive! Now that’s what I call a great exchange! Cha-ching! I came out on top in that blunder of forgetfulness and timing and sale times. The feeling associated with this exchange is similar to the exchange that happens in our lives when we hand over our vices for God’s love. Trading in bitterness for kindness is even better than the natural high you get from exchanging that too-tight pair of pants for

I originally hadn't planned on sharing this but I feel like it needs to be heard before I can write my post on the sermon from Sunday. To understand how to pour out God's love on people, you have to first understand how much you are loved. It's such a huge topic that covers so many things but you need to know the immensity of it so you can understand the source of the love that you're supposed to pour out in my next post. God made you on purpose. You might not have been planned or wanted, or maybe you were desperately longed for, but no matter the circumstance, you were not an accident or a lucky incident. The timing, the parents, and your life was on purpose. He made you because he wanted you. He made you because he needs you to help him fulfill his purpose on Earth. He knew you before you were born and had plans for you since the beginning. If you've ever hoped for children, you can only grasp the very tip of the longing God has for you and your life specifica

My friend asked how Jarrod and I keep from getting our feelings hurt all the time. Well, my feelings DO get hurt. They get hurt less often now than in the past but not because of a hardened/calloused heart or walls I’ve built up around my emotions but because of Jesus. Jesus has healed the pain caused by others and replaced the wounds with love, peace and patience. When someone hurts my feelings, I’ve learned that MOST of the time the offender is dealing with his/her own issues and has taken it out on me as an easy target, OR they’ve taken their issues out on me because I resemble the person they really need to forgive. HOWEVER, when someone has attacked me and I’ve been offended, that means there is something that needs healing inside me. So how on earth would I know whether I’m an easy target or if something in me needs to be healed? The answer is found in prayer to Jesus. When you feel the familiar pain from hurt feelings, for the sake of your spiritual well-being, go to the

The text message from Jarrod said, “Can you call me?” which usually means something is going on. I immediately called him and asked what was going on. He replied with anxiety that he was in the parking lot of the gym, dressed ready to work out and he couldn't bring himself to get out of the truck. He was freaking out and talking about the dread he felt about working out with a bunch of young, in-the-best-shape-of-their-lives adults. I answered with something to the effect of, “what’s wrong with you? Just get out of the truck and go get our money’s worth.” He continued to flip out and I answered in the only way I know how to deal with anxiety and say, “Jarrod, just say the name.” He waited a few beats, warring with himself over the choice and resolved to run to the only one who can fix this crisis and says, “Jesus.” In that one word, that one name, we both felt the atmosphere change and his countenance switched over to his true self. He thanked me, got off the phone, ran his little