0:00:02.099,0:00:06.892
Well, this is a huge privilege

0:00:06.892,0:00:09.290
and I really don't know why I'm up here

0:00:09.290,0:00:11.587
other than God has plans and purposes,

0:00:11.587,0:00:13.052
but I feel real inadequate,

0:00:13.052,0:00:16.505
especially as I look around this room.

0:00:16.505,0:00:18.916
We're all in the same boat.

0:00:18.916,0:00:21.939
Mandy, what is it that you just told me?

0:00:21.939,0:00:23.545
(from the room)

0:00:23.545,0:00:27.216
Women in need of grace [br]helping women in need of grace.

0:00:27.216,0:00:29.620
Ruby: So that's basically [br]what's happening here.

0:00:29.620,0:00:32.115
I'm in desperate need of [br]grace and we all are.

0:00:32.115,0:00:35.215
We're all in the same boat.

0:00:35.215,0:00:38.937
I just wanted to share

0:00:38.937,0:00:41.424
after considering lots of different things

0:00:41.424,0:00:43.725
I would like to say and share

0:00:43.725,0:00:45.534
in hopes of encouraging;

0:00:45.534,0:00:49.040
I just thought I would share three things

0:00:49.040,0:00:53.941
that have been very [br]critically helpful for me

0:00:53.941,0:00:55.788
that I've learned over the years

0:00:55.788,0:00:58.158
and I'm still learning and growing.

0:00:58.158,0:00:59.971
Bethany and Michelle, these are things

0:00:59.971,0:01:03.895
that you have heard repeatedly from me.

0:01:03.895,0:01:06.411
They're very basic fundamental,

0:01:06.411,0:01:09.060
can be perhaps like Peter,

0:01:09.060,0:01:10.637
just reminders,

0:01:10.637,0:01:12.384
and hopefully it will encourage you

0:01:12.384,0:01:14.228
to press on in what you already know

0:01:14.228,0:01:16.328
and just to excel and abound

0:01:16.328,0:01:17.620
in these good things.

0:01:17.620,0:01:24.880
So, they these things [br]happen to all start with "H's."

0:01:24.880,0:01:27.250
It just worked out that way. [br]I didn't plan it.

0:01:27.250,0:01:29.498
But it's three things [br]that I narrowed down.

0:01:29.498,0:01:30.513
And I left one out,

0:01:30.513,0:01:32.357
but if I have time, I'll include that.

0:01:32.357,0:01:35.564
I only have twenty minutes,[br]so I'm going to speak really quickly

0:01:35.564,0:01:38.189
and make things very [br]brief, hopefully concise.

0:01:38.189,0:01:41.840
Hopefully, they'll be some help.

0:01:41.840,0:01:45.428
It's humility, helper, and heaven.

0:01:45.428,0:01:48.738
And those three things

0:01:48.738,0:01:52.311
kept in right perspective in our lives

0:01:52.311,0:01:54.973
and kept in the forefront of our lives

0:01:54.973,0:01:57.371
as pastor's wives -

0:01:57.371,0:01:59.470
really it's just as a wife,

0:01:59.470,0:02:01.984
it's really as a woman [br]if you're married.

0:02:01.984,0:02:04.224
We happen to be married to pastors.

0:02:04.224,0:02:05.988
So we're called pastor's wives,

0:02:05.988,0:02:08.661
but we're all in need again

0:02:08.661,0:02:09.742
of the same grace,

0:02:09.742,0:02:11.248
whether you're a pastor's wife

0:02:11.248,0:02:12.957
or what not, but these three things

0:02:12.957,0:02:14.902
apply to any woman across the board.

0:02:14.902,0:02:16.983
I think we just have as pastor's wives,

0:02:16.983,0:02:20.181
we have unique challenges

0:02:20.181,0:02:22.364
and unique blessings as well.

0:02:22.364,0:02:26.580
So I considered all these things

0:02:26.580,0:02:28.197
in light of what we go through.

0:02:28.197,0:02:29.714
And there's a number of things

0:02:29.714,0:02:32.147
Dale and I were talking [br]about the other night.

0:02:32.147,0:02:33.867
I actually looked online for a list

0:02:33.867,0:02:38.395
of what pastor's wives struggle with.

0:02:38.395,0:02:40.337
I had to look for a list.

0:02:40.337,0:02:41.560
I cheated.

0:02:41.560,0:02:44.242
(incomplete thought)

0:02:44.242,0:02:46.861
You know, we go through [br]really difficult things

0:02:46.861,0:02:48.963
in different seasons in a church body.

0:02:48.963,0:02:50.181
There's division.

0:02:50.181,0:02:52.198
There can be slander.

0:02:52.198,0:02:56.439
We have to endure sometimes things -

0:02:56.439,0:02:59.577
maybe members that are discontent;

0:02:59.577,0:03:01.480
they don't like the way the leadership

0:03:01.480,0:03:02.771
is making their decisions;

0:03:02.771,0:03:04.126
coming to their conclusions;

0:03:04.126,0:03:05.344
the way the sermon went;

0:03:05.344,0:03:06.944
the color of the carpet.

0:03:06.944,0:03:10.528
Whatever people can come up with.

0:03:10.528,0:03:12.000
In light of all those things

0:03:12.000,0:03:13.821
and also I thought too,

0:03:13.821,0:03:17.911
I guess, depending on [br]everybody's relationship -

0:03:17.911,0:03:20.699
your relationship with your husband -

0:03:20.699,0:03:23.016
we know more than anybody else

0:03:23.016,0:03:24.991
in the church pretty much.

0:03:24.991,0:03:27.238
If you have a plurality of elders,

0:03:27.238,0:03:30.410
well, the elders will [br]equally know everything,

0:03:30.410,0:03:33.517
but I know my husband [br]and I are extremely close,

0:03:33.521,0:03:35.338
and he shares and we share

0:03:35.338,0:03:38.028
and we work very, very closely together.

0:03:38.028,0:03:41.640
And so that takes a lot of grace.

0:03:41.640,0:03:43.747
And that takes humility.

0:03:43.747,0:03:46.483
And to be a good helper,

0:03:46.483,0:03:50.299
we have to respond well

0:03:50.299,0:03:52.628
in light of all that we know.

0:03:52.628,0:03:54.715
And then ultimately,

0:03:54.715,0:03:56.509
the last stage being heaven,

0:03:56.509,0:03:58.465
we have to keep an eternal perspective

0:03:58.465,0:04:01.177
at all times, or else, we can just

0:04:01.177,0:04:03.426
be crushed under the burdens that we know

0:04:03.426,0:04:06.915
and that we experience and we endure.

0:04:06.915,0:04:08.841
Two verses that are very real to me,

0:04:08.841,0:04:11.327
and I remember them because they both have

0:04:11.327,0:04:13.467
the word "apart" in them.

0:04:13.467,0:04:17.923
I'm sure they're very [br]familiar to you as well.

0:04:17.923,0:04:22.583
John 15:5, "Apart from Me, [br]you can do nothing."

0:04:22.583,0:04:29.561
And Psalm 16:2, it starts,

0:04:29.561,0:04:31.787
"You are my Lord..." the second part,

0:04:31.787,0:04:34.509
"I have no good apart from You."

0:04:34.509,0:04:38.496
And so, that should be

0:04:38.496,0:04:40.023
our disposition,

0:04:40.023,0:04:44.012
that we have a real sense of our ability

0:04:44.012,0:04:46.831
to do absolutely nothing

0:04:46.831,0:04:48.384
apart from Christ.

0:04:48.384,0:04:52.217
And that needs to go in really deep

0:04:52.217,0:04:54.950
and the Lord is very faithful to cause us

0:04:54.950,0:04:56.608
to experience certain things,

0:04:56.608,0:04:59.136
big things, daily little trials,

0:04:59.136,0:05:00.307
whatever it might be.

0:05:00.307,0:05:02.932
In His love as our Father to His children,

0:05:02.932,0:05:04.720
He's faithful to bring things

0:05:04.720,0:05:06.661
so that this goes deeper and deeper,

0:05:06.661,0:05:09.182
that we're nothing and we can do nothing

0:05:09.182,0:05:10.419
apart from Him.

0:05:10.419,0:05:12.569
So it's very, very, very important

0:05:12.569,0:05:15.943
that we live in light of this reality

0:05:15.943,0:05:17.873
that Christ is everything.

0:05:17.873,0:05:19.349
And in His power,

0:05:19.349,0:05:21.650
through the power of the [br]Holy Spirit within us,

0:05:21.650,0:05:22.907
we can do all things.

0:05:22.907,0:05:25.133
All things through Christ [br]who strengthens us

0:05:25.133,0:05:27.683
I think we heard this morning.

0:05:27.683,0:05:33.241
So, another thing in regards to humility

0:05:33.241,0:05:36.586
in Romans 15:1, it says,

0:05:36.586,0:05:38.393
"We who are strong have an obligation

0:05:38.393,0:05:40.240
to bear with the failings of the weak

0:05:40.240,0:05:42.736
and not to please ourselves,

0:05:42.736,0:05:44.713
and let each of us please his neighbor

0:05:44.713,0:05:46.524
for his good to build him up.

0:05:46.524,0:05:48.393
For Christ didn't please Himself..."

0:05:48.393,0:05:50.785
So, another thing is Christ[br]

0:05:50.785,0:05:53.934
being our example to follow.

0:05:53.934,0:05:56.975
He was humility personified.

0:05:56.975,0:06:00.141
We know we walked perfectly.

0:06:00.141,0:06:01.731
Perfectly humble

0:06:01.731,0:06:04.063
every moment of His existence.

0:06:04.063,0:06:08.056
So, He is our example to imitate.

0:06:08.056,0:06:10.152
He was patient. He was longsuffering.

0:06:10.152,0:06:11.980
And as pastor's wives, this is the way

0:06:11.980,0:06:15.170
we need to deal with all that we know

0:06:15.170,0:06:16.756
and all the different situations

0:06:16.756,0:06:18.923
that come about in the church life.

0:06:18.923,0:06:20.352
And it takes a lot of grace

0:06:20.352,0:06:21.866
and it takes a lot of humility

0:06:21.866,0:06:24.695
because there can be sometimes

0:06:24.695,0:06:27.083
maybe a temptation to be frustrated

0:06:27.083,0:06:30.401
when brother or sister [br]so-and-so did that again?

0:06:30.401,0:06:32.400
Or how could they have said that?

0:06:32.400,0:06:35.384
Or how could this have happened?

0:06:35.384,0:06:37.493
But we're all in different places,

0:06:37.493,0:06:40.899
and we need to really, really be sensitive

0:06:40.899,0:06:43.599
to God's dealings with His children,

0:06:43.599,0:06:46.457
and never think that we're beyond

0:06:46.457,0:06:49.798
doing anything that that person is doing

0:06:49.798,0:06:53.745
that you feel perturbed [br]or frustrated with.

0:06:53.745,0:06:55.888
There's no place in the heart

0:06:55.888,0:06:57.877
of a pastor's wife or anybody -

0:06:57.877,0:07:01.210
I'm going to say pastor's wives [br]because this is who I'm addressing -

0:07:01.210,0:07:03.861
but there's no place [br]in a Christian's heart

0:07:03.861,0:07:09.345
for frustration, impatience, disgust,

0:07:09.345,0:07:11.928
when we understand who we are.

0:07:11.928,0:07:15.343
It's only by God's grace if [br]we're doing anything right

0:07:15.343,0:07:16.746
in a moment.

0:07:16.746,0:07:18.743
He gives us the strength and the power

0:07:18.743,0:07:21.890
to obey and walk obediently in the Spirit.

0:07:21.890,0:07:23.341
And that way in our lives,

0:07:23.341,0:07:24.682
He gets all the glory.

0:07:24.682,0:07:28.262
So we are to live a supernatural life

0:07:28.262,0:07:29.989
in the Spirit - not a natural life.

0:07:29.989,0:07:31.401
And the natural responses

0:07:31.401,0:07:34.216
to the difficulties we encounter

0:07:34.216,0:07:36.128
in the ministry would be

0:07:36.128,0:07:38.435
frustration - all these sinful responses.

0:07:38.435,0:07:40.594
But God is glorified in us

0:07:40.594,0:07:44.041
when we respond in a not natural way -

0:07:44.041,0:07:45.210
a supernatural way.

0:07:45.210,0:07:46.845
And so then He gets all the glory.

0:07:46.845,0:07:49.391
And that, again, maybe I'll just go

0:07:49.391,0:07:54.313
right into that is how we [br]can help our husbands.

0:07:54.313,0:07:57.481
The number one ministry that we have

0:07:57.481,0:07:59.069
as pastor's wives

0:07:59.069,0:08:02.402
is to be our husband's help.

0:08:02.402,0:08:03.819
His helper.

0:08:03.819,0:08:06.950
And that started way back [br]in Genesis, we know.

0:08:06.950,0:08:09.527
With Adam, God was very gracious

0:08:09.527,0:08:12.476
to bring Adam a helper,

0:08:12.476,0:08:17.483
and that is our number one ministry.

0:08:17.483,0:08:21.601
Don't let any other women's ministries -

0:08:21.601,0:08:23.320
things that are very, very good,

0:08:23.320,0:08:25.812
and there's nothing [br]wrong with those things.

0:08:25.812,0:08:27.893
It's fine to lead a Bible study,

0:08:27.893,0:08:29.106
lead a book study,

0:08:29.106,0:08:30.480
get together for coffee -

0:08:30.480,0:08:33.761
all those things can be in their place

0:08:33.761,0:08:36.219
with your husband's approval

0:08:36.219,0:08:38.353
after you've prayed about it.

0:08:38.353,0:08:40.256
It can be very profitable.

0:08:40.256,0:08:43.504
But always filter these types of decisions

0:08:43.504,0:08:46.495
with: is this going to take me away

0:08:46.495,0:08:47.940
or hinder my ministry

0:08:47.940,0:08:49.969
in helping my husband?

0:08:49.969,0:08:53.505
Because if you don't have that in order

0:08:53.505,0:08:55.925
and you're ministering outside your home

0:08:55.925,0:08:57.905
or with other women doing good things,

0:08:57.905,0:09:00.774
but your husband is [br]left to fend for himself

0:09:00.774,0:09:04.045
or he's having to bear more work himself

0:09:04.045,0:09:06.458
because you're neglecting the home,

0:09:06.458,0:09:07.797
then that's wrong.

0:09:07.797,0:09:09.419
Because the number one ministry

0:09:09.419,0:09:10.994
is to help your husband.

0:09:10.994,0:09:12.040
We're helpers.

0:09:12.040,0:09:14.626
And again, we have gifts

0:09:14.626,0:09:16.950
and God gives opportunities

0:09:16.950,0:09:20.217
and so there's nothing [br]wrong in serving and doing.

0:09:20.217,0:09:22.742
Women are very useful in the kingdom.

0:09:22.742,0:09:25.385
They have gifts just like men do.

0:09:25.385,0:09:27.827
But we have to, as wives -

0:09:27.827,0:09:30.750
and particularly, I am going to say

0:09:30.750,0:09:32.561
particularly pastor's wives,

0:09:32.561,0:09:33.842
have to be careful

0:09:33.842,0:09:37.749
because our husbands

0:09:37.749,0:09:41.471
bear an enormous load,

0:09:41.471,0:09:43.622
an enormous amount of weight.

0:09:43.622,0:09:45.233
Mack said it last night

0:09:45.233,0:09:48.321
and I had that in my notes.

0:09:48.321,0:09:51.751
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:28,

0:09:51.751,0:09:54.807
the second part, [br]"...the daily pressure on me

0:09:54.807,0:09:57.117
of my anxiety for all the churches."

0:09:57.117,0:09:59.494
And I see that firsthand in my husband.

0:09:59.494,0:10:02.427
It's not just his family - [br]the Conway family,

0:10:02.427,0:10:04.676
but then, it's the Grace Community Church,

0:10:04.676,0:10:06.877
and then the church plants,

0:10:06.877,0:10:09.217
and then out-of-the-country works.

0:10:09.217,0:10:11.126
These things weigh real heavy.

0:10:11.126,0:10:13.525
And even when we have set

0:10:13.525,0:10:17.162
a church plant to have their independence

0:10:17.162,0:10:18.861
and have a pastor,

0:10:18.861,0:10:20.871
it's typically a very young man

0:10:20.871,0:10:22.376
that's over that work,

0:10:22.376,0:10:24.557
and so he's still very much in need

0:10:24.557,0:10:25.830
and very much in contact.

0:10:25.830,0:10:27.475
And that's not always the case,

0:10:27.475,0:10:29.028
even older, new in the ministry,

0:10:29.028,0:10:30.497
whatever it might be,

0:10:30.497,0:10:33.391
he gets phone calls almost daily

0:10:33.391,0:10:35.782
of things pertaining to what's going on

0:10:35.782,0:10:37.464
in all the different church plants.

0:10:37.464,0:10:40.326
So I see the weight that my husband bears

0:10:40.326,0:10:42.767
on a daily basis.

0:10:42.767,0:10:45.408
So I try to keep my life

0:10:45.408,0:10:47.678
as simple as possible for his sake

0:10:47.678,0:10:50.038
because he is my number one priority.

0:10:50.038,0:10:52.454
And I want to maintain that.

0:10:52.454,0:10:54.133
There's so much need,

0:10:54.133,0:10:56.707
and I do try to reach out to the women

0:10:56.707,0:10:59.227
as much as I can

0:10:59.227,0:11:01.465
without violating this priority,

0:11:01.465,0:11:08.254
or just keeping my husband the priority.

0:11:08.254,0:11:10.733
So he's the number one ministry.

0:11:10.733,0:11:14.283
And the number one way of helping him

0:11:14.283,0:11:17.428
is abiding in Christ,

0:11:17.428,0:11:21.439
because it doesn't matter what we're doing

0:11:21.439,0:11:23.326
or not doing,

0:11:23.326,0:11:26.750
if we're not cultivating a close,

0:11:26.750,0:11:31.092
intimate walk with the Lord,

0:11:31.092,0:11:36.213
self-controlled, disciplined [br]time with the Lord

0:11:36.213,0:11:38.090
on a daily basis;

0:11:38.090,0:11:40.724
time set aside for [br]communing with the Lord;

0:11:40.724,0:11:42.776
time set aside for prayer,

0:11:42.776,0:11:44.294
for meditation.

0:11:44.294,0:11:47.417
You're cultivating a real relationship.

0:11:47.417,0:11:49.581
And then you're just walking with the Lord

0:11:49.581,0:11:51.830
through the rest of the day,

0:11:51.830,0:11:53.242
but it's something very real.

0:11:53.242,0:11:54.939
And you're praying all day

0:11:54.939,0:11:56.650
as you're thinking of the needs

0:11:56.650,0:11:58.179
of your husband, your children,

0:11:58.179,0:11:59.024
the church body.

0:11:59.024,0:12:00.492
You're just walking, praying,

0:12:00.492,0:12:01.349
it's very real.

0:12:01.349,0:12:02.871
As Tim and I were talking

0:12:02.871,0:12:04.660
with a younger couple yesterday,

0:12:04.660,0:12:07.651
they're wondering how [br]do you make this real

0:12:07.651,0:12:09.152
like through the day?

0:12:09.152,0:12:11.107
Well, it takes effort,

0:12:11.107,0:12:12.834
like any relationship we know.

0:12:12.834,0:12:15.938
I know this is not new to this group here,

0:12:15.938,0:12:18.475
but I just want to encourage that

0:12:18.475,0:12:20.544
in the busyness of life and ministry

0:12:20.544,0:12:22.105
and little ones,

0:12:22.105,0:12:26.225
that you maintain and cultivate and grow

0:12:26.225,0:12:29.017
in your relationship with the Lord.

0:12:29.017,0:12:32.014
And that you enter in to the power

0:12:32.014,0:12:34.048
there is to be had

0:12:34.048,0:12:35.979
by walking close to the Lord,

0:12:35.979,0:12:38.762
and removing unnecessary things

0:12:38.762,0:12:42.416
in your life that can hinder you

0:12:42.416,0:12:44.818
from this close intimacy with the Lord.

0:12:44.818,0:12:48.057
And that really is helping [br]your husband tremendously

0:12:48.057,0:12:52.462
because in the course of your life

0:12:52.462,0:12:55.164
as a pastor's wife, like I said earlier,

0:12:55.164,0:12:57.154
there's going to be things that will come

0:12:57.154,0:12:58.548
on a daily basis,

0:12:58.548,0:13:02.108
and you will respond very differently

0:13:02.108,0:13:04.689
to the very challenging things

0:13:04.689,0:13:07.054
depending on your walk with the Lord.

0:13:07.054,0:13:10.451
And if your husband brings home news

0:13:10.451,0:13:13.356
that's difficult to receive -

0:13:13.356,0:13:16.414
something that took place in the church -

0:13:16.414,0:13:18.636
if you're not walking with the Lord

0:13:18.636,0:13:20.834
and it's very fresh in your mind

0:13:20.834,0:13:22.309
that God is sovereign,

0:13:22.309,0:13:24.672
this is the body of Christ,

0:13:24.672,0:13:26.276
this is not our thing,

0:13:26.276,0:13:27.338
this is not our doing.

0:13:27.338,0:13:28.892
We did not build this church.

0:13:28.892,0:13:31.396
We're just observing what God is doing

0:13:31.396,0:13:33.037
as He's building and removing

0:13:33.037,0:13:36.818
and purging.

0:13:36.818,0:13:39.564
As women, we can be very emotional

0:13:39.564,0:13:41.803
and we can respond if our thinking

0:13:41.803,0:13:44.990
is not right and we [br]haven't been in the Word.

0:13:44.990,0:13:48.276
And there is something very supernatural

0:13:48.276,0:13:51.430
we all know about times in the Word

0:13:51.430,0:13:54.594
when you're communing [br]with the Lord in prayer

0:13:54.594,0:13:57.327
and you leave that time, like I said,

0:13:57.327,0:14:00.702
and you have the fragrance [br]of Christ following you.

0:14:00.702,0:14:02.711
You have this sense that He's with you.

0:14:02.711,0:14:05.183
And so when you're faced with things

0:14:05.183,0:14:07.298
maybe later in the day,

0:14:07.298,0:14:08.768
instead of freaking out,

0:14:08.768,0:14:10.586
getting all emotional,

0:14:10.586,0:14:13.605
responding in a panic,

0:14:13.605,0:14:17.376
you can be a help by staying calm

0:14:17.376,0:14:21.161
and thinking biblically

0:14:21.161,0:14:23.738
and being an encouragement,

0:14:23.738,0:14:28.574
and just that your confidence is in God

0:14:28.574,0:14:30.312
and His Word and His promises.

0:14:30.312,0:14:33.408
You have to have these things [br]very fresh in your mind

0:14:33.408,0:14:35.054
in order to be the help

0:14:35.054,0:14:38.473
that your husband needs.

0:14:38.473,0:14:39.837
And then in Proverbs,

0:14:39.837,0:14:41.942
I just thought of Proverbs 31:23.

0:14:41.942,0:14:43.696
"Her husband is known in the gates

0:14:43.696,0:14:46.014
when he sits among [br]the elders of the land."

0:14:46.014,0:14:47.681
And I think that's really special

0:14:47.681,0:14:50.391
because the wife has a lot to do

0:14:50.391,0:14:51.952
with the husband's reputation

0:14:51.952,0:14:53.232
and who he is.

0:14:53.232,0:14:55.234
He had a reputation in the gates

0:14:55.234,0:14:58.343
among the elders because of her.

0:14:58.343,0:15:01.902
And so we want to be that type of help

0:15:01.902,0:15:06.375
to our husband.

0:15:06.375,0:15:09.509
We have a lot of influence

0:15:09.509,0:15:10.794
in our husband's life

0:15:10.794,0:15:13.245
and we have the power [br]if I can use that word

0:15:13.245,0:15:16.485
to really build him up

0:15:16.485,0:15:18.789
to be a better leader

0:15:18.789,0:15:21.720
that he could not be without us.

0:15:21.720,0:15:23.632
And so if he has somebody

0:15:23.632,0:15:26.686
that's submitting, encouraging, following,

0:15:26.686,0:15:28.936
walking close with the Lord,

0:15:28.936,0:15:31.173
helping in that way,

0:15:31.173,0:15:33.867
he can be a better leader than he could be

0:15:33.867,0:15:35.276
like I said without us.

0:15:35.276,0:15:37.656
And conversely, we can also

0:15:37.656,0:15:40.062
crush our husbands.

0:15:40.062,0:15:42.166
We have to be very, very careful

0:15:42.166,0:15:43.628
how we communicate,

0:15:43.628,0:15:46.782
what we communicate with our husbands.

0:15:46.782,0:15:49.642
If, again, like what we say

0:15:49.642,0:15:51.917
should be filtered though:

0:15:51.917,0:15:53.390
what does God's Word say?

0:15:53.390,0:15:54.689
What does God's Word say?

0:15:54.689,0:15:56.179
If you're going to be a help,

0:15:56.179,0:15:58.441
you're going to need to [br]be a woman of wisdom

0:15:58.441,0:16:00.005
and wisdom comes from God.

0:16:00.005,0:16:01.960
So, we want to have our thinking

0:16:01.960,0:16:04.653
aligned with God's Word and His will.

0:16:04.653,0:16:07.390
And that will truly, truly help him.

0:16:07.390,0:16:10.162
And the final H was heaven.

0:16:10.162,0:16:13.260
Again, as we go through the different -

0:16:13.260,0:16:15.830
I'm speaking a lot on the challenges

0:16:15.830,0:16:18.293
and the difficulties, but we all know here

0:16:18.293,0:16:20.307
that there are unspeakable joys

0:16:20.307,0:16:22.487
being part of the ministry as helpers

0:16:22.487,0:16:25.222
to our husbands.

0:16:25.222,0:16:28.040
I feel spoiled - the blessings

0:16:28.040,0:16:30.315
that we get to be involved in,

0:16:30.315,0:16:32.217
while you do know a lot

0:16:32.217,0:16:34.366
of every single person in the church

0:16:34.366,0:16:35.364
and their struggles,

0:16:35.364,0:16:37.491
you also know of all the joys

0:16:37.491,0:16:39.138
and the victories

0:16:39.138,0:16:41.521
and the counseling sessions

0:16:41.521,0:16:44.946
that turn out with a happy ending

0:16:44.946,0:16:47.180
that nobody else knows about.

0:16:47.180,0:16:48.434
And so we bear the weight,

0:16:48.434,0:16:54.078
but we also enjoy the [br]time of rejoicing as well.

0:16:54.078,0:16:57.390
These are again very familiar Scriptures.

0:16:57.390,0:17:00.116
Colossians 3:2 that we're to set our minds

0:17:00.116,0:17:02.682
on things above, not on earthly things.

0:17:02.682,0:17:07.709
Philippians 3:20 - our [br]citizenship is in heaven.

0:17:07.709,0:17:11.580
And we're eagerly awaiting [br]our Savior from there -

0:17:11.580,0:17:13.066
the Lord Jesus Christ.

0:17:13.066,0:17:17.861
And that is where we have to, again,

0:17:17.861,0:17:20.208
very intentionally set our mind

0:17:20.208,0:17:21.317
on things above.

0:17:21.317,0:17:24.276
We are living in the realm of sight here

0:17:24.276,0:17:26.091
and the "seen," but we know that

0:17:26.091,0:17:27.681
that which is seen is transient.

0:17:27.681,0:17:28.701
It's passing.

0:17:28.701,0:17:31.229
And so we have to keep our minds

0:17:31.229,0:17:33.501
on things above.

0:17:33.501,0:17:36.092
So no matter how difficult things can be;

0:17:36.092,0:17:38.145
how challenging,

0:17:38.145,0:17:40.167
whatever we endure,

0:17:40.167,0:17:42.146
there is an end.

0:17:42.146,0:17:44.919
Tim spoke on Wednesday here

0:17:44.919,0:17:47.677
the verse that says from Romans,

0:17:47.677,0:17:49.015
"...rejoicing in hope."

0:17:49.015,0:17:51.640
Like we of all people,

0:17:51.640,0:17:53.243
out of the mass of humanity,

0:17:53.243,0:17:54.946
this little remnant

0:17:54.946,0:17:56.571
that Christ shed His blood for,

0:17:56.571,0:17:59.356
we truly have reason and cause

0:17:59.356,0:18:02.465
to rejoice - to rejoice in the Lord.

0:18:02.465,0:18:04.596
And to have a hope, like Tim was saying.

0:18:04.596,0:18:05.740
Everybody has a hope.

0:18:05.740,0:18:07.800
They're hoping in this, [br]that, and the other

0:18:07.800,0:18:09.760
that is guaranteed to lead them

0:18:09.760,0:18:10.808
to disappointment

0:18:10.808,0:18:12.538
until they find Christ.

0:18:12.538,0:18:14.653
And then that's when we're truly satisfied

0:18:14.653,0:18:16.708
like we heard about today.

0:18:16.708,0:18:18.972
Satisfaction can only be found in Christ

0:18:18.972,0:18:22.133
and that's what we should be experiencing

0:18:22.133,0:18:23.960
in a very real way every day.

0:18:23.960,0:18:26.135
Our mind, our heart, and affections

0:18:26.135,0:18:29.259
set on things above where Christ is,

0:18:29.259,0:18:31.406
where our inheritance is.

0:18:31.406,0:18:37.324
And when we do have that mindset,

0:18:37.324,0:18:41.309
again, life is much easier to deal with.

0:18:41.309,0:18:44.587
When you think, we're [br]just passing through,

0:18:44.587,0:18:47.067
there is a reward at the end.

0:18:47.067,0:18:50.657
Don't feel like the way [br]you're living right now

0:18:50.657,0:18:53.818
making the sacrifices [br]that you are making

0:18:53.818,0:18:57.082
and suffering to whatever [br]degree you're suffering -

0:18:57.082,0:18:59.400
we all go through different things

0:18:59.400,0:19:01.830
to different degrees, different seasons.

0:19:01.830,0:19:03.895
But it's not for naught.

0:19:03.895,0:19:06.244
There is a reward at the end.

0:19:06.244,0:19:08.796
In fact, I was just reading this morning

0:19:08.796,0:19:22.047
(incomplete thought).

0:19:22.047,0:19:24.264
I'm going to just pass because it will

0:19:24.264,0:19:26.433
take time to remember where I read it.

0:19:26.433,0:19:28.335
But anyway, it's basically,

0:19:28.335,0:19:30.837
we're heading towards a judgment day.

0:19:30.837,0:19:34.824
And we will receive what is due.

0:19:34.824,0:19:36.924
Because of Christ, we can really

0:19:36.924,0:19:38.088
look forward to that day

0:19:38.088,0:19:39.614
and live in light of that day.

0:19:39.614,0:19:41.167
And we know that God has told us

0:19:41.167,0:19:43.287
this life is just a vapor.

0:19:43.287,0:19:45.400
It's here and then gone.

0:19:45.400,0:19:47.990
So, we need to live in light of that.

0:19:47.990,0:19:50.068
Not to waste time.

0:19:50.068,0:19:52.096
We live in a day and age

0:19:52.096,0:19:53.607
with all this technology

0:19:53.607,0:19:55.654
and electronics and social media

0:19:55.654,0:19:58.185
where it is such an enormous temptation

0:19:58.185,0:19:59.755
to waste time.

0:19:59.755,0:20:03.475
And we all really need [br]to be really careful

0:20:03.475,0:20:05.057
to redeem our time

0:20:05.057,0:20:06.647
and be good stewards of our time.

0:20:06.647,0:20:08.585
The time we have has been given to us.

0:20:08.585,0:20:10.524
Like, we all have an appointment.

0:20:10.524,0:20:12.490
We came in and we're going out.

0:20:12.490,0:20:15.282
So we want to be faithful

0:20:15.282,0:20:17.835
with the time that we have.

0:20:17.835,0:20:21.379
I don't know what time I started.

0:20:21.379,0:20:29.327
Is it time? Has it been 20?

0:20:29.327,0:20:30.902
Real quick, the last H,

0:20:30.902,0:20:33.448
in light of time.

0:20:33.448,0:20:35.395
Real quick, other Scriptures,

0:20:35.395,0:20:38.610
2 Peter 3:11 in light of what we know

0:20:38.610,0:20:40.277
that everything's burning up.

0:20:40.277,0:20:42.425
We're heading towards [br]everything burning up.

0:20:42.425,0:20:44.660
What sort of people ought we to be

0:20:44.660,0:20:47.833
to live lives of holiness and godliness?

0:20:47.833,0:20:49.696
And 2 Corinthians 4:17 -

0:20:49.696,0:20:51.008
we're familiar with this.

0:20:51.008,0:20:52.480
Light, momentary affliction -

0:20:52.480,0:20:53.904
whatever we're going through,

0:20:53.904,0:20:55.610
it's preparing for us an eternal

0:20:55.610,0:20:58.325
weight of glory beyond all comparison.

0:20:58.325,0:20:59.588
So there's those contrasts

0:20:59.588,0:21:01.798
of light vs. weight

0:21:01.798,0:21:03.634
and momentary vs. eternal.

0:21:03.634,0:21:05.355
So we have to live in light of that

0:21:05.355,0:21:07.846
and not get caught up in [br]the moment of difficulties.

0:21:07.846,0:21:09.359
Like, this is so hard.

0:21:09.359,0:21:11.577
No, actually, it feels that way,

0:21:11.577,0:21:13.572
but compared to what we're heading to

0:21:13.572,0:21:15.840
it's light and momentary.

0:21:15.840,0:21:18.186
And we have to have this perspective

0:21:18.186,0:21:19.967
very clear in our minds.

0:21:19.967,0:21:21.961
And 1 Peter 1:4

0:21:21.961,0:21:24.347
We're heading towards an inheritance

0:21:24.347,0:21:26.437
that is imperishable, undefiled,

0:21:26.437,0:21:29.430
and unfading, kept in heaven for us.

0:21:29.430,0:21:31.722
And then lastly, Hebrews 6:10,

0:21:31.722,0:21:33.016
"For God is not unrighteous

0:21:33.016,0:21:35.290
to forget your work and labor of love

0:21:35.290,0:21:37.670
which you have shown

0:21:37.670,0:21:39.835
toward His name and that you have

0:21:39.835,0:21:42.249
ministered to the saints and do minister."

0:21:42.249,0:21:44.091
So, that's very encouraging

0:21:44.091,0:21:45.941
that God remembers everything.

0:21:45.941,0:21:47.126
Our deeds follow us.

0:21:47.126,0:21:49.941
Everything that we do,

0:21:49.941,0:21:51.813
there is coming a day

0:21:51.813,0:21:54.054
when there will be a reward

0:21:54.054,0:21:56.137
and it's okay to be reward motivated

0:21:56.137,0:21:57.611
for what you're doing right now

0:21:57.611,0:22:00.358
because in the end, the reward is Christ.

0:22:00.358,0:22:03.257
And so, do everything you can now

0:22:03.257,0:22:04.764
to get the most then.

0:22:04.764,0:22:06.416
There is a reality to that.

0:22:06.416,0:22:09.103
Real quickly, the last H was holiness.

0:22:09.103,0:22:13.961
And I think we as pastor's wives -

0:22:13.961,0:22:16.652
sometimes, a pastor's wife can

0:22:16.652,0:22:18.912
maybe not really appreciate the position

0:22:18.912,0:22:21.604
of being an example

0:22:21.604,0:22:24.376
as a wife, as a mother, as a family,

0:22:24.376,0:22:26.036
as a husband and wife.

0:22:26.036,0:22:29.228
And sometimes it can even be something

0:22:29.228,0:22:30.450
that a woman can resent.

0:22:30.450,0:22:32.525
Like, why do they look at us all the time?

0:22:32.525,0:22:34.563
Why are they always observing us?

0:22:34.563,0:22:37.036
Eagle eyes always on us.

0:22:37.036,0:22:38.530
But I think that's good.

0:22:38.530,0:22:41.115
I think that our husbands are leaders

0:22:41.115,0:22:42.835
and they should be examples,

0:22:42.835,0:22:44.439
and there should be, obviously,

0:22:44.439,0:22:46.571
a level of maturity where [br]they are examples,

0:22:46.571,0:22:48.027
not perfect, but exemplary,

0:22:48.027,0:22:49.415
worthy of imitating.

0:22:49.415,0:22:50.793
And I think in like manner

0:22:50.793,0:22:53.822
that pastor's wife [br]should also be striving.

0:22:53.822,0:22:56.087
Every woman, like I said [br]in the very beginning,

0:22:56.087,0:22:57.533
should be striving for this.

0:22:57.533,0:22:59.934
But because we're in [br]a leadership position,

0:22:59.934,0:23:02.386
I think that it's a loving thing to do,

0:23:02.386,0:23:03.611
to live in such a way -

0:23:03.611,0:23:05.751
and we have a very young church,

0:23:05.751,0:23:08.725
20's, 30's, young single, young married,

0:23:08.725,0:23:10.730
young mothers, young everything.

0:23:10.730,0:23:14.440
And so I count it a privilege

0:23:14.440,0:23:18.765
to strive for that life that I can say

0:23:18.765,0:23:21.127
follow me or imitate me

0:23:21.127,0:23:22.848
because I know it's all of grace.

0:23:22.848,0:23:26.837
And I know that I've made [br]countless mistakes to this point.

0:23:26.837,0:23:28.713
And God has been very faithful.

0:23:28.713,0:23:31.653
So, I think that it's like I said

0:23:31.653,0:23:34.057
a very loving thing for us [br]to live in such a way.

0:23:34.057,0:23:37.587
And even in the mistakes that we make,

0:23:37.587,0:23:40.456
we can be examples in how we respond

0:23:40.456,0:23:42.332
in the mistakes that we make.

0:23:42.332,0:23:45.045
So it's not like we have this pressure

0:23:45.045,0:23:46.675
to live these perfect lives,

0:23:46.675,0:23:48.394
because everybody's watching us.

0:23:48.394,0:23:49.703
It's not like that at all.

0:23:49.703,0:23:51.284
We love the Lord Jesus.

0:23:51.284,0:23:53.920
And so we want to please and obey Him

0:23:53.920,0:23:56.333
and in so doing, our lives [br]should be examples

0:23:56.333,0:23:57.597
and an encouragement

0:23:57.597,0:24:00.530
that wow, you can go through a trial

0:24:00.530,0:24:01.777
and actually have peace.

0:24:01.777,0:24:03.507
You can go through a trial

0:24:03.507,0:24:05.362
and remain unwavering in your faith

0:24:05.362,0:24:07.642
and have confidence in the Lord.

0:24:07.642,0:24:09.687
And you can lose a loved one

0:24:09.687,0:24:12.668
and grieve well and glorify God

0:24:12.668,0:24:14.240
in doing all these things.

0:24:14.240,0:24:17.142
So, those are the four things

0:24:17.142,0:24:19.714
that have been extremely helpful for me

0:24:19.714,0:24:20.777
that God's taught me

0:24:20.777,0:24:23.134
and continues to teach me.